DATE: October 20, 2025
TO: President and Members of the Estero Municipal Improvement District (EMID) Board of Directors
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, District Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant District Manager
FROM: Andrew Brozyna, Public Works Director
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
SUBJECT: TASK ORDER 2025-03 WITH EKI ENVIRONMENT & WATER, INC. (EKI) IN THE AMOUNT OF $69,900 FOR PROFESSIONAL
CONSULTING SERVICES TO DEVELOP THE 2025 URBAN
WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND WATER SHORTAGE
CONTINGENCY PLAN
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of Directors of the Estero Municipal Improvement District (EMID) adopt the attached resolution:
1. Authorizing the President to execute Task Order 2025-03 with EKI Environment & Water, Inc. (EKI) in the amount of $69,900 for professional consulting services to develop the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP), which includes the Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) as a required component; and
2. Establish a contingency in the amount of $14,000 with authority given to the District Manager or his designee to execute contract amendments up to the contingency amount.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
California urban water suppliers serving over 3,000 customers or delivering more than 3,000 acre-feet annually are required to prepare a UWMP every five years. These plans address long-term water supply, demand, reliability, and include a WSCP to direct responses to droughts or supply disruptions. As an urban supplier of water providing water to over 30,000 customers, EMID is required to develop a UWMP and WSCP.
EKI is experienced in the preparation of UWMPs statewide and was selected in accordance with the City’s purchasing policy, via a Master Agreement, under which EMID can access on-call services through the issuance of Task Orders.
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
Assembly Bill 797, also known as the Urban Water Management Planning Act, passed by the California legislation in 1983 (subsequently amended by AB 2661), requires that urban water suppliers providing water for municipal purposes to more than 3,000 customers or supplying more than 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, develop an UWMP to address changing conditions related to water sources, water availability, water demands, and water reliability for the future. In 1991, the State added the requirement to include a WSCP to outline the water supplier’s response and plan for changes or shortages in water supplies. Water suppliers are required to update and submit their UWMP to the Department of Water Resources every five years.
As an urban supplier of water providing water to over 30,000 customers, EMID is required to develop a UWMP and WSCP. The EMID Board of Directors adopted the 2020 UWMP and WSCP on July 19, 2020. The deadline for submittal of the 2025 UWMP and WSCP is July 1, 2026.
UWMPs contain technical planning documents that set expectations about future water supply needs, the availability of water supplies, the need to secure existing water supplies or obtain additional water supplies, and ultimately the ability of a community to sustain growth. In addition, UWMPs serve to communicate water supply reliability, demand projections, and resource planning strategies to the community, developers, and other stakeholders.
As a required component of the UWMP, the WSCP outlines how a water supplier will prepare for and respond to water shortages caused by drought or disruptions in supply.
It identifies water shortage stages and specifies demand reduction measures required in each stage. Water shortage stages are typically implemented in response to drought declarations on a regional or statewide level.
The development of the 2025 UWMP will include alignment with new regulations and review of water supply availability. Making Conservation a California Way of Life, a regulatory framework adopted in 2024, aims to improve urban water use efficiency by establishing customized conservation targets for water suppliers and will be considered as part of UWMP development. Additionally, the development of the UWMP will also consider supply availability uncertainties that stem from several evolving factors, such as the implementation of the Bay-Delta Plan Amendment, the potential Healthy Rivers and Landscapes voluntary agreement, and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) Alternative Water Supply Plan. The 2025 UWMP will integrate regulatory compliance and scenario planning to develop a guidance document that will inform water supply management for the next five years.
EKI has extensive experience preparing UWMPs and WSCPs and has demonstrated its capability by preparing the 2020 UWMP for EMID as well as multiple other agencies, including Burlingame, California Water Service, East Palo Alto, Hayward, Menlo Park, North Coast County Water District, Redwood City, and Westborough Water District. EKI has also worked with EMID on the expansion and upgrade of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. On January 21, 2025, the EMID Board adopted EMID Resolution No. 3791 approving a Master Services Agreement for Water and Wastewater Engineering Services with several firms, including EKI, under which EMID can access on-call services through the issuance of Task Orders. Staff will oversee the development of the 2025 UWMP and WSCP, as well as provide data and other relevant information that are needed to support EKI’s work. It is anticipated that the Draft UWMP and WSCP will be completed in May 2026, followed by a public hearing and adoption of the final Plans in June 2026. The adopted Plans will then be submitted to Department of Water Resources by the July 2026 due date.
CEQA
The preparation and adoption of Urban Water Management Plans is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15282 (v) per the provisions of Section 10652 of the Water Code.
FISCAL IMPACT
The full cost of the 2025 Urban Water Management Plan was assumed in the approved FY 2025-26 budget such that funding is available in Account No. 128-0838-419-4251 General Plan Maintenance Fund in the amount of $100,000. The account is funded by fees collected at the time of building permit issuance and provides a dedicated source for updates related to the General Plan and associated documents. The proposed fee for the scope of work is $69,900. Additionally, a project contingency in the amount of $14,000 is recommended to pay for any additional requirements that may be included in the Final UWMP Guidebook, which is expected to be released in late 2025 by the Department of Water Resources.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Facilities and Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Task Order