To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Kevin Booker 707-521-1865
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth
Title:
Title
Funding of Wastewater Intertie Pipeline Construction between Airport-Larkfield-Wikiup Sanitation Zone and Town of Windsor
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with Town of Windsor for Funding of Wastewater Intertie Pipeline Construction between Airport-Larkfield-Wikiup Sanitation Zone and Town of Windsor through June 30, 2026, in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,500,000 and authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to amend or terminate this agreement with approval of County Counsel. (Fourth District)
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Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) and the Windsor Water District (Windsor District), which is a dependent special district of the Town of Windsor (Town), have been working together to transfer wastewater collections, treatment, and disposal operations of the Airport-Larkfield-Wikiup Sanitation Zone (Zone) to Windsor District.
The Zone’s Wastewater Treatment Facility (Zone’s Treatment Plant) is approaching the end of its operational lifetime and would require substantial financial investment to extend its operational life while the Town’s Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) has enough excess rated capacity to fully treat all wastewater flows and loadings from Zone. Windsor District and Sonoma Water have cooperated to transfer, store, and dispose of treated wastewater on a mutual-aid basis for many years. A permanent sewer connection (pipeline) will be required for continuous conveyance of raw or partially treated wastewater from Zone’s Treatment Plant to Windsor District. This item seeks authorization for an agreement to provide funding to the Town in the amount of $1,500,000 to implement a project that will construct the new pipeline (Project).
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water and Windsor District have been working together to transfer wastewater collections, treatment, and disposal operations of Zone to Windsor District. Windsor District is a dependent special district, with the authority to provide water and wastewater services. Windsor District boundaries are larger than the Town’s boundaries.
Zone’s Treatment Plant is approaching the end of its operational lifetime and would require substantial financial investment to extend its operational life while Windsor District’s WRF has enough excess rated capacity to fully treat all wastewater flows and loadings from Zone.
Windsor District and Sonoma Water have cooperated to transfer, store, and dispose of treated wastewater on a mutual-aid basis for many years, including in accordance with the Agreement Regarding the Ownership, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Wastewater Facilities to Permit the Transfer, Storage, and Disposal of Treated Wastewater on a Mutual-Aid Basis and Agreement Regarding the Transfer and Use of Recycled Water (“Prior Agreements”). Transfers between Windsor District and Sonoma Water are recognized and regulated by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Waste Discharge Requirements Order R1-2020-0010.
In October 2023, Town awarded a contract for the design of the pipeline. The design will include a sewer intertie to facilitate sending wastewater from Zone to Town. The Zone’s portion of the intertie is estimated to be $1,500,000. The portions of Project that are located within the boundaries of Zone, once constructed, will be owned and operated by Zone. Beyond the boundaries of Zone, Town owns or will acquire, and is willing to retain ownership of, any property or easements wherein said Project will be constructed and is willing to operate and maintain those portions of Project in perpetuity.
Under the agreement, Town is responsible for all aspects of the construction of the pipeline, including, but not limited to design, let the project for bids, and administer and inspect construction.
The total amount to be funded will not exceed $1,500,000; the term end date is June 30, 2026.
Under the agreement, the General Manager shall have the ability to extend the term of the agreement for two additional years by providing written notice to Town in advance of the expiration date. The extension shall be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by Sonoma Water and Town.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
The General Manager has determined that execution of the agreement for funding of Wastewater Intertie Pipeline Construction between Airport-Larkfield-Wikiup Sanitation Zone and Town of Windsor is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21080.21, which exempts from CEQA review the installation of new pipeline of less than one mile in length within a public street or any other public right-of-way or the maintenance, repair, restoration, reconditioning, relocation, replacement, removal, or demolition of an existing pipeline. Project will not result in a net increase in the amount of effluent produced or treated and the wastewater will be treated at a plant that has the existing capacity to treat the conveyed wastewater. Project would not result in any significant adverse effect on the environment.
REQUEST FOR SONOMA WATER GENERAL MANAGER AMENDMENT AUTHORITY
Consistent with other agreements, staff recommend that the Board authorize Sonoma Water’s General Manager to amend or terminate the agreement with approval of County Counsel.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Planning and Infrastructure
Strategy: Fund and implement the planned capital and maintenance projects on schedule to ensure reliable services
Action: Fund Capital Improvement Program budgets to meet infrastructure needs.
The implementation of this agreement will allow new infrastructure to be built, which will ensure continued wastewater operations for Airport/Larkfield/Wikiup customers.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$1,500,000 |
|
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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|
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Total Expenditures |
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$1,500,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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|
|
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State/Federal |
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|
|
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Fees/Other |
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$1,500,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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|
|
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General Fund Contingencies |
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|
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Total Sources |
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$1,500,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
FY 2024/2025 appropriations in the amount of $1,500,000 will be made in the Airport/Larkfield/Wikiup Sanitation Zone Construction Fund. No other appropriations are required.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Agreement for Funding of Wastewater Intertie Pipeline Construction between Airport/Larkfield/Wikiup Sanitation Zone and Town of Windsor
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None