To: Boards of Supervisors; Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency; Board of Directors, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office; Sonoma County Water Agency, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Yvonne Shu 707-565-2431, Paul Piazza 707-547-1968
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Funding of Green Business Program
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager and County of Sonoma’s County Executive to execute an agreement, in substantially the form presented to this Board, to provide funding for the Sonoma County Green Business Program for business-related water quality and conservation efforts through June 30, 2030, in the not-to-exceed amount of $120,000.
B) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency's General Manager, on behalf of Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District, and County of Sonoma’s County Executive to execute an agreement, in substantially the form presented to this Board, to provide funding for the Sonoma County Green Business Program for business-related water quality and conservation efforts through June 30, 2030, in the not-to-exceed amount of $80,000.
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests approval for the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water), Sonoma Valley Sanitation District (District), and the County of Sonoma (County) through the County Executive’s Office to enter into two new agreements in support of the Sonoma County Green Business Program to promote water quality and conservation programs in commercial businesses for the benefit of supply resiliency and sanitation management. The proposed agreements provide $120,000 and $80,000, respectively, through June 30, 2030, for the program.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
The long-term management of water resources is important in Sonoma Water’s service area. The implementation of proven practices and approaches for achieving long-term reductions in per capita water demand may improve supply reliability, reduce the impact of short-term water shortage conditions, and provide a more accurate basis for future water management planning efforts. Sonoma Water is committed to assisting the region through financial support, technical support, and program management of water use efficiency for Sonoma Water’s water retailers through the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership.
In 2001, the Sonoma County Economic Development Board inherited the Sonoma County Green Business Program (Program) in collaboration with Sonoma Water and Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District (District). The Economic Development Board housed and supported the Program until 2015, at which point the County’s Energy and Sustainability Division (Energy and Sustainability), then under the General Services Department, assumed responsibility for administering the Program via two separate agreements with Sonoma Water and District. To ensure a smooth transition to General Services, the Economic Development Board continued to support the Program with event coordination and marketing to Sonoma County businesses through a two-year agreement with Sonoma Water. Since 2017, Energy and Sustainability has successfully implemented the Program. On February 9, 2022, as part of a reorganization, the Energy and Sustainability Division of General Services, which runs the Program, was moved to the County Executive’s Office. As a result, the proposed agreements are with the County Executive’s Office.
The Program is part of the California Green Business Network, whose mission is to assist businesses to operate sustainably as well as profitably. Program staff work with local government agencies to provide assistance to small- to medium-sized businesses that choose to go through the process of becoming “green.” To be certified, participants must comply with environmental regulations and meet program standards for saving water, conserving energy, preventing pollution, and minimizing waste.
Sonoma Water and District collaborate with the County to implement the Program to reduce water demands, reduce wastewater flows, and educate business customers on water saving opportunities.
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 service excellence, proactive communications, and education.
Action: Continue leveraging existing partnerships, advisory groups and employees throughout the agency to educate the community about infrastructure vulnerabilities, needs and improvement.
The Program will help to reduce water demands, reduce wastewater flows, and educate business customers on water saving opportunities.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
07/19/2022: Approved amended agreements between Sonoma County Water Agency and County of Sonoma General Services Department, and Sonoma County Valley Sanitation District and County of Sonoma General Services to fund the Green Business Program. Costs were $120,000 and $80,000, respectively; term end for both is June 30, 2026.
03/16/2021: Approved amended agreements between Sonoma County Water Agency and County of Sonoma General Services Department, and Sonoma County Valley Sanitation District and County of Sonoma General Services to fund the Green Business Program. Costs were $120,000 and $80,000, respectively; term end for both is June 30, 2022.
02/06/2019: Approved agreements between Sonoma County Water Agency and County of Sonoma General Services Department, and Sonoma County Valley Sanitation District and County of Sonoma General Services to fund the Green Business Program. Costs were $60,000 and $40,000, respectively; term end for both is June 30, 2021.
05/08/2018: Approved agreements between Sonoma County Water Agency and County of Sonoma General Services Department, and Sonoma County Valley Sanitation District and County of Sonoma General Services to fund the Green Business Program. Costs were $30,000 and $20,000, respectively; term end for both is June 30, 2019.
05/19/2015: Approved agreements between Sonoma County Water Agency and County of Sonoma General Services Department, and Sonoma County Valley Sanitation District and County of Sonoma General Services to fund the Green Business Program. Costs were $100,000 and $60,000, respectively; term end for both is June 30, 2017.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Sonoma Water/County Agreement: Budgeted amount of $30,000 is available from FY 2026/2027 appropriations for the Water Conservation fund. FY 2027/2028, 2028/2029, and 2029/2030 appropriations will be budgeted in those fiscal years.
District/County Agreement: Budgeted amount of $20,000 is available from FY 2026/2027 appropriations for the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District Operations fund. FY 2027/2028, 2028/2029, and 2029/2030 appropriations will be budgeted in those fiscal years.
|
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: Agreement with County of Sonoma and Sonoma Water
Attachment 2: Agreement with County of Sonoma and Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.