To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Ryan Pedrotti 707-521-6209
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Receipt of Community Foundation Funding
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with Community Foundation, in a form approved by County Counsel, for receipt of funding through June 30, 2026, in the not-to-exceed amount of $150,000. Community Foundation will pay Sonoma County Water Agency up to $50,000 each year for three years.
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Executive Summary:
A Private donor has gifted $1,000,000 annually for three years to the Community Foundation to fund environmental education opportunities for every student in Sonoma County. The Community Foundation is a local nonprofit whose mission is the belief in the power of connecting people, ideas, and resources to benefit all who live here. They invest in the promise of Sonoma County. Sonoma Water’s Water and Energy Education program currently provides environmental education programs to roughly 13,000 students annually. Sonoma Water is a member of the Sonoma Environmental Education Collaborative (SEEC) that works collaboratively to provide environmental education programs to every student in Sonoma County. This item would allow Sonoma Water to receive funding to provide its environmental education programs to students who are outside Sonoma Water’s Water Supply Service area.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water’s Water and Energy Education program (Education Program) provides classroom and field programs to students and teachers in the communities Sonoma Water provides water to. Through previous board action the Education Program has provided stormwater, energy and climate change education to students outside Sonoma Water’s water supply service area. Funding from the Community Foundation will allow Sonoma Water to provide its Education Program to an estimated additional 1,000 students outside Sonoma Water’s water supply service area and collaborate with SEEC. SEEC is developing a pathways program to identify program gaps across all environmental education providers. Sonoma Water staff will participate in this gap analysis and collaborate in the development of new programs to fill program or geographic gaps.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the agreement, Sonoma Water will work with SEEC to identify program and geographic gaps in environmental education services in Sonoma County. The Water Education program will provide programs with the collective goal of providing environmental education programs to every student in Sonoma County.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Community Engagement Goal: Continue partnerships with organizations such as Russian River Watershed Association and Sonoma Clean Power to provide education programs to students outside Sonoma Water’s water supply service area.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
07/19/2022: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and West Yost Associates, Inc., for implementation of a Stormwater Education Program through June 30, 2023, in the amount of $20,000 (paid to Sonoma Water by West Yost).
08/17/2021: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and Sonoma Clean Power Authority to develop and implement an energy education program. Cost $600,000; term end June 30, 2023.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY 25-26 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
$50,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $50,000 is available from FY 2023/2024 appropriations for the General Fund. FY 2024/2025, and FY 2025/2026 appropriations will be budgeted in those fiscal years. Offsetting revenue in the amount of $150,000 will come from the Community Foundation.
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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:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None