To: Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Water Agency, Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency, County of Sonoma Human Services Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Chase Takajo (707) 521-1872; Lillian Torres (707) 565-5677
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Stream Maintenance Services
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager and County’s Human Services Department Director to execute an agreement in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board, for stream maintenance services through June 30, 2027, in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,003,596 to the Human Services Department.
B) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager and County of Sonoma’s Human Services Department Director to amend the agreement to extend the term, make modifications to the scope of work, and increase costs provided amendments do not cumulatively increase the total cost to Sonoma County Water Agency beyond $15,000.
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Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) performs annual stream and creek maintenance to reduce the threat of flooding. Several priority flood control projects are scheduled, and Sonoma Water will not have adequate resources available to perform planned priority and maintenance projects. Sonoma Water needs continued assistance from County of Sonoma (County) Human Services Department (HSD) to complete these projects.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water maintains approximately 75 miles of engineered flood control channels and has hydraulic easements on approximately 150 miles of modified or natural channels. Required maintenance activities on engineered channels include sediment removal, bank stabilization, and vegetation management. Required maintenance activities on modified and natural channel easements include vegetation and debris removal that obstruct flow.
Sonoma Water’s Stream Maintenance Program Manual, best management practices, and long-term programmatic permits require that maintenance activities are conducted in a manner that promotes the establishment of a healthy, native riparian corridor. Stream maintenance best management practices also require that crews conducting vegetation removal have a biologist or arborist on site for guidance and direction. Due to its seasonal and regulatory constraints, stream maintenance work is concentrated into a relatively short period of time.
Sonoma Water does not have the staff to perform the amount of work needed and therefore needs to supplement its crews on a short-term basis. Sonoma Water desires to enter into the agreement for stream maintenance services for the channels where Sonoma Water has maintenance authority. Without the additional crews, Sonoma Water would not be able to implement some required flood channel maintenance activities.
In 2009, HSD and Sonoma Water partnered to lead the development and implementation of the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps (SCYEC). The two agencies have worked collaboratively since implementation of the SCYEC to provide meaningful opportunities to engage and employ young people while benefiting the community, including the development of vocational County internships through HSD’s My Pathway Program (Program).
SCYEC provides youth and young adults with paid work experience, environmental education, and the opportunity to explore careers and develop work-readiness skills. Youth contribute to their community while completing environmental and conservation-related projects. HSD values and supports the opportunities SCYEC provides to young people, especially the Program which helps young people who have experienced challenges or barriers gain and retain permanent employment and prioritizes opportunity youth (those not in school and not working), foster and former foster youth, and youth receiving CalWORKs benefits. Sonoma Water’s year-round crew opens the door for these young people to participate in valuable, extended employment opportunities and exposure to a range of careers with the County, along with potential pathways to those positions. This aligns with County’s goal of building a more diverse and inclusive workforce, meets the needs of the Program’s older youth who are looking for more than a summer job, and emphasizes the career pathway focus of the Program’s primary funding source, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the agreement, HSD will provide crews under contract and in collaboration with Conservation Corp North Bay, or other local youth service provider, for Sonoma Water stream maintenance projects. These services include vegetation thinning, tree pruning and removal; installation of erosion control; tree planting and maintenance; and debris removal. Sonoma Water will reimburse HSD for a portion of the cost of these services. HSD will match Sonoma Water funds with federal WIOA funding for 50 percent of year-round crew costs. Sonoma Water may engage crew members for additional work and pay the full cost for additional hours to HSD. Attached is the draft agreement (Attachment 1).
The cost of services will not exceed $1,003,596; the term end date is June 30, 2027.
The agreement includes authorization for Sonoma Water’s General Manager and the HSD Director to make changes to lengthen time schedules or make minor modifications to the scope of work, which do not increase the amount paid under the agreement, in a form approved by County Counsel.
California Environmental Quality Act
The projects to be completed under this agreement are part of Sonoma Water’s Stream Maintenance Program. The Board approved the Stream Maintenance Program project and certified the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Environmental Impact Report in June 2019.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment
This item directly supports Sonoma County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 5: Support, fund, and expand flood protection.
Objective: Objective 1: Develop partnerships with cities, tribal governments, and private organizations regarding flood protection and sustainability to identify gaps and address climate change impacts.
Work performed under this cooperative agreement between two County departments will provide annual stream and creek maintenance to reduce the increasing threat of flooding due to climate change, and promote the establishment of a healthy, native riparian corridor.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Planning and Infrastructure
Strategy: Conduct planning that integrates and balances operational, maintenance, and infrastructure priorities.
Action: Continue to engage in planning efforts to support reliable wastewater and flood management services.
Sonoma Water owns in fee or maintains easements for several streams, creeks, and channels requiring annual maintenance to prevent flooding. Under the agreement, HSD will continue to perform the necessary flood control maintenance at these locations.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
06/13/2022: Approved First Amended Cooperative Funding Agreement for Creek Maintenance Services between Sonoma Water and HSD for stream maintenance services. Amended agreement increased the amount by $10,919 for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $910,919 and no change to end date of June 30, 2024.
07/20/2021: Approved a cooperative funding agreement between Sonoma Water and HSD for stream maintenance services. Cost $900,000; term July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2024
See Attachment 2.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$326,016 |
$338,790 |
$338,790 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$326,016 |
$338,790 |
$338,790 |
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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 |
$326,016 |
$338,790 |
$338,790 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$326,016 |
$338,790 |
$338,790 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $326,016 is available from FY 2024/2025 appropriations for the Flood Control Zone Funds that are funded by property taxes: 1A Laguna Mark West Fund $244,512, 2A Petaluma Fund $65,203, and 3A Valley of the Moon Fund $16,301. No additional appropriation is required.
FY 2025/2026 and FY 2026/2027 appropriations will be budgeted in those fiscal years.
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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: Cooperative Funding Agreement for Stream Maintenance Services
Attachment 2: Prior Board Actions
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None