Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-30; Municipal Water District; 04; Options for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility StudyCA Review TL Meeting Date: Sept. 30, 2025 To: President and Board Members From: Geoff Patnoe, Executive Manager Staff Contact: Keri Martinez, District Engineer keri.martinez@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2354 Dave Padilla, Assistant General Manager dave.padilla@carlsbadca.gov, 442-339-2356 Subject: Options for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study District: 2 Recommended Action Option 1 Adopt a Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors resolution authorizing execution of a professional services agreement with ForeFront Licensing, LLC for Phase 1 of the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study; or Option 2 Adopt a Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors resolution rejecting all proposals for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study. Executive Summary The City of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Municipal Water District have envisioned installing a solar energy generating and battery energy storage system facility at the Maerkle Reservoir site, in the northeastern corner of the City of Carlsbad, to produce renewable energy, promote energy sustainability and potentially offset the CMWD’s energy costs. The next step would be to conduct a feasibility study to evaluate the relevant factors associated with a solar project development, including the potential project scope, development and operational models and the site-specific constraints. Staff have reviewed proposals from qualified contractors to conduct the feasibility study of the potential project. Staff are now asking the CMWD Board to authorize an agreement with ForeFront Licensing, LLC for Phase 1 of the Maerkle Reservoir Site solar feasibility study, or to choose not to proceed with the feasibility study and reject all of the proposals received. The cost of the first phase of the study is not to exceed $470,904. Authorization to proceed with the second phase, for an amount not to exceed $828,307, would be requested from the CMWD Board in the future, based on the findings of Phase 1. The cost of both phases is not to exceed $1,299,211. Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 1 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED The CMWD Board’s approval is required for this agreement under Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 3.28.060(D)(5) because procuring these services will cost more than $100,000 per agreement year. Explanation & Analysis Background The City of Carlsbad’s Climate Action Plan identifies the project’s potential to achieve renewable energy production goals, and the city’s 5-Year Strategic Plan, which covers 2023 to 2027, identified this potential project as a priority. The Maerkle Reservoir site covers about 56 undeveloped acres in northeast Carlsbad and is bordered to the north and east by residential communities in the cities of Oceanside and Vista, as shown in Exhibit 3. Staff engaged a consultant in 2023 and 2024 for a preliminary study to identify the principal site constraints and potential land use issues including legal, environmental, real estate, financial and fire safety considerations. Staff provided an update to the CMWD Board on recent emerging fire risks for battery storage sites and site access concerns on Nov. 19, 2024. The CMWD Board directed staff to proceed with a comprehensive feasibility study to evaluate these and other relevant issues to assess the viability of a solar-energy generation and BESS project at the Maerkle Reservoir site. Timeline •On Jan. 8, 2025, staff received statements of qualifications from three firms. Staff evaluated the qualifications and experience in the following areas: o System financing, development and operating models o Potential business models, such as a power purchase agreement or a land lease o System sizing, including energy production and storage capacity o Energy off-taker/load serving entity (the electric service provider to partner with) o Land use constraints, including access and fire safety, surrounding neighborhood proximity and habitat protection o Facility design and environmental considerations o Electrical grid interconnection •The CMWD Board authorized issuing a request for proposals to prequalified consulting firms for a feasibility study of a solar photovoltaic energy generation and battery energy storage system at the Maerkle Reservoir site on March 25, 2025. (Resolution No. 1766) •Staff requested proposals for professional services for a feasibility study and preliminary design, environmental permitting, and 30% design of a solar energy Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 2 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED generating and battery energy storage system facility from two prequalified consulting firms on April 17, 2025, in accordance with Carlsbad Municipal Code Sections 3.28.050 and 3.28.060. •The district received two proposals for the services on May 29, 2025. A selection committee comprised of staff evaluated and ranked the proposals in accordance with Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 3.28.050(D)(2), which covers the procurement of professional services. The committee ranked ForeFront as the most qualified firm for this project based on the evaluation criteria published in the city’s request for proposals. •Staff and ForeFront began negotiating a scope of work for the feasibility study In July 2025. •On Aug. 5, 2025, ForeFront submitted a revised proposal for phased services, with the cost of the first phase to be in an amount not to exceed $470,904. Phased approach This phased approach provides the CMWD with an offramp based on the findings from the first phase. The funds that have been appropriated to date and available for the project are sufficient only for that first phase. If the Phase 1 study finds it is a viable project, then staff would return to the CMWD Board to request authorization and appropriation for Phase 2 services, which are estimated to cost $828,307, with an additional $42,000 for staff support costs. These services would include preliminary design, initiating environmental permitting, and the development of 30% of the design, including the final cost estimates, economic analysis and technical reports needed to support a request for proposals for the solar development project. Proposed agreement The CMWD Board can authorize execution of the professional services agreement with ForeFront for the first phase of the study by selecting Option 1, in accordance with Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 3.28.060. The term of this agreement will be for a period of one year from the effective date. The Executive Manager may amend the agreement to extend it for up to two (2) additional one (1) year periods. The total cost for both phases of the feasibility study services to be provided by ForeFront is not to exceed $1,299,211. An additional $67,000 will be needed for staff engineering, communications and administrative costs for both phases. If the CMWD Board desires not to spend $495,904 to evaluate the project viability’s in the first phase, or potentially more than $1.3 million for both phases, the CMWD Board can reject all proposals by selecting Option 2. Fiscal Analysis The estimated cost of the professional services agreement for Phase 1 is $470,904. Sufficient funds are available in Capital Improvement Program Project No 4722 for Phase 1 only, which is funded by the water replacement fund. Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 3 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED The table below summarizes the estimated costs and available funds for both phases: Options Staff provide the following options for the CMWD Board’s consideration: Option 1: Adopt a resolution authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement with ForeFront Licensing, LLC to conduct Phase 1 of the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study, CIP Project No. 4722 in an amount not to exceed $470,904. (Exhibit 1.) Pros •Obtains information needed to determine a potential scope and the viability of a solar-energy generation and battery energy storage project at the Maerkle Reservoir site and identify site-specific constraints, risks and potential site- specific mitigation measures. •Provides an off-ramp to discontinue the project after the completion of Phase 1 services. Cons •Requires spending $495,904 of Capital Improvement Program water funds to determine the project’s viability in Phase 1. •May require an additional, future appropriation of $870,307 to advance the potential project to preliminary design, environmental permitting and related activities to support a solar development project request for proposals. Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study -Phase 1 Capital Improvement Program Project No. 4722 Total appropriation to date $518,170 Total expenditures and encumbrances to date -$20,588 Total available funds $497,582 Professional services agreement – ForeFront (Phase 1) -$470,904 Staff engineering, communications administrative costs (estimated) -$25,000 Total estimated costs (Phase 1) -$495,904 Remaining balance after Phase 1 $1,678 Additional appropriation needed (Phase 1) $0 Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study – Phase 2 Professional services agreement – ForeFront (Phase 2) -$828,307 Staff engineering, communications administrative costs (estimated) -$42,000 Total estimated costs (Phase 2) -$870,307 Estimated additional appropriation for Phase 2 (rounded) $870,000 Total estimated costs (Phase 1 and Phase 2) -$1,366,211 Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 4 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Option 2: Adopt a resolution rejecting all proposals for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study. (Exhibit 2.) Pros •Funding that was appropriated for the feasibility study could be reallocated to priority Capital Improvement Program water utility projects. Cons •The information needed to determine the feasibility of a potential solar-energy generation and battery energy storage project at the Maerkle Reservoir site that could contribute toward meeting the city’s Strategic Plan goals and Climate Action Plan goals would remain unknown. •Any future solar development project at the Maerkle Reservoir site would require a future solicitation for professional services and a comprehensive project feasibility analysis. Environmental Evaluation The proposed action to authorize a professional services agreement for a feasibility study for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study is statutorily exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15262 because it involves only feasibility or planning studies, including consideration of environmental factors, for possible future actions that have not been approved, adopted or funded. The proposed action does not have a legally binding effect on any possible future discretionary action. The work to evaluate project feasibility and prepare conceptual designs does not have a legally binding effect on future discretionary actions to approve a project. Public input received and technical information prepared will be used during the project evaluation and planning. Next Steps If the CMWD Board authorizes execution of the agreement in Option 1, staff will issue a purchase order and a notice to proceed to ForeFront for the Phase 1 feasibility study. The work is estimated to begin in October 2025, with an estimated completion in spring 2026. Upon completion of the study, staff will return to the CMWD Board to present the feasibility study findings and, if a viable project is identified, request the Board’s consideration to proceed with Phase 2. If the CMWD Board selects Option 2, staff will move forward with rejecting all proposals received for the feasibility study. Exhibits 1.CMWD Board resolution – Option 1 2.CMWD Board resolution – Option 2 3.Location map Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 5 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Exhibit 1 RESOLUTION NO. . A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH FOREFRONT LICENSING, LLC FOR PHASE 1 OF THE MAERKLE RESERVOIR SITE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY WHEREAS, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors, or CMWD Board, of the City of Carlsbad desires to explore the feasibility of a solar energy generation and battery energy storage system project at the site of the Maerkle Reservoir, which is part of the city’s Five-Year Strategic Plan 2023-2027; and WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad’s Climate Action Plan identifies the potential for a solar project at the Maerkle Reservoir site to assist in achieving renewable energy production goals; and WHEREAS, the Maerkle Reservoir site is owned by the Carlsbad Municipal Water District, or CMWD, a subsidiary district of the City of Carlsbad; and WHEREAS, on March 25, 2025, the CMWD Board adopted Resolution No. 1766, approving issuance of a request for proposals from solar energy consulting firms to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the project, Capital Improvement Program, or CIP, Project No. 4722; and WHEREAS, on April 17, 2025, staff issued a request for proposals in accordance with Carlsbad Municipal Code, or CMC, Sections 3.28.050 and 3.28.060 for professional services to conduct a solar energy generation and battery energy storage system feasibility study at the Maerkle Reservoir site; and WHEREAS, on May 29, 2025, staff received proposals from two qualified solar industry consulting firms and reviewed the proposals based on best-value criteria specified in the request for proposals and consistent with CMC Sections 3.28.050(D)(2) and 3.28.060; and WHEREAS, staff determined that ForeFront Licensing, LLC is the most qualified consultant and negotiated a final scope of work and fee for professional services to conduct Phase 1 of a feasibility study in an amount not to exceed $470,904 over an initial term of two years with one additional one- year extension if authorized; and WHEREAS, CMC Section 3.28.060(D)(5) requires the CMWD Board to award all formally bid contracts for professional services when the value exceeds $100,000 per agreement year, and therefore, the project is subject to this requirement; and Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 6 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED WHEREAS, sufficient funding for the professional services costs is available in the project budget in the current fiscal year for only Phase 1 of the feasibility study; and WHEREAS, Phase 2 of the professional services agreement is estimated to cost in an amount not to exceed $828,307, and the total of both phases of the agreement is in an amount not to exceed $1,299,211; and WHEREAS, staff will return upon completion of Phase 1 services to present the findings to the CMWD Board and to request approval and additional appropriation for Phase 2 services, if warranted. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the CMWD Board of Directors of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1.That the above recitations are true and correct. 2.That the CMWD Board has determined that the proposed action to authorize a professional services agreement for a feasibility study for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study is statutorily exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15262 because it involves only feasibility or planning studies, including consideration of environmental factors, for possible future actions that have not been approved, adopted or funded. The proposed action does not have a legally binding effect on any possible future discretionary action. The work to evaluate project feasibility and prepare conceptual designs does not have a legally binding effect on future discretionary actions to approve a project. Public input received and technical information prepared will be used during the project evaluation and planning. 3.That the President of the Board is hereby authorized and directed to execute a professional services agreement with ForeFront Licensing, LLC in an amount not to exceed $470,904 for Phase 1 of the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study, CIP Project No. 4722, which is attached hereto as Attachment A. 4.That the Executive Manager is hereby authorized to amend the Agreement to extend the term for up to two (2) additional one (1) year periods or parts thereof. Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 7 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District of the City of Carlsbad on the __ day of ________, 2025, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NAYS: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: ______________________________________ KEITH BLACKBURN, President ______________________________________ SHERRY FREISINGER, Secretary (SEAL) Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 8 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 1 AGREEMENT FOR MAERKLE RESERVOIR SITE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY SERVICES FOREFRONT LICENSING, LLC THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the ______________ day of ___________________, 2025, by and between the Carlsbad Municipal Water District, a Public Agency organized under the Municipal Water Act of 1911, and a Subsidiary District of the City of Carlsbad, California, (“CMWD”), and Forefront Licensing, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Consultant”). RECITALS A.CMWD requires the professional services of a consultant that is experienced in Solar Industry development. B.Consultant has the necessary experience in providing professional services and advice related to Solar Industry development. C.Consultant has submitted a proposal to CMWD under Request for Proposals No. RFP25- 3680UTIL and has affirmed its willingness and ability to perform such work. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these recitals and the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, CMWD and Consultant agree as follows: 1.SCOPE OF WORK CMWD retains Consultant to perform, and Consultant agrees to render, those services (“Services”) that are defined in attached Exhibit “A”, which is incorporated by this reference in accordance with this Agreement’s terms and conditions. 2.STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE While performing the Services, Consultant will exercise the reasonable professional care and skill customarily exercised by reputable members of Consultant's profession practicing in the Metropolitan Southern California area and will use reasonable diligence and best judgment while exercising its professional skill and expertise. 3.TERM The term of this Agreement will be effective from the date first above written to October 8, 2026. The Executive Manager may amend the Agreement to extend it for two (2) additional 1 year(s) periods or parts of a year. Extensions will be based upon a satisfactory review of Consultant's performance, CMWD needs, and appropriation of funds by the CMWD Board of Directors. The parties will prepare a written amendment indicating the effective date and length of the extended Agreement. 4.TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE Time is of the essence for each and every provision of this Agreement. 5.COMPENSATION The total fee payable for the Services to be performed during the initial Agreement term shall not exceed four hundred seventy thousand nine hundred four dollars ($470,904). No other compensation for the Services will be allowed except for items covered by subsequent amendments to this Agreement. If CMWD elects to extend the Agreement, the amount shall not exceed four hundred seventy thousand nine hundred four dollars ($470,904) per Agreement year. Payment terms are Net 30 unless otherwise provided in Exhibit “A” or agreed to in writing by the parties. CMWD reserves the right to withhold a ten percent (10%) retention until CMWD has accepted the work and/or Services specified in Exhibit “A”. Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Attachment A Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 9 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 2 Incremental payments, if applicable, should be made as outlined in attached Exhibit “A”. 6. PUBLIC WORKS 6.1 Prevailing Wage Rates. Any construction, alteration, demolition, installation, repair, and maintenance work, including work performed during design and preconstruction such as inspection and land surveying work, cumulatively exceeding $1,000 and performed under this Agreement constitute “public works” under California Labor Code Section 1720 et seq. and are subject to state prevailing wage laws. The general prevailing rate of wages, for each craft or type of worker needed to execute the contract, shall be those as determined by the Director of Industrial Relations pursuant to the Section 1770, 1773 and 1773.1 of the California Labor Code. Pursuant to Section 1773.2 of the California Labor Code, a current copy of applicable wage rates is on file in the office of the City of Carlsbad City Engineer. Consultant shall not pay less than the said specified prevailing rates of wages to all such workers employed by Consultant in the execution of the Agreement. Consultant and any subconsultants shall comply with Section 1776 of the California Labor Code, which generally requires keeping accurate payroll records, verifying and certifying payroll records, and making them available for inspection. Consultant shall require any subconsultants to comply with Section 1776. 6.2 DIR Registration. California Labor Code Section 1725.5 requires the Consultant and any subconsultant or subconsultant performing any public work under this Agreement to be currently registered with the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), as specified in Labor Code Section 1725.5. Labor Code Section 1771.1 provides that a Consultant or subconsultant/subconsultant shall not be qualified to engage in the performance of any contract for public work, unless currently registered and qualified to perform public work pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5. Prior to the performance of public work by any subconsultant or subconsultant under this Agreement, Consultant must furnish CMWD with the subconsultant or subconsultant's current DIR registration number. 7. CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Procore Project Management and Collaboration System. This project may utilize the CMWD’s Procore (www.procore.com) online project management and document control platform. The intent of utilizing Procore is to reduce cost and schedule risk, improve quality and safety, and maintain a healthy team dynamic by improving information flow, reducing non-productive activities, reducing rework and decreasing turnaround times. Consultant is required to create a free web-based Procore user account(s) and utilize web-based training / tutorials (as needed) to become familiar with the system. Unless the City of Carlsbad City Engineer approves otherwise, Consultant shall process all project documents through Procore because this platform will be used to submit, track, distribute and collaborate on project. If unfamiliar or not otherwise trained with Procore, Consultant and applicable team members shall complete a free training certification course located at http://learn.procore.com/procore-certification- subConsultant. Consultant is responsible for obtaining their own Procore support, as needed, either through the online training or reaching out to the Procore support team. It will be the responsibility of Consultant to regularly check Procore and review updated documents as they are added. There will be no cost to the Consultant for use of Procore. It is recommended that Consultant provide mobile access for Windows, iOS located at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/procore-construction-management/id374930542 or Android devices located at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.procore.activities with the Procore App installed to at least one on-site individual to provide real-time access to current posted drawings, specifications, requests for information, submittals, schedules, change orders, project documents, as well as any deficient observations or punch list items. Providing mobile access will improve communication, Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 10 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 3 efficiency, and productivity for all parties. The use of Procore for project management does not relieve the Consultant of any other requirements as may be specified in this Agreement. 8. STATUS OF CONSULTANT Consultant will perform the Services in Consultant's own way as an independent Consultant and in pursuit of Consultant's independent calling, and not as an employee of CMWD. Consultant will be under the control of CMWD only as to the result to be accomplished, but will consult with CMWD as necessary. The persons used by Consultant to provide services under this Agreement will not be considered employees of CMWD for any purposes. The payment made to Consultant pursuant to this Agreement will be the full and complete compensation to which Consultant is entitled. CMWD will not make any federal or state tax withholdings on behalf of Consultant or its agents, employees or subconsultants. CMWD will not be required to pay any workers' compensation insurance or unemployment contributions on behalf of Consultant or its employees or subconsultants. Consultant agrees to indemnify CMWD and the City of Carlsbad within thirty (30) days for any tax, retirement contribution, social security, overtime payment, unemployment payment or workers' compensation payment which CMWD may be required to make on behalf of Consultant or any agent, employee, or subconsultant of Consultant for work done under this Agreement. At CMWD’s election, CMWD may deduct the indemnification amount from any balance owing to Consultant. 9. SUBCONTRACTING Consultant will not subcontract any portion of the Services without prior written approval of CMWD. If Consultant subcontracts any of the Services, Consultant will be fully responsible to CMWD for the acts and omissions of Consultant's subconsultant and of the persons either directly or indirectly employed by the subconsultant, as Consultant is for the acts and omissions of persons directly employed by Consultant. Nothing contained in this Agreement will create any contractual relationship between any subconsultant of Consultant and CMWD. Consultant will be responsible for payment of subconsultants. Consultant will bind every subconsultant and every subconsultant of a subconsultant by the terms of this Agreement applicable to Consultant's work unless specifically noted to the contrary in the subcontract and approved in writing by CMWD. 10. OTHER CONSULTANTS CMWD reserves the right to employ other Consultants in connection with the Services. 11. INDEMNIFICATION Consultant agrees to defend (with counsel approved by CMWD), indemnify and hold harmless CMWD and the City of Carlsbad and its officers, elected and appointed officials, employees and volunteers from and against all claims, damages, losses and expenses including attorneys fees arising out of the performance of the work described in this Agreement caused by any willful misconduct or negligent act or omission of the Consultant, any subconsultant, anyone directly or indirectly employed by any of them or anyone for whose acts any of them may be liable. If Consultant’s obligation to defend, indemnify, and/or hold harmless arises out of Consultant’s performance as a “design professional” (as that term is defined under California Civil Code Section 2782.8), then, and only to the extent required by California Civil Code Section 2782.8, which is fully incorporated in this Agreement, Consultant’s indemnification obligation shall be limited to claims that arise out of, pertain to, or relate to the negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of the Consultant, and, upon Consultant obtaining a final adjudication by a court of competent jurisdiction. Consultant’s Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 11 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 4 liability for such claim, including the cost to defend, shall not exceed the Consultant’s proportionate percentage of fault. The parties expressly agree that any payment, attorney’s fee, costs or expense CMWD or the City of Carlsbad incurs or makes to or on behalf of an injured employee under CMWD’s self-administered workers’ compensation is included as a loss, expense or cost for the purposes of this section, and that this section will survive the expiration or early termination of this Agreement. 12. INSURANCE Consultant will obtain and maintain for the duration of the Agreement and any and all amendments, insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damage to property which may arise out of or in connection with performance of the services by Consultant or Consultant’s agents, representatives, employees or subconsultants. The insurance will be obtained from an insurance carrier admitted and authorized to do business in the State of California. The insurance carrier is required to have a current Best's Key Rating of not less than “A-:VII”; OR with a surplus line insurer on the State of California’s List of Approved Surplus Line Insurers (LASLI) with a rating in the latest Best’s Key Rating Guide of at least “A:X”; OR an alien non-admitted insurer listed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) latest quarterly listings report. 12.1 Coverages and Limits. Consultant will maintain the types of coverages and minimum limits indicated below, unless the Risk Manager or Executive Manager approves a lower amount. These minimum amounts of coverage will not constitute any limitations or cap on Consultant's indemnification obligations under this Agreement. CMWD, its officers, agents and employees make no representation that the limits of the insurance specified to be carried by Consultant pursuant to this Agreement are adequate to protect Consultant. If Consultant believes that any required insurance coverage is inadequate, Consultant will obtain such additional insurance coverage, as Consultant deems adequate, at Consultant's sole expense. The full limits available to the named insured shall also be available and applicable to CMWD as an additional insured. 12.1.1 Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance. Insurance written on an “occurrence” basis, including personal and advertising injury, with limits no less than $2,000,000 per occurrence. If a general aggregate limit applies, either the general aggregate limit shall apply separately to this project/location or the general aggregate limit shall be twice the required occurrence limit. 12.1.2 Automobile Liability. (if the use of an automobile is involved for Consultant's work for CMWD). $2,000,000 combined single-limit per accident for bodily injury and property damage. 12.1.3 Workers' Compensation and Employer's Liability. Workers' Compensation limits as required by the California Labor Code. Workers' Compensation will not be required if Consultant has no employees and provides, to CMWD's satisfaction, a declaration stating this. 12.1.4 Professional Liability. Errors and omissions liability appropriate to Consultant’s profession with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per claim. Coverage must be maintained for a period of five years following the date of completion of the work. 12.2. Additional Provisions. Consultant will ensure that the policies of insurance required under this Agreement contain, or are endorsed to contain, the following provisions: Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 12 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 5 12.2.1 CMWD will be named as an additional insured on Commercial General Liability which shall provide primary coverage to CMWD. 12.2.2 Consultant will obtain occurrence coverage, excluding Professional Liability, which will be written as claims-made coverage. 12.2.3 If Consultant maintains higher limits than the minimums shown above, the CMWD requires and will be entitled to coverage for the higher limits maintained by Consultant. Any available insurance proceeds in excess of the specified minimum limits of insurance and coverage will be available to the CMWD. 12.2.4 This insurance will be in force during the life of the Agreement and any extensions of it and will not be canceled without thirty (30) days prior written notice to CMWD sent by certified mail pursuant to the Notice provisions of this Agreement. 12.3 Providing Certificates of Insurance and Endorsements. Prior to CMWD's execution of this Agreement, Consultant will furnish certificates of insurance and endorsements to CMWD. 12.4 Failure to Maintain Coverage. If Consultant fails to maintain any of these insurance coverages, then CMWD will have the option to declare Consultant in breach, or may purchase replacement insurance or pay the premiums that are due on existing policies in order to maintain the required coverages. Consultant is responsible for any payments made by CMWD to obtain or maintain insurance and CMWD may collect these payments from Consultant or deduct the amount paid from any sums due Consultant under this Agreement. 12.5 Submission of Insurance Policies. CMWD reserves the right to require, at any time, complete and certified copies of any or all required insurance policies and endorsements. 13. BUSINESS LICENSE Consultant will obtain and maintain a City of Carlsbad Business License for the term of the Agreement, as may be amended from time-to-time. 14. ACCOUNTING RECORDS Consultant will maintain complete and accurate records with respect to costs incurred under this Agreement. All records will be clearly identifiable. Consultant will allow a representative of CMWD during normal business hours to examine, audit, and make transcripts or copies of records and any other documents created pursuant to this Agreement. Consultant will allow inspection of all work, data, documents, proceedings, and activities related to the Agreement for a period of four (4) years from the date of final payment under this Agreement. 15. OWNERSHIP OF DOCUMENTS All work product produced by Consultant or its agents, employees, and subconsultants pursuant to this Agreement is the property of CMWD. In the event this Agreement is terminated, all work product produced by Consultant or its agents, employees and subconsultants pursuant to this Agreement will be delivered at once to CMWD. Consultant will have the right to make one (1) copy of the work product for Consultant’s records. Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 13 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 6 16. COPYRIGHTS Consultant agrees that all copyrights that arise from the services will be vested in CMWD and Consultant relinquishes all claims to the copyrights in favor of CMWD. 17. NOTICES The name of the persons who are authorized to give written notices or to receive written notice on behalf of CMWD and on behalf of Consultant under this Agreement. For CMWD For Consultant Name Keri Martinez Name Phil Harris Title District Engineer Title Development Advisory Director Department PW Utilities Address 100 Montgomery Street, Suite 725 Carlsbad Municipal Water District San Francisco, CA 94104 Address 5950 El Camino Real Phone No. 925-644-1516 Carlsbad, CA 92008 Email pharris@forefrontpower.com Phone No. 442-200-7376 Each party will notify the other immediately of any changes of address that would require any notice or delivery to be directed to another address. 18. CONFLICT OF INTEREST Consultant shall file a Conflict of Interest Statement with the City Clerk in accordance with the requirements of the CMWD Conflict of Interest Code. The Consultant shall report investments or interests as required in the CMWD Conflict of Interest Code. Yes ☐ No ☒ If yes, list the contact information below for all individuals required to file: Name Email Phone Number 19. GENERAL COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS Consultant will keep fully informed of federal, state and local laws and ordinances and regulations which in any manner affect those employed by Consultant, or in any way affect the performance of the Services by Consultant. Consultant will at all times observe and comply with these laws, ordinances, and regulations and will be responsible for the compliance of Consultant's services with all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations. Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 14 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 7 Consultant will be aware of the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and will comply with those requirements, including, but not limited to, verifying the eligibility for employment of all agents, employees, subconsultants and consultants that the services required by this Agreement. 20. CALIFORNIA AIR RESOURCES BOARD (CARB) ADVANCED CLEAN FLEETS REGULATIONS Consultant’s vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating greater than 8,500 lbs. and light-duty package delivery vehicles operated in California may be subject to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Advanced Clean Fleets regulations. Such vehicles may therefore be subject to requirements to reduce emissions of air pollutants. For more information, please visit the CARB Advanced Clean Fleets webpage at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/advanced-clean-fleets. 21. DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION PROHIBITED Consultant will comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. 22. DISPUTE RESOLUTION If a dispute should arise regarding the performance of the Services the following procedure will be used to resolve any questions of fact or interpretation not otherwise settled by agreement between the parties. Representatives of Consultant or CMWD will reduce such questions, and their respective views, to writing. A copy of such documented dispute will be forwarded to both parties involved along with recommended methods of resolution, which would be of benefit to both parties. The representative receiving the letter will reply to the letter along with a recommended method of resolution within ten (10) business days. If the resolution thus obtained is unsatisfactory to the aggrieved party, a letter outlining the disputes will be forwarded to the Executive Manager. The Executive Manager will consider the facts and solutions recommended by each party and may then opt to direct a solution to the problem. In such cases, the action of the Executive Manager will be binding upon the parties involved, although nothing in this procedure will prohibit the parties from seeking remedies available to them at law. 23. TERMINATION In the event of the Consultant's failure to prosecute, deliver, or perform the Services, CMWD may terminate this Agreement for nonperformance by notifying Consultant by certified mail of the termination. If CMWD decides to abandon or indefinitely postpone the work or services contemplated by this Agreement, CMWD may terminate this Agreement upon written notice to Consultant. Upon notification of termination, Consultant has five (5) business days to deliver any documents owned by CMWD and all work in progress to CMWD address contained in this Agreement. CMWD will make a determination of fact based upon the work product delivered to CMWD and of the percentage of work that Consultant has performed which is usable and of worth to CMWD in having the Agreement completed. Based upon that finding CMWD will determine the final payment of the Agreement. CMWD may terminate this Agreement by tendering thirty (30) days written notice to Consultant. Consultant may terminate this Agreement by tendering thirty (30) days written notice to CMWD. In the event of termination of this Agreement by either party and upon request of CMWD, Consultant will assemble the work product and put it in order for proper filing and closing and deliver it to CMWD. Consultant will be paid for work performed to the termination date; however, the total will not exceed the lump sum fee payable under this Agreement. CMWD will make the final determination as to the portions of tasks completed and the compensation to be made. Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 15 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 8 24. COVENANTS AGAINST CONTINGENT FEES Consultant warrants that Consultant has not employed or retained any company or person, other than a bona fide employee working for Consultant, to solicit or secure this Agreement, and that Consultant has not paid or agreed to pay any company or person, other than a bona fide employee, any fee, commission, percentage, brokerage fee, gift, or any other consideration contingent upon, or resulting from, the award or making of this Agreement. For breach or violation of this warranty, CMWD will have the right to annul this Agreement without liability, or, in its discretion, to deduct from the Agreement price or consideration, or otherwise recover, the full amount of the fee, commission, percentage, brokerage fees, gift, or contingent fee. 25. CLAIMS AND LAWSUITS By signing this Agreement, Consultant agrees that any agreement claim submitted to CMWD must be asserted as part of the agreement process as set forth in this Agreement and not in anticipation of litigation or in conjunction with litigation. Consultant acknowledges that if a false claim is submitted to CMWD, it may be considered fraud and Consultant may be subject to criminal prosecution. Consultant acknowledges that California Government Code Section 12650 et seq., the False Claims Act applies to this Agreement and, provides for civil penalties where a person knowingly submits a false claim to a public entity. These provisions include false claims made with deliberate ignorance of the false information or in reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of information. If CMWD seeks to recover penalties pursuant to the False Claims Act, it is entitled to recover its litigation costs, including attorney's fees. Consultant acknowledges that the filing of a false claim may subject Consultant to an administrative debarment proceeding as the result of which Consultant may be prevented to act as a Consultant on any public work or improvement for a period of up to five (5) years. Consultant acknowledges debarment by another jurisdiction is grounds for CMWD to terminate this Agreement. 26. JURISDICTION AND VENUE This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California without regard to, or application of, choice of law rules or principles. Any action at law or in equity brought by either of the parties for the purpose of enforcing a right or rights provided for by this Agreement will be tried in a court of competent jurisdiction in the County of San Diego, State of California, and the parties waive all provisions of law providing for a change of venue in these proceedings to any other county. 27. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS It is mutually understood and agreed that this Agreement will be binding upon CMWD and Consultant and their respective successors. Neither this Agreement nor any part of it nor any monies due or to become due under it may be assigned by Consultant without the prior consent of CMWD, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. 28. THIRD PARTY RIGHTS Nothing in this Agreement should be construed to give any rights or benefits to any party other than the City and Consultant. 29. ENTIRE AGREEMENT This Agreement, together with any other written document referred to or contemplated by it, along with the purchase order for this Agreement and its provisions, embody the entire Agreement and understanding between the parties relating to the subject matter of it. In case of conflict, the terms of the Agreement supersede the purchase order. Neither this Agreement nor any of its provisions may be amended, modified, waived or discharged except in a writing signed by both parties. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts. Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 16 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 9 30. AUTHORITY The individuals executing this Agreement and the instruments referenced in it on behalf of Consultant each represent and warrant that they have the legal power, right and actual authority to bind Consultant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement. CONSULTANT CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT, a Public Agency organized under the Municipal Water Act of 1911, and a Subsidiary District of the City of Carlsbad FOREFRONT LICENSING, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company By: By: (sign here) KEITH BLACKBURN, President Kristen Frooshani, Vice President (print name/title) ATTEST: By: SHERRY FREISINGER, Secretary (sign here) By: Deborah Stewart, Secretary Assistant City Clerk (print name/title) If required by CMWD, proper notarial acknowledgment of execution by Consultant must be attached. If a corporation, Agreement must be signed by one corporate officer from each of the following two groups. Group A Group B Chairman, Secretary, President, or Assistant Secretary, Vice-President CFO or Assistant Treasurer Otherwise, the corporation must attach a resolution certified by the secretary or assistant secretary under corporate seal empowering the officer(s) signing to bind the corporation. APPROVED AS TO FORM: CINDIE K. McMAHON, General Counsel By: _____________________________ Assistant General Counsel Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 17 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PSA26-3925UTIL General Counsel Approved Version 6/20/2025 Page 10 EXHIBIT A SCOPE OF SERVICES AND FEE Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 18 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 0 Project Approach Based on the objectives outlined in the RFP and subsequent Questions and Answers Addendum, ForeFront Power (“FFP”) recommends a two phased approach to complete the scope of work outlined in the RFP. In the first phase—Initial Assessment and Project Conceptualization— FFP will work with CMWD to evaluate various design and contract structure options for the project and provide an early assessment of commercial viability of each option via desktop studies, light-touch civil and environmental engineering work, and FFP’s extensive PV/BESS commercial experience. Should the project meet CMWD’s commercial requirements, CMWD may elect to move to the second phase— Detailed Assessment—to determine complete technical and financial feasibility pursuant to the requirements laid out in the RFP, as well as develop a comprehensive set of project plans that will serve as the basis of any subsequent PV/BESS Project RFP. FFP will not proceed with any work described in Phase 2 – Detailed Assessment below without a written contract amendment executed by both FFP and CMWD. Such amendment will direct FFP to proceed with Phase 2 and detail the scope, schedule, and compensation due to FFP for performing the work described in Phase 2 below. FFP understands that this approach differs slightly from that outlined in the RFP scope of services, however we are confident that this approach will yield the optimal project outcome for CMWD by leveraging our PV/BESS commercial experience early in the process to avoid unnecessary steps or spending should roadblocks be identified. There are several reasons we suggest a two-phased process. These include: • Regulatory limitations on how the power output will be sold will shape critical components of the PV/BESS design. Depending on the final buyer of the project output and what regulatory framework is utilized to enable the sale of electricity from the project, there will be significant deviations in final PV and BESS design that will ultimately dictate other aspects of the project like environmental assessment, permitting, and civil design. For example, certain programs involve connection behind existing load meters and generation of utility bill credits while others involve direct connection to the grid and sale to a load-serving entity. Certain programs have specific capacity limitations and interconnection requirements that should be taken into consideration prior to performing significant site diligence. • Project economics will vary substantially based on electricity sale and offtake strategy. Considerable differences exist between regulatory programs for the potential $/kWh value the project will receive for its generation output. Not all programs offer a high enough $/kWh purchase value to make a project economically feasible and program nuances, like PV system capacity limitations, mean that PV system design decisions should be informed not only by how to minimize build cost, but also by how to maximize a project’s revenue stream. • Significant uncertainty exists in the current solar PV market landscape. In addition to the typical time-sensitive factors of PV and BESS project development, future solar projects face additional regulatory headwinds that are not yet fully defined. Potential changes to current Investment Tax Credit (“ITC”) incentives and the possibility of import tariffs on certain PV and BESS equipment could meaningfully change the viability of a particular project. The Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 19 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 1 implications of these changes should be understood prior to investing significant time and resources into detailed project diligence. FFP’s goal with the Initial Assessment and Project Conceptualization phase is to provide CMWD with a preliminary but realistic outline of expected economics and a summary of development challenges and considerations for various project options early in the process. This will allow CMWD to make an informed decision as to if more detailed development work is warranted. In addition, this approach enables CMWD and FFP to define the preferred PV/BESS project configuration prior to performing more detailed analysis, providing for a more efficient design development process and avoiding rework and cost overruns. Please see further detail on our proposed project approach below. Phase 1: Initial Assessment and Project Conceptualization FFP will begin with a phase focused on assessing project commercial viability before proceeding with full technical and feasibility studies. Phase 1 will address all aspects of the project requirements (regulatory, civil design, PV/BESS design, environmental, power off-take, and economics) primarily from a desktop view and leverage FFP’s commercial expertise to conceptualize the Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project. This will help CMWD determine if the project has potential to succeed before moving into complete assessments as well as to focus detailed diligence around a specific project profile. Phase 1 consists of the following: Phase 1A: ForeFront Power Orientation and Initial Client Discovery The first sub-phase focuses on client onboarding and project plan development. FFP will host discovery sessions and workshops to understand CMWD’s goals for the project, begin data collection, and establish the project schedule. Tasks include: • Project kick-off, scheduling of coordination and progress meetings, and refinement of proposed project plan • Discussion on CMWD’s project goals and priorities around project economics, desired contract structure, and sustainability impact • Initial discussions on pro’s/con's of project specifics and their impact on viability (for ex: BESS requirements and limitations, site access, importance of access road) • Outline of current regulatory landscape for PV/BESS projects of this type based on then current market conditions • FFP led site-visit (including sub-contractors and CMWD personnel) and data collection (obtain usage data, review existing surveys, etc.) Deliverables: Project Management Plan, meeting cadence/agendas, begin delivering monthly project status reports and invoices Team: FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester, A. Scherzer) Timeline: 4 weeks Phase 1B: Initial Diligence The next sub-phase focuses on initial project diligence across several considerations, including PV design, civil design, environmental planning, and site survey work. ForeFront will continue to provide regular project updates and attend coordination meetings outlined during Phase 1A during this next phase. This stage includes: Regulatory Review and PV Conceptualization Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 20 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 2 CMWD will have multiple options for how to configure the project, including determining PV system size, power monetization strategy, and whether to include BESS. This sub-phase will outline the potential programs and layouts that will serve as the basis for continued conceptualization and diligence. Tasks include: • Research and outline of potential off-take programs (including SDG&E’s RES-BCT and Net Metering programs, CEA Feed-in-Tariff and custom off-take agreements, and PURPA Qualifying Facility) and mapping CMWD’s annual and hourly electricity load against program rules to determine the best fit for the project • Light electrical engineering to identify potential interconnection options in connection to the potential off-take programs above (both behind the meter and grid-connected) and guidance to ensure compliance with SDGE requirements • Development of three PV layout scenarios with varying degrees of civil work (high, medium, and low) in combination with program and interconnection limitations Deliverables: Summary and discussion of power off-take and preliminary interconnection plan Team: FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 4 weeks Site Survey and Real Estate Diligence Survey and real estate work for the Initial Diligence phase will be focused only on the PV site adjacent to the reservoir and will be limited to review of existing data (2’ contour map, CMWD provided title reports for PV site, CMWD provided easement information, deed and other publicly available information). The provided deliverables will be approximate only and intended only for use within this initial site assessment. They are subject to change when a more thorough survey is completed as part of Phase 2. • Gather and review existing site records, including property boundary information, right-of- way maps, preliminary title reports, existing easement information, and flood plain studies for PV site • Site Visit to ground truth the record boundary and determine the vertical datum • High level review of available access road information and deed research (Order title reports in Phase 2) • Generate CAD files per Access Road and PV site record information and combine with 2’ contour data provided by CMWD • Approximately locate easements, property encumbrances, and other title report information where plottable and feasible Deliverables: Records research and preliminary title reports for PV site, CAD files of approximate property boundary and 2’ contour data informed by site visit and title report information Team: FFP (N. Sellers, P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 6 weeks Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 21 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 3 Civil Design Initial Assessment The initial civil design assessment will help FFP and CMWD understand the potential costs of achieving varying amounts of PV capacity and the extent of future civil design work required for project access via Sunny Creek Road. Tasks include: • Perform civil design review based on available data. Review may include: o Slope assessment o Hydrology assessment o Wetland and waterbody clearances and buffers o Soils assessment o Stormwater management and erosion assessment o Establish on-site base flood elevation to be used for setting PV and ancillary equipment elevations based on information from FEMA mapping, available flood insurance studies, county floodplain administrator, and available site topographic information. • Perform grading study using existing 2-ft elevation topographic data and/or available LIDAR data to develop high level grading concepts and cost estimates for the associated work for three scenarios: o “High Civil Work” Scenario: civil work and grading design to maximize solar PV capacity o “Low Civil Work” Scenario: civil work and grading design to minimize the amount and cost of site work while still achieving a reasonable PV capacity (~ 1 MW or greater) o “Mid Civil Work” Scenario: civil work and grading design that achieves significant PV scale but avoids areas of the site that would require the most expensive site work • A critical element of this study is tracker and or PV racking technology. There are “Terrain Following” trackers and fixed tile racking systems that have higher slope tolerances. Initial PV racking technology will be evaluated as part of the initial grading study. • High level review of available data and site walk on the planned access road to identify significant issues (either in terms of design viability or expected cost) that will need to be addressed to achieve reliable site access via Sunny Creek Rd • Identify and summarize significant issues at PV site and access road that may impact the project. Deliverables: Preliminary site grading concepts and costs across varying levels of civil engineering work, summary of initial access road assessment Team: TRC, FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 4 weeks Environmental/Permitting Assessment FFP will engage its sub-contractor for a preliminary environmental feasibility study which will serve as an initial environmental constraints analysis, focused on identifying potential environmental issues that may affect future site development. This high-level assessment will rely on readily available data sources, such as regional and local planning documents, environmental databases, and existing technical studies. The study will evaluate the site’s general suitability for development by highlighting key environmental constraints (e.g., sensitive habitats, flood zones, hazardous materials, cultural resources), identifying data gaps that may require further investigation, and offering preliminary recommendations to guide the environmental compliance strategy under CEQA or other applicable Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 22 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 4 regulations. Additionally, the study will review safety considerations for BESS facilities and onsite chlorine dioxide storage and include preliminary community outreach. • Compiling and reviewing existing data from federal, state, and local sources, including CEQA and NEPA thresholds, City of Carlsbad Habitat Management Plan, 2017 Tribal, Cultural, and Paleontological Resources Guidelines, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), San Diego Air Pollution Control District, Relevant General Plan and zoning documents • Identifying and mapping known or potential constraints based on readily available information, including biological resources and habitat conservation areas, cultural and tribal cultural sensitivity zones, hazardous materials, geologic hazards, existing traffic and air quality information, proximity to sensitive receptors, and fire hazards and severity zones • Providing a feasibility-level assessment of environmental factors based on CEQA Appendix G, including Aesthetics, Biological Resources, Air Quality & GHG Emissions, Transportation/Traffic, Cultural and Tribal Cultural Resources, Noise, Hydrology, Hazards, Utilities, and more • Identify preliminary project triggers, required entitlements & opportunities, such as: Potential permitting triggers (e.g., federal wetland jurisdiction, species impacts, critical habitat), Recommended approach to CEQA compliance, including the potential for CEQA exemptions or tiering opportunities, Regulatory avoidance strategies • Develop permitting matrix to identify requirements and permitting responsibility for PV/BESS construction and related activities • Regulatory Permitting Summary of needs from agencies such as USFWS (Section 7 consultation, if federal funding involved), CDFW (e.g., 1602 Lake/Streambed, Incidental Take), RWQCB (401 Water Quality Certification), USACE (404, if jurisdictional waters present) • Perform a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (“ESA”) for the PV/BESS site in accordance with ASTM Standard E 1527-13. This will include a property inspection, interviews with owners/occupants, research of standard historic and regulatory records, and the preparation of a report detailing findings. Please note that while a Phase 1 ESA was not outlined in CMWD’s requested scope of services, FFP highly recommends performing one as it will be required diligence by any third-party PV/BESS owner. • Identify fire suppression current codes, design standards and available technology for BESS facilities, including current or pending requirements from San Diego County for inclusion in detailed design work to be completed as part of Phase 2 • Assess and identify safety and security requirements applicable to the PV and/or BESS project due to the presence of onsite chlorine dioxide storage. Coordination with the City of Carlsbad and County of San Diego will be conducted to confirm applicable regulatory requirements. • Public Outreach Campaign: attend five meetings with City/CMWD-identified stakeholders (homeowners associations, interested parties) and provide descriptive literature on the proposed facilities. Work with the City’s communication staff to develop a public outreach plan. Build an online survey with up to 15 questions for posting to an online app by City staff Prepare meeting agendas, meeting minutes and assist with set up/take down. Develop presentations and meeting materials (Powerpoint, maps, charts, etc.). Prepare a summary of Public Input Report based on outreach and feedback received. Deliverables: Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment report, Preliminary Environmental Constraints Analysis report, technical memorandum on chlorine storage and initial BESS fire suppression findings, Community Outreach Public Input Summary Report Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 23 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 5 Team: EPD, FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 8 weeks (please note that we anticipate the Public Outreach Campaign may take significantly longer depending on CMWD stakeholder engagement scheduling and public input) Phase 1C: Project Option Review and Conceptualization The final phase of the initial assessment will be to refine the initial project concepts, provide estimated ranges for project cost and savings, review available contract structures, and develop preliminary financial models to provide indicative economic analysis for project concepts and contract structures. FFP will summarize expected project economics and qualitative risks to confirm intended contract structure and recommend whether to move forward with the next phase of project diligence. This will include: Project Concept Development • Synthesize findings from regulatory, civil, environmental, and real estate studies to refine PV and BESS development strategy • Finalize three initial project designs (layouts, civil engineering concepts, interconnection strategy, permitting requirements, and off-take plan) and develop high-level cost summaries for each scenario across equipment, civil engineering, environmental permitting, and interconnection costs • Evaluate available contract structures and financing options for best fit, either a Power Purchase Agreement “PPA” or a CMWD land lease. Qualitative and quantitative analysis outlining the key differences between contract structure options to finance the solar project. Review of high level economics, obligations, and other pro/cons of each structure to help CMWD decide on the preferred structure. • Identification of Federal, State, and local incentives available to the project along with outline of incentive structure, process to monetize, schedule and deadlines that must be considered • Build indicative financial model to analyze project savings or cost under various contract structures and project design concepts • Develop initial project economics, including estimating cost savings and revenue potential of each project design under various contract structure, summary of qualitative project benefits and risks Qualitative Summary and Discussion • Summarize findings from the initial diligence phase, highlighting any challenges to project development • Discuss nuances of project design options on feasibility, permitting, and development effort Phase 2 Go/No-Go and Project Concept Selection • Summarize and present results of initial diligence to CMWD focusing on project economics and qualitative factors for CMWD review • Recommendation on whether to move to Phase 2 based on CMWD goals and project feasibility and prioritization of preliminary design Deliverables: Report summarizing conceptual Maerkle Solar project configurations across three scenarios, including design layouts, interconnection and off-take strategy, project costs and revenues, Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 24 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 6 discussion of contract structure qualitative benefits and risks, project headwinds, and FFP recommendations for proceeding. Team: FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester, A. Scherzer) Timeline: 8 weeks Phase 2: Detailed Assessment Should CMWD determine the Maerkle Solar Project to be commercially viable following the results of Phase 1, CMWD and FFP will execute a written amendment to the contract releasing FFP to complete the Phase 2 work described herein for the additional fees as outlined for Phase 2 below. For the avoidance of doubt, FFP shall not complete any Phase 2 work without a mutually agreed to written amendment, executed by both parties, directing FFP to proceed with the Phase 2 work described herein. The detailed assessment will build off of the work done in Phase 1 and will be based on the final project configuration scenario (PV/BESS design, civil design concept, interconnection plan, and off-take strategy) selected by CMWD as part of the Phase 1 process. During Phase 2, all work as detailed in the RFP Tasks 3 – 9 that was not previously completed in Phase 1 will be done. Phase 2A: Detailed Diligence and Design At the beginning of Phase 2, several detailed diligence and design activities will be completed, in order to provide a comprehensive view on the technical feasibility and cost for the Maerkle Solar Project. All work shall be done in accordance with the requirements of the relevant tasks of the RFP. This Detailed Diligence and Design subphase will include the following. Survey and Real Estate Work – PV Site and Access Road FFP will engage its subcontractor to conduct a topographic survey of the PV and BESS project area as well as the Sunny Creek Road access (if determined necessary to include) and prepare a property base map with a one-foot contour interval. Preliminary title reports will be obtained for all properties potentially affected by the proposed access road with boundaries and easements plotted on base map. The work will include: • Gather and review existing site records, including property boundary information, right-of-way maps, preliminary title reports, existing easement information, and flood plain studies for access road • Perform and prepare topographic and boundary survey, including mapping of property boundaries, existing utilities and easements for PV site and access road, in accordance with Task 3 of the RFP • Obtain preliminary title reports for other properties potentially affected by the proposed access road alignment and identify and plot existing property boundaries and existing easements on the base map, including properties potentially affected by grading and slope easements for the proposed access road. Deliverables: Records research and preliminary title reports for Access Road, Topographical and Property base map (PV/BESS Site), Topographical and Property base map (access road), plans and maps of existing utilities Team: KWA, FFP (N. Sellers, P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 12 weeks Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 25 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 7 Geotechnical Reconnaissance FFP will engage its sub-contractor to perform a subsurface exploration program and geotechnical engineering service to provide geotechnical-related foundation design recommendations for the proposed solar array and battery energy storage system (BESS) development at the site., in accordance with Task 5 of the RFP. Tasks include: • Performing an exploration and testing program to obtain information that is pertinent to the interpretation of subsurface conditions relative to foundation design of the proposed solar arrays and BESS • Contacting California 811 One-Call utility locator service to verify public utility locations. Work with CMWD to identify possible underground private utility locations and offset borings and test pit locations as necessary to avoid conflicts. A private utility locator will be utilized to scan and clear the test boring and test pit locations. • Drilling and excavating test pits, the test borings for the solar array ground sites and BESS will be advanced to approximate depths of 20 ft each below existing ground surface (bgs). The test pits will be excavated to a depth of 10 feet bgs. A total of 5 borings and 10 test pits will be performed for the solar array ground sites and BESS. The test borings and test pits will be conducted using a truck-mounted drilling equipment and a backhoe, respectively. • A total of 6 with possibly up to 10 seismic refraction test locations will be performed for the site access road and solar array ground site and BESS • Drilling and sampling will be conducted in general accordance with ASTM D1586 • All samples obtained in the field will be delivered and/or shipped to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) accredited Soil Mechanics laboratory where they will be visually inspected by geotechnical engineering staff. Representative samples will be tested for pertinent properties, including, but not limited to, determination of grain size analysis, plasticity characteristics (Atterberg Limits), natural moisture content, and thermal resistivity. • A portion of the composite soil samples representative of the surficial soil materials encountered will be submitted to an accredited laboratory for corrosivity testing (including electrical resistivity, pH, chlorides, sulfides, and sulfates). The remaining portions of the bulk sample will be used for thermal resistivity testing in general accordance with ASTM D 5334, including Modified Proctor compaction characteristics, and soil classification • Upon completion of the field and laboratory testing, a draft geotechnical report summarizing the work will be provided to CMWD for review and comment. Any comments will be incorporated into the final geotechnical report. Deliverable: Draft Preliminary Geotechnical Investigation report, Final Geotechnical Investigation Report. Team: TRC, FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 12 weeks Civil Design 30% Development FFP will engage its sub-contractor to perform 30% Civil design development for both the PV/BESS site and access road, in accordance with Task 4 of the RFP. This 30% Civil Design development will build on Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 26 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 8 the initial work performed as part of Phase 1 and will be based on the project configuration scenario selected in Phase 1. Tasks include, but are not limited to: • Research and obtain available as-built utility and roadway plans which fall within or are adjacent to the development footprint and confirm facility setback requirements. Review applicable zoning-code or discretionary development permit and plot appropriate setbacks. • Hydrology & Hydraulics Studies: o Identify on-site and off-site storm water flow, overland drainage release patterns and elevations for grading, drainage, and BMP design. o Identify contributing watersheds to the Project site. o Model the hydrology and hydraulics of off-site contributing watersheds, flow patterns and quantities. o Establish the on-site base flood elevation to be used for setting PV and ancillary equipment elevations. o Incorporate re-routing of existing local drainage paths to accommodate changes to graded topography, as necessary. • Prepare a preliminary grading and drainage site plan that will address conveyance of offsite storm flows through the site, tracker and tracker foundation tolerances, and development constraints and setbacks. • Develop access road horizontal and vertical alignment 30% design with earthwork, paving, curb and gutter, and guardrail quantities. • Recommend creek crossing improvements at a 30% design level based on hydraulic study • Preliminary assessment of constructability based on observed subsurface conditions Deliverables: Draft Technical Memorandum and 30% plans (half-size, PDF), Final Technical Memorandum (PDF and 3 hard copies) all per Task 4 of the RFP Team: TRC, FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 16 weeks PV/BESS System Design Building on the initial work performed as part of Phase 1 and based on the project configuration scenario selected in Phase 1, FFP will refine the PV/BESS design and layout to incorporate the findings of the various Phase 2 – Detailed Diligence steps outlined above. Tasks include, but are not limited to: • Develop finalized PV/BESS layouts based on site specific factors, setbacks, constraints, 30% civil design, existing easements, and various other site specifics identified via detailed diligence. Layouts will be developed to accommodate existing easements and CMWD facilities, if necessary, and will consider planned site access. Layouts will show the overall size of the PV/BESS project, location of solar panels and storage equipment and identification of anticipated physical interconnection point(s). FFP will incorporate feedback from CMWD as necessary. • Development of solar energy production estimates based on the specific layout developed per the above, using industry standard software tools (PVSyst or Helioscope). Confirmation of expected production being appropriate for the electric load(s) the project is intended to serve if appropriate, based on final off-take strategy Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 27 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 9 • Refresh fire suppression analysis related to current codes and design standards for BESS facilities based on final PV/BESS design • Electrical feasibility and preliminary interconnection plan based on the conceptual layout developed, assessment of the existing electrical infrastructure at the site, and further discussions with CMWD as to the desired end-user of the electrical energy (for ex: is this project intended to serve onsite load, to output directly into SDGE’s grid or some combination). Forefront will identify planned and/or preferred interconnection points based on assessment of electrical infrastructure and optimal cost savings proposition to CMWD. Discussion of Utility interconnection and applicable offtake program rules and any pending or proposed changes to these that may impact desired project timeline. o It should be noted that in order to get an accurate estimate of SDGE’s costs for interconnection, an interconnection application must be submitted, and a study must be completed by SDGE. In order to complete this process, significant electrical engineering must be performed. While Forefront can develop and submit an interconnection application package on CMWD’s behalf, and has done so for other clients, this scope is most typically performed by the solar developer tasks with building the project. Forefront recommends CMWD consider its options related to the timing of interconnection application submittal in order to control its costs during the feasibility assessment. Forefront would be happy to discuss these options in further detail with CMWD if desired. • Develop an initial electrical design and single line diagram. Deliverables: Draft PV and BESS Technical Memorandum (PDF), Final PV and BESS Technical Memorandum (PDF and 3 hard copies), PV and BESS Layout, Initial PV and BESS Single line diagram Team: FFP (A. Sanders, P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 12 weeks (in collaboration with Civil Design Work as it is an iterative process) Final Environmental/Permitting Assessment The final environmental and permitting assessment will build upon the preliminary analysis and respond directly to the planned PV/BESS layout and Civil site plan. This refined assessment will provide a detailed evaluation of site-specific environmental constraints, such as biological resources, cultural resources, hazards, hazardous materials, and regulatory buffers, all in accordance with Task 6 of the RFP. The final report generated from this work will identify the most likely permitting and CEQA compliance pathways, outline potential mitigation requirements, and offer targeted recommendations to support an environmentally responsible site layout and design. This document will serve as a foundational tool for advancing the project through entitlement and environmental review. The work here will include • Site Plan Review and Impact Overlay: Overlay the site plan on identified environmental constraint areas, evaluate potential impacts from site layout, access points, grading, and building footprints, identify potential areas requiring redesign or avoidance measures, provide early-stage mitigation concepts, particularly for sensitive species, cultural areas, or critical habitat if necessary. • Updated CEQA/NEPA and Entitlement Feasibility Matrix: Refine evaluation of CEQA/NEPA and entitlement pathways with project-specific details, recommend a preferred Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 28 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 10 environmental clearance strategy (e.g., MND, EIR, tiering under a Master EIR, federal nexus requiring NEPA, etc.) • Environmental Cost and Level-of-Effort Estimates Provide planning-level cost estimates and timelines for future CEQA/NEPA documentation and associated technical studies • Photo-realistic visual simulations will be created to show Proposed grading contours and slopes (as visible in terrain modeling), PV array layouts, racking heights, panel angles, and associated equipment (inverters, fencing, etc.), BESS facility massing and enclosure design (based on available concept details), Creek crossing structure, showing bridge/culvert, embankments, and nearby vegetation or access paths. A total of (4) visual simulations of the grading concept and PV/BESS facilities and a total of (1) visual simulation of the proposed creek crossing will be provided. Deliverables: Draft Environmental Constraints Analysis (PDF), Final Environmental Constraints Analysis (PDF and 3 hard copies), Visual Simulations Team: EPD, FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 6 weeks Phase 2B: Final Design, Conclusions, and Economic Analysis Report The final phase of the Detailed Assessment will be to develop final costs estimates, economics, and technical feasibility reports and presentations outlining all analysis and findings on the final project design. This will include: Economic Analysis • Detailed cost estimate development based on 30% design (including civil, landscaping, PV/BESS, access road, interconnection, etc.) and including and expected range of construction, O&M, and debt service costs • Refresh available incentives, structure, process to monetize, schedule and deadlines that must be considered based on final project design and any changes to incentives that occurred after completion of Phase 1 work • Economic modeling for the final developed project design utilizing FFP’s industry knowledge of current pricing of similar projects. Provide expected range of costs and savings to gauge economic feasibility for the transaction. Development of a financial model of the project for CMWD’s manipulation and use. • Final economic analysis of project based on project design specifics. Refresh and update of assumptions used in Phase 1 with more granular cost and economic data developed as a part of Phase 2. Generate initial estimates of expected PPA or land lease offers that CMWD could expect to obtain via a competitive RFP process, Deliverables: Draft Economic Modeling and Financing Technical Memorandum (PDF), Final Economic Modeling and Financing Technical Memorandum (PDF and 3 hard copies) Team: FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester) Timeline: 4 weeks Final Technical and Feasibility Report Technical Memorandum Drafting • System design summary narrative Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 29 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Carlsbad Municipal Water District Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project 11 • Permitting/Development summary narrative including red flags and discussion of significant challenges that must be considered Final Feasibility Report • Write first draft of final report, Submit Draft Feasibility Report to CMWD staff • CMWD Staff Final workshop (present and review feasibility report) • Finalize Feasibility Report and Final Presentation to CMWD Board Deliverables: Draft Feasibility Report (PDF), Final Feasibility Report (PDF and 3 hard copies), Presentation at CMWD Board Meeting Team: FFP (P. Harris, S. Worcester, A. Scherzer) Timeline: 2 weeks Services Beyond the Initial Feasibility Assessment We understand that this RFP is only focused on the Feasibility Assessment portion of this effort and so therefore have focused our response on the work during this portion of the processes. However, FFP regularly consults our clients during solar project implementation, including solar contractor RFP management, contract negotiation, and construction monitoring advisory services. Should CMWD elect to move forward with implementation of the subject project, we would be happy to discuss follow up services for any or all these offerings. In the interim, please refer back to our Request for Qualifications (RFQ) response for further detail on our project implementation services. Docusign Envelope ID: 22E4CC25-7926-408C-AB98-60F18ECE461E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 30 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Ca r l s b a d M u n i c i p a l W a t e r D i s t r i c t Ma e r k l e R e s e r v o i r S o l a r P r o j e c t 25 Pr o j e c t S c h e d u l e Se e be l o w fo r Fo r e F r o n t P o w e r ’ s in i t i a l sc h e d u l e es t i m a t e fo r P h a s e 1 a n d P h a s e 2 a s d e s c r i b e d i n th e P r o j e c t A p p r o a c h s e c t i o n . We ge n e r a t e d t h i s pr o j e c t e d sc h e d u l e b a s e d o n i n t e r n a l ex p e c t a t i o n s a n d sc h e d u l e s pr o v i d e d b y o u r i n t e n d e d p a r t n e r s . W h e r e p o s s i b l e , we p l a n to r u n mu l t i p l e w o r k s t r e a m s i n p a r a l l e l . Th e s c h e d u l e i s s u b j e c t t o c h a n g e pe n d i n g th e aw a r d o f th e R F P a n d di s c o v e r i e s m a d e d u r i n g t h e sc o p e o f w o r k . We w o u l d b e h a p p y t o g o t h r o u g h th e s c h e d u l e in d e t a i l an d m a k e a d j u s t m e n t s b a s e d o n CM W D ’s n e e d s . Ph a s e 1 S c h e d u l e (Oc t 20 2 5 -Ma r 20 2 6): Do c u s i g n E n v e l o p e I D : 2 2 E 4 C C 2 5 - 7 9 2 6 - 4 0 8 C - A B 9 8 - 6 0 F 1 8 E C E 4 6 1 E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 31 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Ca r l s b a d Mu n i c i p a l W a t e r D i s t r i c t Ma e r k l e R e se r v o i r S o l a r P r o j e c t 26 Ph a s e 2 Sc h e d u l e (Ma r 20 2 6 – Oc t 20 2 6 ) : Th e Ph a s e 2 s c h e d u l e sh o w n b e l o w i s b a s e d o n t h e as s u m p t i o n o f a fu l l y e x e c u t e d a m e n dm e n t be t w e e n F F P a n d C W M D to b e g i n P h a s e 2 o n Ma r c h 2 5 , 2 0 2 6 . If CM W D a n d F F P d o n o t e x e c u t e a n d a m e n d m e n t u n t i l l a t e r t h a n t h i s d a t e , t h e P h a s e 2 s c h e d u l e w i l l n e e d t o b e a d j u s t e d ac c o r d i ng l y . Do c u s i g n E n v e l o p e I D : 2 2 E 4 C C 2 5 - 7 9 2 6 - 4 0 8 C - A B 9 8 - 6 0 F 1 8 E C E 4 6 1 E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 32 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Ph a s e 1 a F o r e f r o n t O r i e n t a t i o n a n d I n i t i a l D i s c o v e r y 40 , 2 2 6 $ Ph a s e 1 b I n i t i a l D i l i g e n c e 34 8 , 4 4 3 $ 1b . 1 R e g u l a t o r y r e v i e w a n d P V C o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n 29 , 2 8 6 $ 1b . 2 S u r v e y a n d R e a l E s t a t e W o r k - P V S i t e o n l y 33 , 3 4 1 $ 1b . 3 C i v i l D e s i g n I n i t i a l A s s e s s m e n t 97 , 3 4 4 $ 1b . 4 E n v i r o n m e n t a l / P e r m i t t i n g A s s e s s m e n t 18 8 , 4 7 2 $ Ph a s e 1 c P r o j e c t O p t i o n R e v i e w a n d C o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n 82 , 2 3 5 $ To t a l P h a s e 1 47 0 , 9 0 4 $ Pro j e c t T e a m R o l e Ad v i s o r y D i r e c t o r / Pr o j e c t M a n a g e r Ad v i s o r y As s o c i a t e E n g i n e e r En g i n e e r i n g Di r e c t o r De v e l o p m e n t Dir e c t o r Ad v i s o r y Ma n a g e r De v e l o p m e n t Ma n a g e r Pr o j e c t Co o r d i n a t o r S a l e s A n a l y s t La n d Te c h n i c i a n La n d Ma n a g e r Dir e c t o r o f La n d Civ i l E n g i n e e r i n g En v i r o n m e n t a l Co n s t r a i n t s a n d En t i t l e m e n t s S e r v i c e s Su r v e y i n g a n d Ma p p i n g To t a l S u b c o n s u l t a n t Fe e s Bil l a b l e R a t e 27 5 $ 1 9 1 $ 1 7 2 $ 24 0 $ 27 5 $ 20 5 $ 16 4 $ 10 3 $ 17 2 $ 12 6 $ 19 1 $ 28 9 $ TR C C o m p a n i e s I n c E P D S o l u t i o n s I n c . K W A I n c . Ph a s e 1 a F o r e f r o n t O r i e n t a t i o n a n d I n i t i a l D i s c o v e r y Kic k - o f f M e e t i n g a n d S i t e W a l k s 66 4 4 20 4, 1 3 8 $ - $ Re v i e w a n d c a t a l o g u e e x i s t i n g s i t e d o c u m e n t a t i o n 4 8 2 4 4 4 26 5, 6 8 6 $ - $ Re v i e w a n d c a t a l o g u e e l e c t r i c a c c o u n t a n d u t i l i t y b i l l i n f o 2 4 2 8 1, 6 5 6 $ - $ An a l y s i s a n d D i s c u s s i o n s w i t h c l i e n t o n p r o j e c t d e s i g n n u a n c e , c o n t r a c t s t r u c t u r e o p t i o n s a n d g o a l s / p r i o r i t i e s 4 4 6 4 4 4 26 5, 6 0 9 $ - $ Co o r d i n a t i o n M e e t i n g s w i t h o t h e r C a r l s b a d d e p a r t m e n t s 12 12 24 5, 5 8 7 $ - $ An a l y s i s a n d D i s c u s s i o n s o n c u r r e n t r e g u l a t o r y l a n d s c a p e , m a r k e t c o n d i t i o n s , a n d c o n t r a c t s t r u c t u r e o p t i o n s 8 12 8 2 30 7, 0 1 5 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e D e v e l o p m e n t , m a n a g e m e n t , a n d t r a c k i n g 8 8 4 4 2 26 5, 9 7 4 $ - $ Mee t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 4 6 2 4 2 2 20 4, 5 6 2 $ - $ 1a S u b t o t a l 4 8 60 14 1 0 24 6 18 0 18 0 40 , 2 2 6 $ 0 0 0 - $ Ph a s e 1 b I n i t i a l D i l i g e n c e 1b . 1 R e g u l a t o r y r e v i e w a n d P V C o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n Re s e a r c h a v a i l a b l e o f f t a k e p r o g r a m s 4 8 2 2 4 20 4, 0 5 1 $ - $ Ut i l i t y B i l l a n a l y s i s a n d m a p p i n g t o a v a i l a b l e p r o g r a m s ( B T M , V N E M ) 2 4 4 10 1, 9 9 9 $ - $ Cr e d i t v a l u e a n a l y s i s ( F r o n t o f t h e m e t e r ) 44 4 12 2, 5 4 9 $ - $ In i t i a l o u t r e a c h a n d d i s c u s s i o n s t o L o a d S e r v i n g E n t i t i e s a n d U t i l i t y ( S D G E , C E A , e t c . , ) 4 4 2 10 2, 1 9 1 $ - $ In t e r c o n n e c t i o n r e s e a r c h 4 2 2 2 2 1 13 2,8 0 4 $ - $ An a l y s i s o f a v a i l a b l e t o p o a n d s a t e l l i t e s i t e d a t a 24 2 8 1,5 6 5 $ - $ De v e l o p 3 l a y o u t s c e n a r i o s a n d i n i t i a l s i z i n g ( a p p r o x i m a t e P V a r e a s d e s i r e d ) 2 4 9 2 2 2 21 4,2 1 6 $ - $ Co n c e p t u a l i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n d e s i g n f o r 3 s c e n a r i o s ( g r i d - c o n n e c t e d v s B T M g e n e r i c p l a n ) 2 8 2 2 2 16 3,2 8 1 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 2 4 2 4 2 2 16 3, 2 8 6 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 3 8 1 2 2 16 3, 3 4 4 $ - $ 1b . 1 S u b t o t a l 2 9 38 23 9 4 8 14 17 14 2 29 , 2 8 6 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 1b . 2 S u r v e y a n d R e a l E s t a t e W o r k - P V S i t e o n l y Re c o r d s E x a m i n a t i o n a n d t i t l e r e p o r t r e v i e w - P V S i t e 1 2 6 16 2 27 5,0 4 4 $ - $ Sit e V i s i t t o g r o u n d t r u t h t h e r e c o r d b o u n d a r y a n d d e t e r m i n e v e r t i c a l d a t u m 8 8 2,3 1 4 $ - $ Hig h l e v e l a c c e s s R o a d e x i s t i n g d a t a r e v i e w / d e e d r e s e a r c h 2 12 4 18 3,6 9 8 $ - $ Ge n e r a t e C A D f i l e s p e r A c c e s s R o a d , P V S i t e r e c o r d i n f o r m a t i o n a n d c o m b i n e w i t h c o n t o u r d a t a p r o v i d e d 24 2 4 8 QA / Q C 24 3 1 8 4 22 4,6 1 5 $ - $ Hig h l e v e l r e v i e w o f c u r a t i v e i t e m s 2 2 16 4 24 5,0 8 8 $ - $ Su b c o n t r a c t o r m a n a g e m e n t , c o o r d i n a t i o n , i t e r a t i o n 0- $ Pro j e ct M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 4 8 3 2 8 4 29 6, 1 7 6 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 4 6 2 4 2 2 4 4 28 6, 4 0 6 $ - $ 1b . 2 S u b t o t a l 1 3 20 0 2 4 5 5 0 0 37 8 8 3 8 15 6 33 , 3 4 1 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 1b . 3 C i v i l D e s i g n I n i t i a l A s s e s s m e n t Ba s i s o f D e s i g n D e v e l o p m e n t 22 4 8 1, 6 1 8 $ An a l y z e a n d i n c o r p o r a t e s i t e d e v e l o p m e n t c o n s t r a i n t s . 2 2 4 4 4 16 3, 3 7 4 $ In i t i a l C i v i l D e s i g n R e v i e w ( S l o p e , h y d r o l o g y , w e t l a n d / w a t e r b o d y , s o i l s , s t o r m w a t e r , f l o o d p l a i n , e t c . ) 4 4 4 2 2 16 3, 6 2 4 $ Pr e p a r e C i v i l B a s e M a p s 2 2 34 3 $ Gr a d i n g S t u d y ( L o w , M e d i u m , H i g h E a r t h w o r k s c e n a r i o d e v e l o p m e n t ) 4 8 12 4 4 4 36 7, 4 0 2 $ Pr e l i m i n a r y a c c e s s r o a d s i t e r e d f l a g a s s e s s m e n t 4 2 4 2 2 2 16 3, 5 2 6 $ Su b c o n t r a c t o r m a n a g e m e n t , c o o r d i n a t i o n , d e s i g n i t e r a t i o n 4 4 1 8 17 2, 8 9 2 $ Re s u l t s S y n t h e s i s a n d A n a l y s i s , C o n c l u s i o n d e v e l o p m e n t , a n d T e c h n i c a l w r i t e - u p 8 8 6 4 2 28 6, 2 6 4 $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 4 6 4 2 16 3, 3 9 4 $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 4 4 2 2 12 2, 8 2 2 $ 1b . 3 S u b t o t a l 3 6 36 36 1 4 16 7 14 8 0 16 7 35 , 2 5 8 $ 62 , 0 8 6 $ - $ - $ 62 , 0 8 6 $ 1b . 4 E n v i r o n m e n t a l / P e r m i t t i n g A s s e s s m e n t Co m p i l e a n d r e v i e w e x i s t i n g d a t a f r o m f e d e r a l , s t a t e , l o c a l s o u r c e s ( C E Q A / N E P A , C a r l s b a d H a b i t a t M a n a g e m e n t P l a n , C D F W , e t c . ) 1 1 16 4 $ Id e n t i f y a n d M a p k n o w n o r p o t e n t i a l c o n s t r a i n t s ( B i o l o g i c a l , c u l t u r a l , H a z M a t , e t c . ) 2 2 1 5 1,2 6 4 $ De v e l o p f e a s i b i l i t y a s s e s s m e n t o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l f a c t o r s b a s e d o n C E Q A A p p e n d i x G 4 4 2 2 12 2,7 4 1 $ Pr e l i m i n a r y p r o j e c t t r i g g e r s , r e q u i r e d e n t i t l e m e n t s a n d p e r m i t t i n g m a t r i x 22 4 87 8 $ Du e D i l i g e n c e B E S S F i r e H a z a r d A s s e s s m e n t 22 2 2 8 1,7 4 0 $ 22 , 9 6 9 $ 22 , 9 6 9 $ Id e n t i f y c u r r e n t c o d e s , d e s i g n s t a n d a r d s a n d a v a i l a b l e t e c h n o l o g y f o r f i r e s u p p r e s s i o n , i n c l u d i n g n e w S a n D i e g o C o u n t y b e s t 2 2 126 4 2 28 5,8 5 8 $ Sa n D i e g o c o u n t y o t h e r A H J C h l o r i n e s t o r a g e s a f e t y r e q u i r e m e n t s , i n c l u d i n g c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h t h e C o u n t y 4 4 4 2 4 2 20 4,4 5 7 $ Ph a s e 1 E n v i r o n m e n t a l S i t e A s s e s s m e n t 2 2 55 0 $ 4,2 7 4 $ 4, 2 7 4 $ Co m m u n i t y O u t r e a c h p e r O u t l i n e i n R F P A m e n d m e n t 12 12 4 6 2 36 8,2 4 6 $ 68 , 2 5 0 $ 68 , 2 5 0 $ Su b c o n t r a c t o r m a n a g e m e n t , c o o r d i n a t i o n , m e e t i n g s , e x p e n s e s 6 8 4 8 10 36 6, 3 4 1 $ 18 , 5 4 4 $ 18 , 5 4 4 $ Re v i e w a n d i t e r a t i o n o f f e a s i b i l i t y a s s e s s m e n t , P h a s e 1 E S A , P e r m i t t i n g m a t r i x , B E S S F i r e H a z a r d A s s e s s m e n t 8 12 5 2 8 2 6 43 9,4 2 1 $ - $ An a l y s i s , Q & A , t e c h n i c a l w r i t e - u p 41 02 4 2 2 24 5, 1 8 9 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 8 12 4 2 26 5, 6 3 8 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 8 12 4 4 28 6, 4 0 8 $ - $ 1b . 4 S u b t o t a l 6 2 78 23 1 2 34 22 32 10 0 27 3 58 , 8 9 5 $ - $ 12 9 , 5 7 7 $ - $ 12 9 , 5 7 7 $ Ph a s e 1 c P r o j e c t O p t i o n R e v i e w a n d C o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n An a l y s i s o f a l l a b o v e o u t p u t a n d s y n t h e s i z e f i n d i n g s 12 16 2 4 2 2 38 8, 5 3 2 $ - $ Fin a l i z e ( 3 ) c o n c e p t u a l d e s i g n s ( l a y o u t , c i v i l c o n c e p t & c o s t , i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n s t r a t e g y , p e r m i t t i n g i m p l i c a t i o n s , o f f t a k e p l a n ) 64 4 4 4 22 4, 8 5 5 $ - $ De v e l o p h i g h l e v e l c o s t e s t i m a t e s f o r 3 s c e n a r i o s 4 16 2 22 5,8 2 5 $ 10 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 $ 10 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 $ Ou t l i n e a n d s u m m a r i z e a v a i l a b l e i n c e n t i v e s , p r o g r a m s a n d t i m e l i n e s 2 4 4 4 14 3, 0 9 8 $ - $ De v e l o p e c o n o m i c a n a l y s i s f o r v a r i o u s c o n t r a c t s t r u c t u r e s ( P P A , l a n d l e a s e ) 4 8 10 4 8 16 50 10 , 2 5 5 $ - $ Fin a n c i a l m o d e l d e v e l o p m e n t , a n a l y s i s , Q & A , a n d i t e r a t i o n s 4 4 8 8 24 4,5 5 0 $ - $ Ou t l i n e o f v a r i o u s c o n t r a c t s t r u c t u r e o p t i o n s 24 6 1,3 1 3 $ - $ Dis c u s s a n d p r e s e n t e x p e c t e d e c o n o m i c s , o b l i g a t i o n s , a n d o t h e r P r o s / C o n s o f e a c h s t r u c t u r e 2 4 6 1,3 1 3 $ - $ Su m m a r i z e i n i t i a l d i l i g e n c e f i n d i n g s a n d p r o j e c t c h a l l e n g e s 6 8 2 1 2 19 4,2 5 9 $ - $ Re v i e w a n d p r e s e n t n u a n c e s o f p r o j e c t d e s i g n o p t i o n s o n f e a s i b i l i t y , p e r m i t t i n g , a n d d e v e l o p m e n t e f f o r t 2 4 2 2 4 2 8 1 25 4,9 4 5 $ - $ Re v i e w a n d p r e s e n t e c o n o m i c s a n d q u a l i t a t i v e f a c t o r s o f o p t i o n s f o r C M W D f i n a l r e v i e w 2 4 2 2 4 14 2,9 3 0 $ - $ Re v i e w a n d p r e s e n t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o n w h e t h e r t o m o r e t o P h a s e 2 a n d w h i c h c o n c e p t s t o p u r s u e 6 10 6 2 4 28 6,2 7 4 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e D e v e l o p m e n t , m a n a g e m e n t , a n d t r a c k i n g 6 8 4 1 19 4,1 6 0 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d f i n a l r e p o r t d r a f t i n g , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 12 12 4 8 6 42 9,4 2 5 $ - $ 1c S u b t o t a l 7 0 90 10 8 50 21 37 0 32 2 8 1 32 9 71 , 7 3 5 $ - $ 10 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 $ - $ 10 , 5 0 0 . 0 0 $ To t a l s 2 5 8 32 2 10 6 5 5 13 2 69 12 0 18 49 39 9 6 3 9 12 4 7 26 8 , 7 4 1 $ 62 , 0 8 6 $ 14 0 , 0 7 7 $ - $ 20 2 , 1 6 3 $ To t a l C o s t - P h a s e 1 Pr o p o s e d P h a s e 1 t r a v e l e x p e n s e b u d g e t o f $ 2 0 , 0 0 0 f o r F o r e f r o n t e m pl o y e e s o n l y . T r a v e l e x p e n s e s w o u l d b e r e i m b u r s e d a t c o s t . 15 , 5 4 0 $ 62 , 0 8 6 $ To t a l F o r e f r o n t Ho u r s To t a l F o r e f r o n t Co s t Su b c o n s u l t a n t F e e s 62 , 0 8 6 $ Fo r e f r o n t L a b o r H o u r s a n d R a t e s 15 , 5 4 0 $ PS A 2 6 - 3 9 2 5 U T I L Ex h i b i t " A " ( C o n t . ) Do c u s i g n E n v e l o p e I D : 2 2 E 4 C C 2 5 - 7 9 2 6 - 4 0 8 C - A B 9 8 - 6 0 F 1 8 E C E 4 6 1 E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 33 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Ph a s e 2 a 75 3 , 4 1 2 $ 2a . 1 S u r v e y a n d R e a l E s t a t e w o r k - P V a n d A c c e s s R o a d 20 4 , 7 3 4 $ 2a . 2 G e o t e c h n i c a l R e c o n n a i s s a n c e 20 1 , 5 6 7 $ 2a . 3 C i v i l D e s i g n D e t a i l e d ( 3 0 % ) D e v e l o p m e n t 23 4 , 3 2 5 $ 2a . 4 F i n a l P V / B E S S S y s t e m D e s i g n 47 , 6 3 8 $ 2a . 5 F i n a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l / P e r m i t t i n g A s s e s s m e n t d e t a i l e d 65 , 1 4 9 $ Ph a s e 2 b F i n a l D e s i g n , C o n c l u s i o n s , a n d E c o n o m i c A n a l y s i s a n d R e p o r t - O u t 74 , 8 9 4 $ To t a l P h a s e 2 82 8 , 3 0 7 $ Pr o j e c t T e a m R o l e Ad v i s o r y D i r e c t o r / Pr o j e c t M a n a g e r Ad v i s o r y As s o c i a t e E n g i n e e r En g i n e e r i n g Dir e c t o r De v e l o p m e n t Dir e c t o r Ad v i s o r y Ma n a g e r De v e l o p m e n t Ma n a g e r Pr o j e c t Co o r d i n a t o r Sa l e s An a l y s t La n d Te c h n i c i a n L a n d M a n a g e r Dir e c t o r o f La n d Civ i l a n d E l e c t r i c a l En g i n e e r i n g / Ge o t e c h S e r v i c e s En v i r o n m e n t a l Co n s t r a i n t s a n d En t i t l e m e n t s S e r v i c e s Su r v e y i n g a n d Ma p p i n g Pr e l i m i n a r y T i t l e Re p o r t s To t a l S u b c o n s u l t a n t Fe e s Bi l l a b l e R a t e 27 5 $ 1 9 1 $ 1 7 2 $ 2 4 0 $ 2 7 5 $ 2 0 5 $ 1 6 4 $ 1 0 3 $ 1 7 2 $ 12 6 $ 19 1 $ 2 8 9 $ TR C C o m p a n i e s I n c E P D S o l u t i o n s I n c . K W A I n c . TB D Ph a s e 2 a D e t a i l e d D i l i g e n c e a n d D e s i g n 2a . 1 S u r v e y a n d R e a l E s t a t e w o r k - P V a n d A c c e s s R o a d Re c o r d s E x a m i n a t i o n - P V S i t e 1 2 8 4 1 5 3,2 1 0 $ - $ Un d e r g r o u n d U t ili t y L o c a t i n g - P V S i t e 1 1 12 6 $ 12 , 3 4 8 $ 12 , 3 4 8 $ To p o g r a p h i c s u r v e y & b o u n d a r y - P V S i t e 12 2 1 2 8 1,6 7 5 $ 26 , 2 5 0 $ 26 , 2 5 0 $ QA / Q C - P V s u r v e y 24 3 2 2 4 1 7 3,5 9 6 $ - $ Re v i e w o f c u r a t i v e i t e m s - P V S i t e 2 2 8 4 1 6 3,5 6 2 $ - $ Orde r p r e l i m i n a r y A c c e s s R o a d t i t l e r e p o r t s ( ~ 1 0 ) - A c c e s s R d 6 12 18 2,9 0 8 $ 15 , 7 5 0 $ 15 , 7 5 0 $ Re c o r d s r e s e a r c h / e x a m i n a t i o n - A c c e s s R d 46 16 20 8 5 4 10 , 3 9 0 $ - $ Su r v e y S c o p i n g 2 2 2 4 4 4 10 2 8 6,3 2 6 $ - $ Un d e r g r o u n d U t ili t y L o c a t i n g - A c c e s s R d 2 2 25 2 $ 12 , 3 4 8 $ 12 , 3 4 8 $ To p o g r a p h i c s u r v e y & b o u n d a r y - A c c e s s R d 1 1 2 2 2 8 1,5 7 7 $ 42 , 0 0 0 $ 42 , 0 0 0 $ QA / Q C - A c c e s s R d 44 2 2 12 8 3 2 7,0 4 6 $ - $ An a l y s i s , C o n f l i c t a n d e a s e m e n t n e e d s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n a n d r e s o l u t i o n r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s 4 6 4 2 40 24 16 9 6 17 , 9 1 8 $ - $ Su b c o n t r a c t o r m a n a g e m e n t , c o o r d i n a t i o n , i t e r a t i o n 4 16 4 6 3 0 5,2 4 6 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 6 16 6 2 6 12 40 8 8 20 , 8 7 5 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C li e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 8 12 4 4 4 4 6 8 5 0 11 , 3 3 0 $ - $ 2a . 1 S u b T o t a l 3 3 44 1 4 12 12 12 22 0 76 94 96 4 0 6 96 , 0 3 8 $ - $ - $ 92 , 9 4 6 $ 15 , 7 5 0 $ 10 8 , 6 9 6 $ 2a . 2 G e o t e c h n i c a l R e c o n n a i s s a n c e Ge o t e c h s c o p i n g 2 4 4 2 2 1 15 3,4 5 1 $ - $ Ge o l o g i c a n d G e o t e c h R e c o n n a i s s a n c e p e r R F P ( P V / B E S S s i t e a n d a c c e s s r o a d ) 1 2 2 5 94 7 $ 16 8 , 4 7 3 $ 16 8 , 4 7 3 $ QA / Q C , A n a l y s i s , I n t e r p r e t a t i o n , T e c h n i c a l W r i t e - u p 12 10 8 12 10 16 68 14 , 8 3 7 $ - $ Su b c o n t r a c t o r m a n a g e m e n t , c o o r d i n a t i o n , i t e r a t i o n 2 4 4 4 4 8 10 36 6,4 0 4 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 48 41 17 3,6 1 1 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 4 8 2 2 2 18 3,8 4 5 $ - $ 2a . 2 S u b T o t a l 2 5 30 1 4 22 18 8 31 11 0 0 0 0 1 5 9 33 , 0 9 4 $ 16 8 , 4 7 3 $ - $ - $ - $ 16 8 , 4 7 3 $ 2a. 3 C i v i l D e s i g n D e t a i l e d ( 3 0 % ) D e v e l o p m e n t Hy d r o l o g y a n d h y d r a u l i c s s t u d i e s 11 1 3 68 6 $ Dr a i n a g e a n d G r a d i n g S i t e P l a n 11 221 7 1,6 4 0 $ De v e l o p I n i t i a l 3 0 % C i v i l D e s i g n f o r P V S i t e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h R F P 2 2 4 4 4 2 18 4,0 0 6 $ De v e l o p I n i t i a l C i v i l D e s i g n f o r A c c e s s r o a d i m p r o v e m e n t s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h R F P 4 4 6 10 8 4 36 8,1 4 8 $ 17 , 9 7 7 $ 17 , 9 7 7 $ Re v i e w , A n a l y s i s , D e s i g n I t e r a t i o n s 12 8 20 24 24 2 16 10 6 23 , 6 5 2 $ - $ Su b c o n t r a c t o r m a n a g e m e n t , c o o r d i n a t i o n 81 24 4 4 4 36 7,8 9 1 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 12 16 4 6 6 2 12 58 11 , 7 5 5 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 12 10 2 4 2 4 34 7,8 7 9 $ - $ 2a . 3 S u b T o t a l 5 2 52 3 8 53 50 12 29 12 0 0 0 0 2 9 8 65 , 6 5 8 $ 16 8 , 6 6 7 $ - $ - $ - $ 16 8 , 6 6 7 $ 2a . 4 F i n a l P V / B E S S S y s t e m D e s i g n De v e l o p e d d e t a i l e d P V a n d B E S S ( i f d e s i r e d ) l a y o u t i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h 3 0 % c i v i l d e s i g n d e v e l o p m e n t 8 8 12 4 2 34 7,2 1 2 $ - $ De v e l o p e n e r g y p r o d u c t i o n e s t i m a t e s ( P V S y s t ) f o r f i n a l l a y o u t 2 2 4 2 10 2,1 6 7 $ - $ Co m p a r i s o n o f p r o d u c t i o n a g a i n s t o n s i t e l o a d a n d / o r o f f t a k e p l a n s 1 2 4 7 1,3 4 3 $ - $ Re f r e s h o f c o d e s a n d s t a n d a r d f o r B E S S f i r e s u p p r e s s i o n b a s e d o n f i n a l d e s i g n 1 4 2 1 8 1,7 1 6 $ - $ De v e l o p p l a n n e d p o i n t o f i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n a n d r e q u i r e d e l e c t r i c a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h n e t m e t e r i n g / i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n ru l e s f 24 4 2 2 1 15 3,1 9 3 $ De v e l o p i n i t i a l e l e c t r i c a l d e s i g n a n d s i n g l e l i n e d i a g r a m 22 8 2 1 15 2,9 4 8 $ An a l y s i s , R e v i e w a n d i t e r a t i o n s 66 8 4 4 2 4 34 7,2 9 4 $ Su b c o n t r a c t o r m a n a g e m e n t , c o o r d i n a t i o n 2 2 2 2 2 8 18 2,9 0 7 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 44 42 14 3,0 1 2 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 4 8 2 2 1 2 19 4,1 8 9 $ - $ 2a . 4 S u b T o t a l 3 2 38 4 2 14 15 7 14 8 4 0 0 0 1 7 4 35 , 9 8 2 $ 11 , 6 5 6 $ - $ - $ - $ 11 , 6 5 6 $ 2a . 5 F i n a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l / P e r m i t t i n g A s s e s s m e n t d e t a i l e d Sit e P l a n R e v i e w a n d o v e r l a y o n e n v i r o n m e n t c o n s t r a i n t a r e a s 2 2 2 2 4 2 14 3,1 8 2 $ Ev a l u a t e f i n a l P V / B E S S a n d a c c e s s d e s i g n f o r p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s 1 1 2 4 2 10 2,2 3 7 $ Up d a t e C E Q A / N E P A a n d e n t i t l e m e n t m a t r i x / p a t h w a y s w i t h f i n a l d e s i g n d e t a i l s 2 2 4 8 1,7 5 7 $ En v i r o n m e n t a l C o s t a n d L e v e l - o f - E f f o r t e s t i m a t e s / t i m e l i n e s f o r C E Q A / p e r m i t t i n g 4 4 2 2 8 8 28 6,1 9 9 $ Vis u a l S i m u l a t i o n s 24 2 8 1,6 4 2 $ 10 , 0 8 0 $ 10 , 0 8 0 $ Su b c o n t r a c t o r m a n a g e m e n t , c o o r d i n a t i o n , m e e t i n g s , e x p e n s e s 4 4 2 4 14 3,0 7 0 $ 6,5 9 8 $ 6,5 9 8 $ An a l y s i s , R e v i e w a n d i t e r a t i o n s 10 6 4 4 6 8 38 8,5 0 3 $ - $ Su b c o n t r a c t o r m a n a g e m e n t , c o o r d i n a t i o n 4 6 2 4 16 3,2 0 6 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 24 4 10 2,1 3 4 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d T e c h n i c a l w r i t e - u p m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 2 4 2 2 2 2 14 3,0 8 2 $ - $ 2a . 5 S u b T o t a l 3 3 35 1 0 10 30 6 32 4 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 35 , 0 1 0 $ - $ 30 , 1 3 9 $ - $ - $ 30 , 1 3 9 $ Ph a s e 2 b F i n a l D e s i g n , C o n c l u s i o n s , a n d E c o n o m i c A n a l y s i s a n d R e p o r t - O u t De t a i l e d c o s t e s t i m a t e d e v e l o p m e n t b a s e d o n ~ 3 0 % d e s i g n ( i n c l u d i n g c i v i l , l a n d s c a p i n g , P V / B E S S , a c c e s s r o a d , i n t e r c o n n e c t i o n , e tc . ) 6 8 2 4 12 20 52 11 , 0 6 4 $ - $ Fin a l e c o n o m i c a n a l y s i s , A n a l y s i s i n c l u d e s c o s t s a v i n g s / r e v e n u e , u t i l i t y b i l l e s t i m a t e s , i n c e n t i v e a n d t a x m o d e l i n g ( i n c l u d i n g IT C t r e a t m e n 8 8 4 8 28 6,1 9 7 $ - $ Fin a n c i a l m o d e l i t e r a t i o n s , a n a l y s i s , Q & A 88 4 16 36 7,1 2 8 $ - $ Sy s t e m d e s i g n s u m m a r y n a r r a t i v e 44 4 4 8 10 34 7,3 5 1 $ - $ Pe r m i t t i n g / D e v e l o p m e n t s u m m a r y n a r r a t i v e i n c l u d i n g r e d f l a g s a n d d i s c u s s i o n o f s i g n i f i c a n t c h a l l e n g e s t h a t m u s t b e c o n s i d e r e d 4 8 48 1 0 34 7,1 5 4 $ - $ Wr i t e f i r s t d r a f t o f f i n a l r e p o r t a n d p r e s e n t a t i o n 12 12 4 8 10 46 9,7 1 8 $ - $ Re v i e w , Q A / Q C , i t e r a t i o n 16 16 8 4 10 8 62 13 , 4 8 6 $ - $ CM W D S t a f f F i n a l w o r k s h o p ( p r e s e n t a n d r e v i e w f u l l f e a s i b i l i t y r e p o r t ) 4 4 8 1,8 6 2 $ - $ Fin a l i z e F e a s i b i l i t y R e p o r t 22 2 4 10 2,1 3 8 $ - $ Fin a l P r e s e n t a t i o n t o C M W D B o a r d 44 8 1,8 6 2 $ - $ Pr o j e c t M a n a g e m e n t , S c h e d u l e m a n a g e m e n t a n d t r a c k i n g 36 3 12 2,5 8 5 $ - $ Me e t i n g s . P r e s e n t a t i o n a n d r e p o r t d r a f t i n g m a t e r i a l s , C l i e n t c o o r d i n a t i o n , A d - h o c s u p p o r t a n d Q & A 6 12 2 20 4,3 4 9 $ - $ 2b S u b T o t a l 7 7 92 1 0 8 46 9 66 0 42 0 0 0 3 5 0 74 , 8 9 4 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ To t a l s 2 5 2 29 1 1 1 5 1 1 1 17 1 54 18 4 57 46 7 6 94 96 1 5 4 7 34 0 , 6 7 6 $ 34 8 , 7 9 6 $ 30 , 1 3 9 $ 92 , 9 4 6 $ 15 , 7 5 0 $ 48 7 , 6 3 1 $ 11 , 6 5 6 $ 11 , 6 5 6 $ 13 , 4 6 1 $ 13 , 4 6 1 $ To t a l C o s t - P h a s e 2 Pr o p o s e d P h a s e 2 t r a v e l e x p e n s e b u d g e t o f $2 0 , 0 0 0 f o r F o r e f r o n t e m p l o y e e s o n l y . T r a v e l e x p e n s e s w o u l d b e r e i m b u r s e d a t c o s t . To t a l F o r e f r o n t Ho u r s To t a l F o r e f r o n t Co s t Fo r e f r o n t L a b o r H o u r s a n d R a t e s Su b c o n s u l t a n t F e e s a n d C o s t s 15 0 , 6 9 0 $ 15 0 , 6 9 0 $ PS A 2 6 - 3 9 2 5 U T I L Ex h i b i t " A " ( C o n t . ) Do c u s i g n E n v e l o p e I D : 2 2 E 4 C C 2 5 - 7 9 2 6 - 4 0 8 C - A B 9 8 - 6 0 F 1 8 E C E 4 6 1 E Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 34 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED Exhibit 2 RESOLUTION NO. 1786 . A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, REJECTING ALL PROPOSALS FOR THE MAERKLE RESERVOIR SITE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY WHEREAS, the Carlsbad Municipal Water District Board of Directors, or CMWD Board, of the City of Carlsbad desires to explore the feasibility of a solar energy generation and battery energy storage system project at the site of the Maerkle Reservoir, which is part of the city’s Five-Year Strategic Plan 2023-2027; and WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad’s Climate Action Plan identifies the potential for a solar project at the Maerkle Reservoir site to assist in achieving renewable energy production goals; and WHEREAS, the Maerkle Reservoir site is owned by the Carlsbad Municipal Water District, or CMWD, a subsidiary district of the City of Carlsbad; and WHEREAS, on March 25, 2025, the CMWD Board adopted Resolution No. 1766, approving issuance of a request for proposals from solar energy consulting firms to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Project, Capital Improvement Program, or CIP, Project No. 4722; and WHEREAS, on April 17, 2025, staff issued a request for proposals in accordance with Carlsbad Municipal Code, or CMC, Sections 3.28.050 and 3.28.060 for professional services to conduct a solar energy generation and battery energy storage system feasibility study at the Maerkle Reservoir site; and WHEREAS, on May 29, 2025, staff received proposals from two qualified solar industry consulting firms and reviewed the proposals based on best-value criteria consistent with CMC Sections 3.28.050(D)(2) and 3.28.060; and WHEREAS, staff negotiated with ForeFront Licensing, LLC for Phase 1 services in an amount not to exceed $470,904, Phase 2 in an amount not to exceed $828,307, and the total of both phases in an amount not to exceed $1,299,211; and WHEREAS, on Sept. 30, 2025, staff presented two options to the CMWD Board to either award an agreement to ForeFront Licensing, LLC in an amount not to exceed $470,904 for Phase 1 of the feasibility study or reject all proposals; and Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 35 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED WHEREAS, the CMWD Board selected Option 2 to reject all proposals received for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study, CIP Project No. 4722. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the CMWD Board of Directors of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1.That the above recitations are true and correct. 2.That the CMWD Board has determined that the proposed action to authorize a professional services agreement for a feasibility study for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study is statutorily exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15262 as it involves only feasibility or planning studies, including consideration of environmental factors, for possible future actions that have not been approved, adopted or funded. The proposed action does not have a legally binding effect on any possible future discretionary action. The work to evaluate project feasibility and prepare conceptual designs does not have a legally binding effect on future discretionary actions to approve a project. Public input received and technical information prepared will be used during the project evaluation and planning. 3.That the proposals received for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study, CIP Project No. 4722, are rejected. Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 36 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Carlsbad Municipal Water District of the City of Carlsbad on the 30th day of September, 2025, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Burkholder, Shin. NAYS: None. ABSTAIN: None. ABSENT: None. ______________________________________ KEITH BLACKBURN, President ______________________________________ SHERRY FREISINGER, Secretary (SEAL) Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 37 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED J LOCATION MAP CITY OF OCEANSIDE PROJECT NAME MAERKLE RESERVOIR SOLAR PROJECT CIP PROJECT EXHIBIT 3NUMBER PROJECT - FEASIBILITY STUDY NO. 4722 PROJECT SITE CITY OF VISTA CITY OF CARLSBAD Exhibit 3 Sept. 30, 2025 Item #4 Page 38 of 38 Docusign Envelope ID: F316AEF0-B206-4C38-AEB4-AB4C42B006ED All Receive -Agenda Item# !i_ For the Information of the: CITY COUN CIL Adriana Trujillo Date 11:ttfa...,-c.A V--CC--=::- CM _"1i:CM _-OCM (3)~ From: Laurie Kemp <kemprlj@gmail.com > Sunday, September 28, 2025 3:55 PM City Clerk; Council Internet Email Sent: To: Subject: Item 4 on the 9/30/25 Agenda Attachments: I MG_0187.png; I MG_0188.png Dear Board Members, We are submitting comments on item 4 on the City Council agenda. The item does not appear to be agendized as a CMWD matter and includes a recommendation from the City Manager, not the Executive Manager. This is a zombie project. It continues to plod forward, spending staff time and ratepayer money while being dead in the water. It is easy to see why, it was presented to the Board years ago as a way to utilize open space land to provide carbon free electricity, however staff has not pointed out the obvious issues that would kill the project without the expense of a feasibility study that continues to grow in cost. The item before you triples the estimated cost from $460,000 last March to $1.3 million for the now proposed phases 1 & 2. The following is a list of issues that should be resolved prior to awarding an RFP. • CMWD staff states they are bringing the project forward because it is in the City's Climate Action Plan. It is not. The recently updated CAP supersedes the original CAP. There is no mention of the Maerkle Reservoir project in the update. The original CAP mentions it once as an afterthought on a list of potential energy projects, hardly a mandate to proceed. In the updated CAP the city is directed to do a feasibility study on placing solar panels in city parking lots and the water department is directed to continue to improve water systems to increase energy efficiencies and work on the reliability of local water sources. The city's strategic plan is also mentioned as authority, but the project is mentioned just once in 44 pages as "complete Maerkle Reservoir Solar Project." In any event, these are city directives, not CMWD. As Board members you represent a subset of the City. Should CMWD ratepayers pay for a project that may or may not benefit the whole city? Is there a planning document or directive from the CMWD Board that requests this project be done? • After fires at two different BESS facilities in 2024 staff came back to the board with an update. The project is located in a "very high fire severity zone." Members of the surrounding communities of Oceanside and Vista are justifiably concerned that they will be affected by toxic gases from battery fires and that the fires could ignite the adjacent UCSD preserve. This will be looked at in the feasibility study. In a best practices report on BESS facilities prepared for the County of San Diego and easily available on its website, one of the most important factors in siting a BESS is wildfire risk. The BESS facility may not start a fire, but is very vulnerable to wildfires. Many homeowners in our neighborhood have been dropped from their insurance coverage once Calfire updated the wildfire maps. Before you spend money to go forward a basic question to ask is whether CMWD would be able to procure adequate insurance coverage to protect ratepayers from potential lawsuits should the facility burn and affect the surrounding communities. • The Request for Proposals you approved in March did not envision a two phase $1.3 million feasibility study. The contractor has proposed doing that work in two phases at triple the 1 cost of the original estimate. Separating the project creates a fundamental conflict of interest for the contractor. As it is now constructed, the contractor is to give CMWD advice on whether CMWD should proceed with Phase 2 of the project, thus participating in the award of an additional contract to itself. You should be concerned about the independence of the advice. • We are attaching the comments we made back in 2024 regarding land use that were never addressed and are fundamental. Will the the City change the zoning to allow solar panels and battery storage on open space? If so, will that apply to all open space in the city? If the city plans to remove 56 acres of open space from the plan, where will it find replacement land? All of the above points should/could be addressed before committing to a $1.3 million feasibility study. If they cannot be resolved now, would it not be better to direct ratepayer's funds to projects that directly benefit them and not fund, what are in actuality, city initiatives? Money allocated is not money spent and there are plenty of worthier projects that come under staff's expertise. Ron & Laurie Kemp ----------Forwarded message --------- From: Laurie Kemp <kemprlj@gmail.com> Date: Tue, Apr 16, 2024 at 10:1 O AM Subject: Item 15 on Tonight's Agenda To: Clerk@carlsbadca.gov <Clerk@carlsbadca.gov>, <council@carlsbadca.gov> Dear Council, Tonight you have before you an item to consider whether to authorize CMWD to go forward with a feasibility study for a solar panel farm adjacent to the Maerkle Reservoir and several neighborhoods in the cities of Vista and Oceanside. Staff estimates this will cost ratepayers $460,000. Although you will not be authorizing the expenditure tonight there are some questions staff should be prepared to answer now. The parcel is currently zoned as open space. As you know, Carlsbad has a permissive zoning code, which means that only uses authorized by the code are allowed. Solar panel farms are not listed on the table found in CMC 21.33.020. Under the general plan the property is designated as "Category 2: Open Space for Managed Production of Resources (forestry; agriculture; aquaculture; water management; commercial fisheries; and major mineral resources)" will staff be considering the production of power a resource such as agriculture, water management, fisheries, etc.? If a Solar power farm is authorized on this open space area will they then be allowed in all open spaces? If staff concludes the property must be rezoned to allow solar panels, how will the city make up for the loss of the 56 acres of open space. It appears to be counted in the total for open space in the general plan. See table 4-1. 2 These are basic questions that staff should be able to address before looking into the technical feasibility of the project. The staff report identifies several stakeholders in the project but does not include the surrounding properties in the list. You have been shown a graphic map of the area that does not show the density of the housing that will be affected by this project. I am attaching an overhead from google maps. The neighborhood to the left is the Ocean Hills retirement community in Oceanside and the other sides are in Vista. If staff were proposing to put a project of this size next to residences in Carlsbad would you be considering it? Although not comparable in size, would it not be similar to dropping a solar farm in the recently purchased Aura Circle parcel? So I ask that surrounding neighbors be considered stakeholders. Lastly, the report mentions buffers. A quick scan of the internet, which may not be too accurate, shows a 1 km (1100 yards) buffer from residences. What is contemplated here? Please be a good neighbor and proceed in due diligence on this project. Ron & Laurie Kemp CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 3 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Jose Torre-Bueno <jose.torrebueno@cc-energy.org > Sunday, September 28, 2025 4:19 PM City Clerk Don Christiansen Suggestions on Agenda Item 4. OPTIONS FOR THE MAERKLE RESERVOIR SITE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY I would lil<e to point out that any decision the Council mal<es with respect to developing the site should tal<e into account the deadlines the OBBBA (Public Law No. 119-21) created with respect to collecting the incentives for PV systems. Depending on how the project is scheduled it may still be possible to collect 30 or even 40% of the project costs from the federal government. Under the new legislation the project must either finish by Dec 31 2027 or start by July 4 2026 to receive the incentive. The incentives are 30% plus 10% if the project pays prevailing wages plus another 10% if it uses at least 10% US made materials. For a large project "start" requires actually breaking ground by July 2026 however there is another alternative. If the city decides on a smaller scale project less than 1.5MW then spending 5% of the project cost by July 2026 counts as starting and for projects this size physical work is not required, funds spent on planning count. Therefore the contract should call for two designs, one for a 1.5MW system and one for a system of the maximum size. If the consultant's worl< exceeds 5% of the cost of a 1.5MW system before July 2026 then the city would have until 2030 to build such a system and still collect the incentives. I would be happy to advise city staff on the subtleties of navigating the loopholes in the new law. Jose Torre-Bueno, Ph.D. Executive Director Center for Community Energy (619) 977-0553 1° ~-----------1- CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Dear City Council, phil@resourcerenewables.com Sunday, September 28, 2025 5:11 PM City Clerk; Council Internet Email; Manager Internet Email Jason Haber; Keith Blackburn; Priya Bhat-Patel; Teresa Acosta; Melanie Burkholder; Kevin Shin Essential Battery Safety Information --Maerkle Reservoir Project Kronus Engineering -Battery Safety Overview.pdf Please find attached a PDF file describing battery safety for large scale clean energy projects. I ask that you include this document in the record for your City Council meeting Sept. 30, 2025. Kronus Engineering are experts at building battery systems: quality work equals safe batteries. Cheers, Phil Dr. Phil Watts CEO, Chair Resource Cell: 562-607-2132 https://urldefense.com/v3/ _http://www.resourcerenewables.com_; ! !E_ 4xU6-vwMWK- Q!vwrowDIBLDsZPvuhNUO2NICOfFoNg2QSDzcXw07NkR4A3nekoA6MW0CpYluSqTzkJRzx24G8vNq8FQNMtlwQh8EF$ CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 J. ----------• • KronusEngineering --~I, n,i::-a,,11f•1yf'<pc11'i KRONUS ENGINEERING The Battery Experts A Quick Guide to Batteries September 25th, 2025 1 Kronus Engineering ThP R~11t, ... 1yE-.;pt.11t<; 1. OVERVIEW A clean energy project developer must submit a land use plan as part of the licensing and permitting process with a city. This is the appropriate time to review equipment safety and safety procedures. Both the public and the fire department participate in the review of a land use plan, and it usually requires or can be made to require City Council approval. Therefore, any and all concerns can and should be met by every kind of clean energy project. The goal of this quick guide to batteries is to provide additional information about Kron us Engineering, battery history and behaviors, safety measures and operations. and permitting processes. 2. ABOUT KRONUS ENGINEERING Kronus Engineering is an expert on all-things energy storage. Our systems range from small-format battery packs for Robotics or UAVs all the way up to large scale systems with MWh of storage for buildings or small communities. Our specialty falls between 100kWh and 20MWh. We have a team of engineers with expertise in mechanical, electrical, and software design, as well as high-voltage technicians to make sure your system is fully tested and safely installed on-site. Ideally, we join the project at the scoping or design stage so that we can ensure the final system will meet the project's needs from the starting line, but we can jump in during any of the stages of scoping, design, programming, procurement, assembly, testing, installation, or commissioning to ensure that the project is a success. Whether you are at the beginning stages of designing a system, or you need help with a partially completed project, our team of battery experts will make sure your system is successful using creative and innovative solutions specific to your project's scope. Kronus Process 1. The typical process for our clients begins with a system scoping to define the true battery needs. 2. Once system specifications are approved, we will design the initial system diagrams including flow charts, schematics, 3D models, and a bill of materials. We can also investigate programming system controllers or the Battery Management System (BMS) at this time. 3. During the procurement and assembly stage our high-voltage technicians take the time to order parts as well as carefully assemble and wire the system. 4. Our team will test the system in a controlled environment before shipping to the project site. 5. The batteries are then carefully packaged and shipped to a site where our technicians will install and integrate the system . Kronus Services • Schedule Development • Manufacturing Support • System Testing and Validation • On Site Installation • Support and Troubleshooting 2 Kronus Engineering Tll'" A.111r 1yExp rt'i • Energy Analysis for Battery Sizing • System Diagram and Schematic Development • Design Consultation • Software Support • Bill of Materials Development Kronus Engineering started in 2018 and has installed over 50 Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) within that timeframe. We have yet to have any issues with thermal runaway because of the diligence our team puts into the design of our systems. We are studious regarding the brands we partner with, making sure we understand their product's performance and using them in the safe ways they were designed. We can monitor each battery we install to make sure it continues to act as specified. We walk every client through the process of picking out the correct sensors and fire suppression systems based on their needs as well as the needs of the the site, and each system comes with an operations and maintenance manual to allow for onsite check-ups on the system. Battery safety is a matter of quality design, quality build, and quality operations. 3. BATTERY HISTORY AND BEHAVIORS All batteries store a large amount of chemical energy in a relatively small space. There are hundreds of possible chemical batteries, from the old lead-acid batteries in cars to new sodium-based cells. This makes battery chemistry highly varied and battery stability an important consideration for each kind of cell. Lithium-ion batteries are some of the highest energy density batteries available, but they are also highly reactive and potentially unstable. The specific chemistry in these batteries varies, but some can form dendrites when stressed that short circuit the battery. This concern promoted the development of more stable battery chemistries, and an awareness of how to manage battery use over time. New requirements have been put into place to make sure battery manufacturers keep safety in mind. The UL 9540A designation gives insight regarding how a battery reacts were it to go into thermal runaway from a cellular, modular, and system level perspective. The UL 1973 battery requirements verify the battery system has proven to be safe in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. The battery module used must meet these stringent requirements to make it into any system Kronus Engineering designs and builds. There are standards in place to deliver the safety customers expect. The current standard battery for clean energy projects is a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cell. LFP batteries are renowned for their thermal stability, which makes the chemistry safer and more stable than older technologies. Specifically, LFP cells have a higher threshold for heat compared to other battery types, with a thermal runaway temperature of 270 °C in contrast to 210 °C for NMC cells and 150 °C for NCA cells. LFP cells also typically have a lower energy density which also reduces the likelihood and severity of a potential incident. These batteries are still storing considerable energy in a small space. LFP technology has been implemented around the world for the last 15 years, which is effectively the full lifetime of a battery, and so this safety record is well documented and well understood. 3 Kronus Engineering Th? fi111, 1y F11p1•1tc; 4. BESS SAFETY MEASURES AND OPERATIONS Kronus Engineering designs Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) with multiple layers of safety to ensure reliable and secure operation. Each BESS is housed in a cu stom-engineered container, built with internal firewalls and advanced safety features. In the unlikely event of a fire, the container is designed to contain it, preventing spread to the surrounding area. The containers are HVAC-controlled and insulated to maintain optimal internal temperatures for system performance and battery health. At the component level, batteries are monitored by a robust Battery Management System (BMS) that operates at the cell, module, and rack levels. This system continuously checks for performance and detects early signs of thermal increases, helping to prevent thermal runaway before it can occur. To further enhance safety, Kron us systems can incorporate either clean-agent or water-based fire suppression systems, as well as hydrogen sensors to detect potentially hazardous conditions. In the rare event that thermal runaway does occur, the safest response is typically to isolate the area and allow the event to run its course while ensuring safety per emergency protocols. BESS installations must meet all clearance and siting requirements to support safe operation. Access to the BESS should always be restricted to trained, authorized, and qualified personnel. Kron us Engineering is committed to the ongoing safety and performance of your BESS. Our systems can support 24/7 real-time monitoring of batteries, inverters, solar generation, and other microgrid components. We strongly recommend regular preventative maintenance to ensure optimal system function and long-term reliability. Quality operations are safe operations. 5. PERMITTING PROCESSES Developers of large clean energy projects are required to submit a detailed land use plan in accordance with city ordinances. These projects often fall outside the scope of traditional city licensing and permitting processes, which makes the land use plan an essential tool for comprehensive review by various city departments, including the fire department. The land use plan typically includes critical site design elements such as setbacks from residential areas, concrete pads for battery containers, and designated fire lanes to ensure clear access for emergency response. These measures are standard practice in clean energy development and reflect the significant safety considerations associated with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). As part of the permitting process, local fire departments and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) are typically involved in reviewing proposed safety protocols, inspecting facilities, and verifying that operational standards are met. Kron us Engineering recognizes that AHJ requirements can vary significantly by region. For this reason, Kron us actively engages early in the permitting and planning stages to support these discussions and provide expert technical guidance tailored to local needs. The solution is to build in the desired quality and safety from the beginning. 4 Adriana Trujillo From: City Clerk Sent: To: Monday, September 29, 2025 9:46 AM Adriana Trujillo Subject: FW: Maerkle Reservoir From: Keri Martinez <keri.martinez@carlsbadca.gov> Sent: Monday, September 29, 2025 8:09 AM To: Ruth Schafer <ruthellen45@gmail.com> Cc: Dave Padilla <Dave.Padilla@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: RE: Maerkle Reservoir Hello good morning Ruth. Good to hear from you. Yes, I recall our conversation regarding a potential solar project at the Maerkle Reservoir site and remember your concerns with the battery storage onsite. We discussed Davies' measure then and I appreciate you updating me on that. I know there are several guidelines and regs in development that we are tracking and trying to stay current on. As far as a land use study, in 2023 we did we look into allowable land use per the zoning and specifically restrictions with regard to the Surplus Land Act. There are limited uses for the site and this real property analysis will be a part of this feasibility study. As we discussed on our call, we are still in the phase of determining what, if any, type of project would be viable. Our Board directed us to hire a solar industry consultant to help answer all the questions and compile information as well as engage stakeholders in this early phase. Agreed, it is a costly study and if approved should compile the information necessary for our Board to make a decision on moving forward or not. Please be assured, community input will be an important part of this determination. Thanks again for your email, Ruth. All the best, Keri Respectfully, (Carlsbad Munldpal \','ater Dhtr'ct Keri Martinez, P.E. District Engineer m: 442-200-7376 I keri.martinez@carlsbadca.gov From: Ruth Schafer <ruthe11en45@gmail.com> Sent: Friday, September 26, 2025 11:53 AM To: Keri Martinez <keri.martinez@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Maerkle Reservoir 1 I spoke to you on April 9th re: this proposed project. I see that it is up for discussion on Monday, Sept. 30th and the city manager is recommending the feasibility study. Are you aware that our Cal.. Rep., Laurie Davies' measure passed? It is AB 615. It states that any application for a solar energy storage facility has to have an emergency response plan with the initial application. This plan must include the advice of the first responders. I certainly hope that you and Mr. Padilla discourage the passage of this measure. Perhaps a land use study would be more appropriate. It would be a huge waste of city funds to do a feasibility study. I believe the residents of Vista and Oceanside that border the reservoir will be very troubled by this study. Ruth Schafer, Ocean Hills 9097037116 6045 Patmos Way, Oceanside, CA 92056 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 2 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Subject: Hi, Dee Forsberg, Global Hire <dee@globalhire.org> Monday, September 29, 2025 10:23 AM City Clerk Solar project All Receive -Agenda Item # !t_ For the Information of the: CITY COUNCIL Date ~ .........----cc _::::- CM _~CM --=::-f:)CM (3) _!:::--- I am writing you to express my deep concern over the location of the project. We've already have had fires in our community and this project has a strong potential to cause more. Delinda Forsberg Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer en attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Subject: Expires: Monday 29 September 2025 tamara9497@yahoo.com Monday, September 29, 2025 11 :36 AM City Clerk no on agenda 4 Wednesday, October 29, 2025 12:00 AM Dear Mayor Blackburn and Council Members, The proposed solar farm and battery storage facility in Carlsbad, near Vista neighborhoods, will impact Vista's community and fire department, particularly due to wildfire risks. The Phase 2 option (which begins actual design work) is much more than just an early stage idea. I am asking the council to vote no and not move forward with this plan. Thank you, Tamara Dixon T=OiKm,, 619-787-7396 Tamara9497@yahoo.com CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Subject: Dear Sherry Freisinger, Gayle Martin <tristanriverroad@gmail.com> Monday, September 29, 2025 12:08 PM City Clerk Carlsbad Clerk: Maerkle Resevoir Site Solar Feasibility Study-Opposed Regarding the Carlsbad City Council September 30, 2025 meeting, agenda item 4. Maerkle Resevoir Site Solar Feasibility Study I live in Vista, this proposed site is directly next to Vista. I oppose this project due to the high fire risk posed by battery storage facilities' history of fires, including the prolonged fire at the Gateway Energy Storage facility in San Diego in 2024, and the massive fire & subsequent re-ignition of that fire at the Vistra Moss Landing facilities in January and February of this year. I strongly urge you to vote NO. Thank you. Gayle Martin Vista, CA I 0 ~2-4 Virus-free.www.avast.com CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Subject: Cindy DiChiara <dichiaracindy@gmail.com> Monday, September 29, 2025 12:15 PM City Clerk proposed solar farm and battery storage facility This is NOT an appropriate site for this use. The risk of environmental hazard is high. Put it out in the desert instead. Look at the pollution and damage from the recent Target charging station fire. Why this, why here? Has the EPA been notified? The threat to homes, air, people and wildlife are reasons to relocate this facility. We already cannot get insurance if the trees are too high or too close to homes. I'm sure the insurance companies are going to love this. And no, the industrial park is NOT a viable solution. That is all we need -a battery storage facility fire igniting an industrial park. Battery fires are left to burn because they cannot be extinguished. Whose harebrained idea was this? Who is getting a kickback? This makes no sense and is in wanton disregard for the health, safety and well-being of residents. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Subject: Dear Board Members, Julie H <jules_419@hotmail.com> Monday, September 29, 2025 2:25 PM City Clerk All Receive -Agenda Item# !f:_ For the Information of the: CITY COUNCIL Date ~A ..-CC ,__ CM ~CM _--e-(M {3) ___1=.,- Opposition to Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study Resolution I am writing to express my strong opposition to the resolution before the City of Carlsbad regarding the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study (CIP Project No. 4722). While I support the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions in principle, the Maerkle Reservoir site presents significant concerns that make this project unsuitable for this location. Moving forward with this resolution would raise serious issues for our community. Key concerns include: • Risks to public access, safety, and the surrounding environment. • Increased fire danger posed by solar installations in a high-risk area, which could endanger both nearby homes and critical infrastructure. • Questionable long-term cost-effectiveness compared to alternative renewable energy initiatives in more appropriate locations. • Lack of sufficient community outreach and transparency regarding potential impacts. Given these concerns, I respectfully urge the Board to reject the proposed fea·sibility study at the Maerkle Reservoir site and instead direct staff to explore renewable energy opportunities at sites that do not present such risks to our community. Thank you for considering this perspective. I urge you to place the community's best interests at the forefront in making your decision. Sincerely, Julie H. CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Subject: Manager Internet Email Monday, September 29, 2025 3:01 PM City Clerk FW: Agenda Item 4: Maerkle Reservoir Site From: Becky Evanson <bgevanson@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, September 29, 2025 2:20 PM To: Manager Internet Email <manager@carlsbadca.gov>; Council Internet Email <council@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: Agenda Item 4: Maerkle Reservoir Site Dear City Manager and Board Members, We were informed this past weekend that tomorrow there will be a vote at the Carlsbad City council meeting whether to move ahead with Phase 1 of the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study. As Vista residents, whose property sits along the fence line of the reservoir site where the proposed plan exists, we have serious concerns about the impact this project will have on the quality of life in our home, as well as the longer term financial impact and safety. We will be speaking at the meeting tomorrow night about these concerns. In advance, we are attaching a few photos from various rooms inside our home to provide the visual perspective we have of the proposed site. Our concern is not that the project will create a view obstruction, but that it would place large, foreboding metal structures that would rise up the hill visible from the inside of our home. It would essentially be in our "backyard." Aside from it being unsightly to live with, our property value would plummet. In addition, we are already in a high risk fire zone and our insurance could be dropped or increased if a battery storage facility is contained on that hill. Based on the diagrams created to display the scope of this project, it is clear the vast majority of the residents who would be impacted by this construction project are Vista and Oceanside residents. Most of these residents are still unaware of this proposed plan. We assure you, the number of people attending tomorrow's meeting does not represent the number of concerned residents who will later have strong opinions in opposition of the idea of a solar farm being planted in the middle of our neighborhood. Thank you in advance for reading this and taking a glimpse into our situation. Sincerely, Becky Evanson 2023 Sequoia Crest, Vista CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Subject: Sept. 30, 2025 From: Mary Oren Carlsbad resident 26 years 760.271.3059 Dear Carlsbad Leaders - maryoren < maryoren@aol.com > Monday, September 29, 2025 4:20 PM City Clerk Option 1, Agenda Item 4 Tuesday, Sept 30, 2025 It's always encouraging when innovative and action are up for a vote in Carlsbad -because as leaders - you know how to act quickly regarding safe and exciting new opportunities that move us forward and this time it involves a local solar farm right here now -that will help residents in so many ways and get us closer to meeting the goal of providing 100% clean energy locally!! We want to be responsible because we can be -with the chance to proceed in our community, city, state and let's just say it -planet! We become part of the solution and not as big a part of the problem. It's a courageous domino event that starts here with us now! Some homeowners have invested in solar on rooftops, are driving electric cars, choose transit (we love the Coaster and Blue Line that give us DTSD travel options) and we love Amtrak! The station in nearby Oceanside is something to be really proud of locally. That was a big step in the right direction years ago and we have a chance to do more here in Carlsbad, now! Every community is doing it's part and it's time to take a leap toward a new power investment with the creation of a solar farm! By doing this -we provide savings to tax payers, make progress in our commitment to reduce reliance on outdated power options, reduce or carbon footprint, improve air quality, improve grid stability, move closer toward providing a microgrid that can protect our community during crisis, while de centralizing power production. There a too many great wins to list that I'm sure others will mention in their correspondence with you. My hope is you will remember our pledge, our united effort to allow our community to move forward not backward in our power literally, choose solar, set an example, do what will make us grateful and proud and let's create local power now, there's no need to wait. We know how to do this, let's get started. Thank you for your courage, vision and for representing us. We are counting on you and behind you all the way and are united in moving Carlsbad closer to our goals! Mary Oren CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Subject: To whom it may concern, jdtm1@aol.com Monday, September 29, 2025 4:38 PM City Clerk MAERKLE RESERVOIR SITE SOLAR I am very concerned about the possibility of a solar farm and battery storage facility being built right by my neighborhood. I have seen too many fires due to battery explosions. We do not want this in our backyard and feel there are other places where you can create this mess. Please explain why you would want to build such a hazardous "farm and storage facility" in the middle of an area surrounded by families? PLEASE DO NOT BUILD THIS IN OUR BACKYARD. Regards, Diane Casey 1919 Cherrywood Street Vista, CA 92081 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Subject: phillip rogul <rogul@sbcglobal.net> Tuesday, September 30, 2025 9:42 AM Adriana Trujillo Would like to please offer public comment on the question of the feasibility study listed in todays Council Agenda for the proposed Merkel Reservoir Solar Energy Project Good morning Adriana and Carlsbad City Council Members, I'd like to respectfully and strongly encourage City of Carlsbad to please vote YES on this question of having (another?) feasibility study done for this proposed project. As a local engaged citizen -dating to the original Carlsbad City sponsored program "Envision Carlsbad" in 2008 and continuing with our own Carlsbad Sustainability Coalition (2008 thru today 2025) in order to allow interested local residents to continue their participation -many of us have been directly involved with implementing renewable energy technologies beginning with the first EV's (BMWs and Leafs) and continuing thru the adoption of rooftop solar panels + battery systems, etc. This particular project was originally proposed by former City Manager Steve Sarkozy, during our collaborative work between Carlsbad and our local Sierra Club "5-member-working group" who helped draft (with city staffers and city manager) one of the 1st Climate Action Plans in SD County. Back in about 2014/2015. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Phil Rogul Carlsbad Sustainability Coalition -since 2008 CA Alliance for Community Energy member North County Climate Change Alliance -founding and board member 760-804-1870 CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 All Receive -Agenda Item # .:/- For the Information of the: Adriana Trujillo CITY COUNCIL Date7[~/t-'>cA 7cc _:::- CM ~M ~CM {3)~ From: Sent: To: Donti <dontiburgner@yahoo.com> Tuesday, September 30, 2025 10:39 AM City Clerk Subject: MAERKLE RESERVOIR SOLAR PROPOSAL Dear Board Members, I am writing to address the upcoming proposal of a battery/solar farm. As a resident of Vista, this would literally be in my backyard. My backyard fence line is Carlsbad. I have lived in my home for 32 years. I have always enjoyed the open field and how Carlsbad has cared for it keeping the brush down to protect from fires and giving the wildlife space to roam. I recently had a hard time getting fire insurance and it went up 45%. This solar/battery farm would definitely put all of us in the surrounding areas in a spot to be cancelled or have our fire insurance go so astronomically high we would have to move . This would make everything hotter and would run the wildlife out. Where are they going to go? I am extremely concerned . You are also putting this right next to RETIREMENT HOUSING. These elderly cannot protect their homes in case of a fire. I appreciate you listening to myself and the countless others this would affect. I have worked hard to have my home and work on building up the equity. You would be taking that lifelong goal from so many. Our property values would go down, not to mention our Fire Insurance would likely be unmanageable. You are creating a problem that is not good for your city, Vista, or Oceanside. Thank you, Donti Burgner Donti Burgner Buyer I Aztec Global Solutions, Inc. 1201 Activity Dr. Vista, Ca 92081 Office: (760) 305-4073 1SO9001:2008 & AS9120 Cert#0066043 I WOSB I Cage# lFQHS CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless ou recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 Adriana Trujillo From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: To Carlsbad City Council: Sara Petros <bsurfgal@gmail.com> Tuesday, September 30, 2025 2:11 PM City Clerk Sara Petros Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar I am a 35 year resident of Sea Vista Community in Vista, which backs up to the Carlsbad reservoir site that is being reviewed for possible solar farm and battery storage facility. The installation of solar farm and storage facilities, I feel, would greatly impact my community, my home and surrounding areas in a negative way. I believe it would: -negatively impact the natural habitats in nearby preserves -cause noise pollution with solar storage -impact our property values -impact our homeowners' insurance ... what if we can't get fire insurance coverage due to this proposed solar installation? Then what? -potential fire concern (just take a look at what happened in Escondido with their battery storage) I urge the City of Carlsbad not to go forward with these plans ... we have Escondido to confirm the dangers of solar storage facilities to learn from and as a nearby resident to its location, I am concerned. Sincerely, Sara (Petros) Armstrong CAUTION: Do not open attachments or click on links unless you recognize the sender and know the content i safe. 1 Feasibility Study for Potential Solar Energy & Battery Energy Storage at Maerkle Reservoir Dave Padilla, Assistant General Manager Keri Martinez, District Engineer September 30, 2025 RECOMMENDED ACTION Adopt a resolution to 1.Authorize execution of a professional services agreement with ForeFront Licensing, LLC for Phase 1 of the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study; or 2.Reject all proposals for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study. ITEM 4: MAERKLE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY 3 POTENTIAL BENEFITS Generate renewable energy Receive renewable energy credits Potentially offset CMWD electric costs ITEM #4: MAERKLE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY 4 TIMELINE 2022/2023 Project identified in Strategic Plan and as potential for CAP goals 2023-2024 Preliminary site study/ Interdepartmental coordination April 16, 2024 Board received update on study findings. Board authorized issuance of Solar Consultant RFQ Nov. 19, 2024 Discussion re: Battery Storage Fire risks. Board authorized release of RFQ for firms qualified to conduct feasibility study March 25, 2025 Board authorized staff to issue RFP to qualified firms Sept. 30, 2025 Board consideration of Phase 1 of feasibility study contract Spring 2026 Phase 1 Feasibility complete; Recommendations provided to Board for direction on next steps Fall 2026 Feasibility Phase 2 w/ 30% Concept Designs for Board consideration of next steps ITEM #4: MAERKLE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY PROJECT LOCATION POTENTIAL PROJECT LOCATION Ocean Hills, Oceanside Sea Vista Shadowridge, Vista PHASE 1 FEASIBILITY STUDY SCOPE •Energy Generation and Storage Capacities •Financing and Operating Models •Site access •Fire risk/Emergency access •Safety and Security •Community Engagement / Meeting(s) •Energy Off Taker / Load Serving Agency •Electrical Grid Interconnection •Environmental Permitting ITEM #4: MAERKLE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY SITE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ITEM #13: Maerkle Solar Project 8 SITE CONSIDERATIONS NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES & SITE ACCESS 9 Site AccessSITE CONSIDERATIONS SITE ACCESS 10 SITE CONSIDERATIONS HABITAT MANAGEMENT PRESERVE SITE CONSIDERATIONS HIGH FIRE SEVERITY ZONE SITE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ITEM #13: Maerkle Solar Project 11 SITE CONSIDERATIONS HABITAT MANAGEMENT PRESERVE SITE DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ITEM #13: Maerkle Solar Project 12 SITE CONSIDERATIONS CMWD FACILITIES & OPERATIONS Regulatory review/Fire risk assessment Recommend Go/No-Go for CMWD Board Consideration Develop initial high level design concepts for cost analysis Environmental or permitting assessment Site survey/Civil design assessment ITEM #4: MAERKLE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY PHASE 1 FEASIBILITY SUMMARY Community engagement Phase 1 Feasibility Costs Consulting fees $ 470,904 Staff resources $ 25,000 Phase 2 Feasibility/Preliminary Design Costs Consulting fees $ 828,307 Staff resources $ 42,000 Total Estimated Costs $1,366,211 ITEM #4: MAERKLE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY COST ESTIMATES RECOMMENDED ACTION Adopt a resolution to 1.Authorize execution of a professional services agreement with ForeFront Licensing, LLC for Phase 1 of the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study; or 2.Reject all proposals for the Maerkle Reservoir Site Solar Feasibility Study. ITEM #4: MAERKLE SOLAR FEASIBILITY STUDY