To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Bert Whitaker and Guadalupe Navarro, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Agreement for Funding Spring Lake Environmental Discovery Center
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve and authorize the Director of Sonoma County Regional Parks to execute a reimbursement agreement, and any necessary amendments in a form approved by Counsel, with the City of Santa Rosa for funding operations of the Environmental Discovery Center at Spring Lake Park in the amount of $60,000, with a term ending June 30, 2030.
end
Executive Summary:
Since 2001, the City of Santa Rosa has partially funded operations at the Environmental Discovery Center (EDC) at Spring Lake Park. The funding supports exhibits that teach EDC visitors about the water cycle and storm water pollution prevention and assists the City and County with meeting outreach goals including compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements. Ongoing support from the City will contribute $60,000 ($12,000 per year for 5 years) toward the operation of the EDC.
Discussion:
The Spring Lake Park Environmental Discovery Center provides environmental education and outreach programs for school-aged children and public visitors. Programming provided at the EDC includes the “Down the Drain” segment, which provides education about the water cycle and storm water pollution. In addition, the program assists the County in compliance with the public outreach requirement of its NPDES permit.
Since 2001, the City of Santa Rosa has contributed funding toward the operation of the EDC to further its outreach goals related to the environment and storm water pollution prevention.
As described in the attached contract, beginning in FY 2025-26, the City of Santa Rosa will contribute $60,000 ($12,000 per year for 5 years) toward the operation of the EDC. The annual funding is included in the Sonoma County Regional Parks department budget.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
11/27/01 - Res. 01-1432: Board established the Environmental Discovery Center of Sonoma County (formerly Spring Lake Visitors Center) and acknowledged partnerships for funding of the Center.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$12,000 |
$12,000 |
$12,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$12,000 |
$12,000 |
$12,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Upon execution of this agreement, starting in fiscal year 2025-2026, and for 5 successive years, $12,000 will be budgeted in the Community Engagement division to be used for the development of education programs and outreach at the Environmental Discovery Center.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Agreement
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None