To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit Sonoma
Staff Name and Phone Number: Scott Orr, Director and Jacob Sedgley, Planner III (707) 565-1931
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Acceptance of Ocean Protection Council SB 1 Grant Award for the Pacific Coast Shoreline and Upland Resilience Framework (SURF) Plan
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution accepting an Ocean Protection Council Senate Bill 1 Sea Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant award of up to $729,911 for the Sonoma County Pacific Coast Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan, as approved by the Ocean Protection Council and to be known as the Sonoma County Pacific Coast Shoreline and Upland Resilience Framework (SURF) Plan, and authorizing the Director of Permit Sonoma, or designee, to negotiate, finalize, execute, administer, amend, enter into agreements and amendments necessary to implement and carry out the purposes specified in the grant agreement, and close out the grant agreement and related documents, subject to County Counsel review and the limitations established in the resolution.
B) Adopt a separate California Natural Resources Agency/Ocean Protection Council Governing Board Resolution approving the grant application, making the certifications required by the State, and designating the Director of Permit Sonoma, or designee, as the County’s authorized agent for the grant.
end
Executive Summary:
On June 16, 2026, the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) authorized up to $729,911 to the County of Sonoma for the Sonoma County Pacific Coast Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan project. Permit Sonoma will lead this County planning project under the new name Pacific Coast Shoreline and Upland Resilience Framework (SURF) Plan.
The SURF Plan will cover more than 55 miles of Sonoma County’s Pacific coast from the Gualala River to Estero Americano, including Jenner and Bodega Bay. It will first update and expand the County’s sea level rise vulnerability assessment by evaluating coastal flooding and wave runup, bluff retreat, water supply, infrastructure, habitats, public access, and risks to coastal communities. That assessment and community input will guide an adaptation plan with strategies tailored to coastal subareas, phased pathways through 2100, decision triggers, prioritized actions, and an implementation and funding strategy. The project will also include preparation of draft Local Coastal Plan (LCP) policy changes.
The recommended action includes adoption of two separate resolutions. The first is the County’s resolution accepting the grant and delegating authority to the Permit Sonoma direct to execute and implement the grant. The second is the State-required Governing Board Resolution approving the grant application. Although the resolutions overlap somewhat, the County resolution is required to ensure the Director has the authority necessary to implement the grant, including the ability to enter into agreements with other agencies and contractors. This action does not approve a consultant agreement, adopt the final Framework Plan or LCP amendments, select a physical adaptation project, or commit the County to construction.
Discussion:
SB 1 Grant Program and Planning Requirements
Senate Bill 1 (Atkins, 2021, SB 1), the California Sea Level Rise Mitigation and Adaptation Act, established a statewide framework for sea level rise planning and directed the Ocean Protection Council (OPC) to support local adaptation through grants. Senate Bill 272 (Laird, 2023, SB 272) requires local governments within the coastal zone to develop a sea level rise plan as part of a new or updated Local Coastal Program by January 1, 2034. The California Coastal Commission’s 2024 Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance provides guidelines for that work. This SB 1 grant will support Sonoma County’s Pacific coast vulnerability and adaptation planning and inform a future LCP amendment under SB 272.
The SURF Plan builds on the County’s existing LCP and earlier vulnerability work focused on Bodega Bay and Jenner. It will extend analysis along the full Pacific coast, and be developed in coordination with the California Coastal Commission and other agencies, and engage coastal communities, tribal governments, community-based organizations, water providers, infrastructure operators, and landowners. Highway 1 and other access routes are among the assets to be assessed.
Project Scope
The grant-funded work is expected to include:
• Documentation of existing coastal conditions, prior studies, and land use and infrastructure data;
• Updated coastwide vulnerability mapping using the best available sea level rise science and targeted analyses of flooding, wave runup, bluff retreat, groundwater and water supply risks;
• Evaluation of risks to Highway 1 and local roads, public and private water systems, public facilities, residences and businesses, coastal habitats, cultural resources, trails, and beach access;
• Identification of priority subareas and recurring hazard hotspots, including focused review of Jenner, Salmon Creek, Bay Flat Road, and at-risk bluff and access segments;
• Tribal consultation and sustained engagement with environmental justice communities, coastal residents, community-based organizations, agencies, and the general public;
• Evaluation of phased adaptation alternatives through 2100, including nature-based measures, infrastructure changes, and strategic relocation where appropriate; and
• Preparation of an implementation and funding framework with monitoring triggers, priorities, responsible parties, potential LCP policy changes, and future study or permitting needs.
Before grant funds are disbursed, the OPC Executive Director must review and approve the detailed work plan, schedule, staffing requirements, budget, contractor information, and interim deliverables. The March 2026 proposal budget of $732,220 exceeds the authorized award by $2,309; the final grant scope and budget will be reconciled to the award cap.
The planning areas will include Sonoma County’s Pacific Coast shoreline and the connected tidal reaches of the Estero Americano, Salmon Creek, and the Russian River, as well as adjacent areas anticipated to be affected by sea level rise and related flooding. The County submitted a separate SB 1 grant application for the San Pablo Bay areas of Sonoma County, known as the North Bay Tidal Infrastructure, Development and Ecosystem Resilience (TIDE) Plan, which are outside the scope of the Pacific Coast SURF Plan. The Board will be considering a separate action to accept the grant award for the TIDE Plan.
Application and Anticipated Grant Timeline
Permit Sonoma submitted its full proposal on March 19, 2026, and OPC authorized the award on June 16, 2026. The application anticipated Board acceptance and consultant procurement in September 2026, an updated vulnerability assessment in 2027, a public draft adaptation plan in spring 2028, local hearings in summer 2028, and final Coastal Commission coordination and grant closeout in fall 2028. These application milestones are preliminary and will be revised after Board action and OPC approval of the final two-year work plan.
Grant Administration
The County resolution delegates authority to the Director of Permit Sonoma, or designee, to complete the documents and administrative actions necessary to obtain, administer, implement, amend, and close out the grant by no later than March 31, 2029, unless extensions are otherwise granted by the State. This includes authority to finalize work plans, schedules, budgets, exhibits, certifications, reimbursement requests, reports, and amendments, provided the actions remain consistent with the essential purpose of the SURF Plan, do not increase the State award above $729,911, do not require County appropriations not otherwise approved by the Board, and receive County Counsel approval as to form when required.
The separate State Governing Board Resolution is being presented because the California Natural Resources Agency and Ocean Protection Council require their specified governing-board certifications and appointment of an authorized agent as a condition of the grant.
While grant terms still need to be finalized, draft terms include that upon accepting the grant the County obligates itself to complete the Plan (i.e. the State will require specific performance), even if the cost exceeds total grant funds.
California Environmental Quality Act
The recommended actions authorize the receipt and administration of funding for planning, technical analysis, community engagement, and feasibility work. They do not adopt the final SURF Plan or LCP amendments or approve or commit the County to a physical adaptation project. The actions are therefore not a project under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) and (5). Alternatively, to the extent the planning activities constitute a project, they are statutorily exempt under Guidelines section 15262. Any future plan or LCP adoption and physical adaptation project will be considered separately and subject to environmental review required by law.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports several objectives in the County’s Five-Year Strategic Plan. The award provides State funding for sea level rise adaptation planning and allows the County to use reimbursable staff and consultant resources to advance the following objectives:
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 5: Maximize opportunities for mitigation of climate change and adaptation through land conservation work and land use policies
Objective: Objective 1: By 2025, update the County General Plan and other county/special district planning documents to incorporate policy language and identify areas within the County that have the potential to maximize carbon sequestration and provide opportunities
The SURF Plan will update the County’s Pacific coast vulnerability assessment and prepare draft Local Coastal Program policy changes addressing sea level rise, coastal hazards, habitat resilience, and land use.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 5: Maximize opportunities for mitigation of climate change and adaptation through land conservation work and land use policies
Objective: Objective 2: Implement land use planning and assessments to address flood protection, including river setbacks and riparian corridors, and make resources available for residents.
The vulnerability assessment will evaluate coastal flooding and wave runup, including risks to low-lying communities, roads, and public access. Its findings will provide information for residents and help guide land use and adaptation planning.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 5: Maximize opportunities for mitigation of climate change and adaptation through land conservation work and land use policies
Objective: Objective 3: Evaluate the feasibility, creation, and/or update of Flood Protection Plans and seek out financing mechanisms to establish protection zones countywide by 2026.
The adaptation plan will evaluate strategies for priority coastal areas and develop phased pathways, decision triggers, a prioritized action list, and a funding and implementation strategy.
Pillar: Organizational Excellence
Goal: Goal 4: Seek out grant funding to enhance programs and improve infrastructure
Objective: Objective 1: Secure a total of $60 million in grant funding by 2026 for strategic priorities, including technology tools, climate resiliency, and other capital projects.
Acceptance of up to $729,911 in State funding advances this objective and expands resources available for coastal resilience planning without a required local match.
Pillar: Racial Equity and Social Justice
Goal: Goal 4: Engage community members and stakeholder groups to develop priorities and to advance racial equity.
Objective: Objective 2: Collaborate with community members and stakeholder groups to develop racial equity strategies for County emergency response, economic recovery and resiliency planning efforts.
The SURF Plan’s engagement and technical work will involve tribal governments, community-based organizations, and environmental justice communities in identifying valued assets, evaluating uneven risks, and developing adaptation priorities.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
The recommended action accepts and administers planning funds but does not select adaptation strategies or adopt the SURF Plan. Accordingly, a separate Racial Equity Analysis is not recommended for this procedural grant-acceptance action.
Equity analysis will be incorporated into development of the SURF Plan. The project will follow OPC’s engagement requirements and the Coastal Commission’s 2024 Sea Level Rise Policy Guidance. Engagement and technical work will consider differences in exposure, vulnerability, adaptive capacity, and access to adaptation benefits across coastal communities, including tribal and environmental justice concerns.
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Projected Grant Expenses |
|
$500,000 |
$129,911 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$100,000 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$100,000 |
$500,000 |
$129,911 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
State/Federal |
$100,000 |
$500,000 |
$129,911 |
|
Fees/Other |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
General Fund Contingencies |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Total Sources |
$100,000 |
$500,000 |
$129,911 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
OPC authorized State grant funding of up to $729,911 for the Pacific Coast SURF Plan. The grant does not require a local match and will reimburse eligible costs incurred under the State-approved work plan and budget.
Permit Sonoma is requesting additional expenditure appropriations totaling $100,000 for FY 2026-27, funded by the grant. The budget adjustment will be made as part of FY 2026-27 Q2 Consolidated Budget Adjustments based on the final OPC-approved work plan, schedule, and budget. Appropriations for FY 2027-28 and FY 2028-29 will be requested through the annual budget development process. Eligible expenditures are expected to include County staff time, consultant services, materials, and allowable administrative or indirect costs, as authorized by the final agreement.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
No new position allocations are requested. Existing Permit Sonoma staff will administer and support the SURF Plan, and eligible staff costs may be reimbursed from the grant in accordance with the final agreement and approved budget. Consultant procurement and any agreement requiring separate Board approval will be presented through a subsequent action.
Attachments:
1. County of Sonoma Resolution
2. California Natural Resources Agency/Ocean Protection Council Governing Board Resolution
3. Senate Bill 1 Pacific Coast Grant Proposal (March 19, 2026)
4. Ocean Protection Council Award Documentation
5. SB 1 Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Terms and Conditions
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.