To: Boards of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 707-547-1900, Pamela Van Halsema 707-547-1930, Ryan Pedrotti 707-521-6209
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Outreach Services for Groundwater Sustainability Agencies
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, in a form approved by County Counsel, for outreach services from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the not-to-exceed amount of $46,000.
B) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with the Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Sustainability Agency, in a form approved by County Counsel, for outreach services from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the not-to-exceed amount of $46,000.
C) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with the Sonoma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency, in a form approved by County Counsel, for outreach services from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, in the not-to-exceed amount of $46,000.
D) For the above agreements in which Sonoma County Water Agency is receiving funds for the work, authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to amend the agreement, in a form approved by County Counsel, to extend the term, make modifications to the scope of work, and increase amount paid to Sonoma County Water Agency.
end
Executive Summary:
In compliance with state law, three groundwater sustainability agencies (GSAs) were created in June 2017. This item requests authority for Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) to continue providing outreach services for Sonoma Valley, Petaluma Valley, and Santa Rosa Plain GSAs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
On April 25, 2017, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Sonoma Water Board of Directors authorized joint powers agreements for the formation of the Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). Staff from the eligible agencies, as defined by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, cooperated to develop a governance structure for these agencies. Each of the three basins has a separate GSA with a board made up of elected or appointed board members from eligible agencies.
The GSAs were tasked with assessing the conditions in their basins and adopting locally based groundwater sustainability plans by January 31, 2022. Staffing for the GSAs was established through agreements with member entities or third parties. On April 25, 2017, the Sonoma Water Board of Directors approved agreements for Sonoma Water to provide technical, monitoring, outreach, and grant administration services to the three GSAs. Subsequent agreements were approved in 2021 and 2022. The GSAs are requesting Sonoma Water provides outreach services for one more year, beginning on July 1, 2026. These agreements will allow Sonoma Water to provide outreach services to the GSAs.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed agreements, Sonoma Water will continue to provide outreach support to comply with state program requirements for the groundwater basins. The scope and costs included in the proposed agreements will be paid to Sonoma Water by the Petaluma Valley, Santa Rosa Plain, and Sonoma Valley GSAs. The outreach services included in the proposed agreements to be performed by Sonoma Water staff are related to groundwater sustainability plan implementation and monitoring in the three basins.
Major outreach tasks include: updating and maintaining the three GSA websites; monthly updates to stakeholders; social media content and campaign; development of public-facing materials, including fact sheets and press releases; and coordination of GSA community meetings.
Through the proposed agreements, the General Manager will be delegated the authority to approve a written amendment to extend the term of the agreement for up to two additional years by providing written notice to the other party thirty days in advance of the term end date and by executing an agreement amendment.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
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 and partnerships to protect and enhance our water supply.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
12/06/2022: Board approved Agreements for GSAs to provide technical and outreach services.
04/06/2021: Board approved Agreements with GSAs to provide technical, outreach, and grant writing services, and to negotiate and execute agreements with subconsultants for hydrogeologic support services.
04/25/2017: Board approved formation of GSAs and authorized General Manager of Sonoma Water to enter into agreements with each GSA to provide technical, outreach, and grant-writing services.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$138,000 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$138,000 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$138,000 |
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$138,000 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $138,000 is available from FY 2026/2027 for the Sonoma Water General Fund. Revenue in the amount of $138,000 will come from the Petaluma Valley ($46,000), Santa Rosa Plain ($46,000), and Sonoma Valley ($46,000) GSAs for the Sonoma Water staff costs for outreach support services. No additional appropriations are required.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Draft Agreement with Petaluma Valley GSA
Attachment 2: Draft Agreement with Santa Rosa Plain GSA
Attachment 3: Draft Agreement with Sonoma Valley GSA
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.