To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Brad Sherwood 707 547-1900, Trisha Meisler 707 547-1926
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Community Foundation Funding to Support Environmental Education Programs
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute a grant contract with the Community Foundation Sonoma County to receive $15,900 to support environmental education programs for students and authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to amend or terminate this grant contract with approval of County Counsel.
B) Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Adjustments to the Board Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 for the Sonoma Water General Fund in the amount of $3,000 for Community Foundation funding.
C) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute future grant contracts with the Community Foundation Sonoma County to receive funds to continue to support educational programs for students in a form approved by County Counsel for fiscal years 2027/2028 and 2028/2029, and authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to amend or terminate those grant contracts with approval of County Counsel.
(4/5th Vote Required).
end
Executive Summary:
Community Foundation Sonoma County (Foundation) is a local nonprofit whose mission is the belief in the power of connecting people, ideas, and resources to benefit all who live here. Sonoma County Water Agency’s (Sonoma Water) Water and Energy Education Program (Education Program) currently provides environmental education programs to roughly 13,000 students annually. Sonoma Water is a member of the Sonoma Environmental Education Collaborative (SEEC) that works collaboratively to provide environmental education programs to every student in Sonoma County. This item would allow Sonoma Water to receive funding from the Community Foundation Sonoma County for this fiscal year and the next two fiscal years to provide its environmental education programs to students who are outside Sonoma Water’s Water Supply Service area.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
The Education Program provides classroom and field programs to students and teachers in the communities Sonoma Water provides water to. Through previous Board action the Education Program has provided stormwater, energy, and climate change education to students outside Sonoma Water’s water supply service area. For the past three years, Sonoma Water has participated in the Pathways Program created by SEEC, an initiative to expand and strengthen environmental education opportunities for thirty disadvantaged and under-resourced schools across Sonoma County. The Foundation funding will allow Sonoma Water to continue to collaborate with SEEC and fill program or geographic gaps by providing its Education Program to an estimated additional 1,000 students outside Sonoma Water’s water supply service area.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the grant contract, Sonoma Water will work with SEEC to identify programs and geographic gaps in environmental education services in Sonoma County. The Education Program will provide programming with the collective goal of providing environmental education to students in Sonoma County who are not located within Sonoma Water’s service areas. These programs may include classroom lessons or field trips with paid bus trips to Lake Sonoma or Sonoma Water’s Water Education Center at the Russian River.
Future funding from the Foundation is contingent upon its annual grant funding cycle, and the amount available for each fiscal year is not known until that fiscal year begins. The Foundation will notify Sonoma Water of the awarded amount and submit a grant contract for execution at the beginning of each fiscal year.
The funding to be provided by the Foundation to Sonoma Water for the 2026/2027 fiscal year will not exceed $15,900. This grant contract covers services rendered from September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Engage with the community to build understanding, trust, and support for projects and programs.
Strategy: Build collaborative partnerships, trust, and long-term relationships with the community through excellence, proactive communication and education.
Action: Continue partnerships with organizations such as Russian River Watershed Association and Sonoma Clean Power to provide education programs to students outside Sonoma Water’s water supply service area.
This Pathways Project funding is a direct outcome of the collaboration among 13 local organizations dedicated to providing high-quality environmental education in Sonoma County. As an active member of SEEC, Sonoma Water has contributed for many years by regularly attending monthly meetings, leading and serving on committees, participating in professional development, and sharing best practices in environmental education. The private funding that supports the Pathways Project allows SEEC to expand its impact by increasing access to environmental education for low-income and underserved communities and strengthen the relationships and collaboration among partner organizations.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
07/11/2023 Board approved agreement between Sonoma Water and Community Foundation Sonoma County, for Sonoma Water to receive funding for its environmental education program. Cost $150,000, term end June 30, 2026.
07/19/2022 Board approved agreement between Sonoma Water and West Yost Associates, Inc., for implementation of a Stormwater Education Program through June 30, 2023, in the amount of $20,000 (paid to Sonoma Water by West Yost).
08/17/2021 Board approved agreement between Sonoma Water and Sonoma Clean Power Authority to develop and implement an energy education program. Cost $20,000; term end June 30, 2023.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$12,900 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$3,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
$15,900 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$15,900 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$15,900 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $12,900 is available from FY 2026/2027 appropriations for the Sonoma Water General Fund. Additional appropriations are required to process this expense. With Board approval of the attached budgetary resolution, FY 2026/2027 appropriations of $3,000 will be added to the Sonoma Water General Fund. Offsetting revenue in the amount of $15,900 will come from the Community Foundation.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Community Foundation Sonoma County Grant Contract
Attachment 2: Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None