To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency, Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency, County Counsel
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 707-547-1900, Lynne Rosselli 707-524-3771, Adam Brand 707-565-3731
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Legal Services Agreement for Bond and Disclosure Services
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize County Counsel to execute an agreement with Jones Hall LLP, in substantially the form presented to this Board, for legal services for bond and disclosure counsel through December 31, 2030, in the not-to-exceed amount of $350,000. (4/5th Vote Required)
B) Authorize County Counsel to amend the agreement to extend the term for up to two additional years, make modifications to the scope of work, and increase costs provided amendments do not cumulatively increase the total cost to Sonoma County Water Agency beyond $550,000. (4/5th Vote Required)
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Executive Summary:
County Counsel has determined that assistance of outside counsel is needed in connection with potential issuance of bonds and other financial instruments to finance Sonoma County Water Agency, Occidental County Sanitation District, Russian River County Sanitation District, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District, South Park County Sanitation District (collectively “Sonoma Water”) activities.
Discussion:
Sonoma Water relies on specialized bond and disclosure counsel to provide legal services in connection with the issuance of tax-exempt bonds and other financing mechanisms. The current agreement with Jones Hall LLP ends on December 31, 2025. This item allows County Counsel to execute an agreement for bond and disclosure counsel to continue these required services.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
This item directly supports Sonoma Water’s Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following goal, strategy, and action item.
Goal: 2. Planning and Infrastructure - Implement comprehensive, integrated, and innovative infrastructure planning to strengthen existing services, minimize life cycle costs, and prepare for the future.
Strategy: 2.3 Fund and implement the planned capital and manintenance projects on schedule to ensure reliable services.
Action Item: 2.3.2 Fund Capital Improvement Program budgets to meet infrastructure needs.
Attorney’s services are required for issuing revenue bonds and other financial products, and these services assist Sonoma Water in ensuring financial integrity and stability by implementing sound and equitable practices to meet infrastructure needs.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
6/2/2020: Board authorized County Counsel to execute a legal services agreement with Jones Hall
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$350,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$350,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$350,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$350,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Funding for bond and disclosure counsel services will be provided under budget appropriations for costs associated with issuing revenue bonds for specific infrastructure projects in accordance with the agreement and will be payable from bond proceeds. Budgeted amount of $350,000 is available from FY 2025/2026 appropriations for the Water Transmission Fund.
Funding for legal financing advisory services not directly related to a bond issuance will be provided under budget appropriations for the respective projects for which services are provided. No additional appropriation is required.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Draft Agreement with Jones Hall LLP
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.