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): First and Second
Title:
Title
Acceptance of Ocean Protection Council SB 1 Grant Award for the North Bay Tidal Infrastructure, Development and Ecosystem Resilience (TIDE) 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 $1,170,820 for the Sonoma County North Bay Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan, as approved by the Ocean Protection Council and to be known as the North Bay Tidal Infrastructure, Development, and Ecosystem Resilience (TIDE) 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 December 9, 2025, the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) approved up to $1,170,820 to the County of Sonoma for the North Bay TIDE Plan project. Permit Sonoma will lead the project in partnership with the City of Petaluma.
The North Bay TIDE Plan will prepare a multi-jurisdictional Subregional Shoreline Adaptation Plan addressing approximately 12 miles of shoreline along the Petaluma River, Sonoma Creek, and adjacent San Pablo Bay and North San Francisco Bay baylands. The project will evaluate vulnerability to sea level rise and flooding, coordinate existing adaptation efforts, engage affected communities and agencies, and identify feasible adaptation strategies and implementation pathways.
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 North Bay TIDE Plan, 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 to support local adaptation through grants. Senate Bill 272 (Laird, 2023, SB 272) requires local governments along San Francisco Bay to prepare shoreline resiliency subregional plans consistent with guidelines adopted by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and submit them for BCDC approval by January 1, 2034. BCDC adopted its Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan and subregional guidelines in 2024. The SB 1 grant will fund the County and the City of Petaluma’s joint planning work toward meeting this SB 272 requirement.
The North Bay TIDE Plan will build on existing local and regional planning and be developed in coordination with the City of Petaluma, BCDC, tribal governments, community-based organizations, transportation agencies, landowners, and other affected interests. The plan will address both local vulnerabilities and shared shoreline systems, including the Highway 37 corridor and the tidal Petaluma River.
Project Scope
The grant-funded work is expected to include:
• Documentation of existing shoreline conditions and existing adaptation planning;
• Updated vulnerability mapping and targeted technical analyses;
• Evaluation of risks to transportation infrastructure, public facilities, agricultural lands, natural habitats, cultural resources, businesses, residents, and shoreline users;
• Coordination with existing Highway 37 resilience planning and related regional initiatives;
• Tribal consultation and engagement with environmental justice communities, community-based organizations, landowners, agencies, and the general public;
• Development and evaluation of adaptation strategies, including nature-based and hybrid approaches where appropriate; and
• Preparation of an implementation framework addressing priorities, sequencing, responsible parties, potential funding sources, and other steps necessary to advance future projects.
The final work plan, schedule, staffing plan, budget, contractor information, and interim deliverables must be reviewed and approved by the Ocean Protection Council before grant funds are disbursed. These final documents will be based on and substantially similar to the County’s Grant Proposal included as Attachment C.
The planning area will include Sonoma County’s San Pablo Bay shoreline and the connected tidal reaches of Sonoma Creek and the Petaluma 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 Pacific Coast areas of Sonoma County, which are outside the scope of the North Bay TIDE Plan.
Application and Anticipated Grant Timeline
In 2025, Permit Sonoma and the City of Petaluma developed the grant proposal with partner support, which was approved by the California Ocean Protection Council on December 9, 2025. Upon the Board’s acceptance of the grant award, staff will finalize the grant agreement and work plan with OPC, complete the City partnership agreement, and procure consultant services. The draft work plan anticipates an RFP in December 2026 and consultant approval in February 2027, subject to procurement and grant execution. Public engagement and initial planning are projected for spring and summer 2027; the existing conditions and vulnerability work through spring 2028; a public draft plan in summer 2028; and local hearings and final revisions in fall 2028. Final BCDC coordination and grant closeout are projected for winter 2028-29. These dates are preliminary until OPC approves the final agreement and schedule.
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 that the actions remain consistent with the essential purpose of the TIDE Plan, do not increase the State award above $1,170,820, do not require County appropriations not otherwise approved by the Board, and are approved as to form by County Counsel as appropriate.
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 North Bay TIDE Plan or approve or commit the County to a physical adaptation project. The actions are therefore not a project under California Environmental Quality Act 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. Future adoption of the North Bay TIDE Plan and any subsequent physical adaptation project will be considered separately and will be subject to any environmental review required by law.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly support several objectives in the County’s Five-Year Strategic Plan. The award provides new 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 North Bay TIDE Plan directly advances this objective by preparing a shoreline adaptation planning document addressing sea level rise, flooding, habitat resilience, infrastructure, and land use.
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 and adaptation-planning components will evaluate flood exposure along the Petaluma River, Sonoma Creek, and adjacent baylands and make the resulting information available to agencies, affected communities, and the public.
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 North Bay TIDE Plan will evaluate adaptation strategies and develop an implementation framework addressing feasibility, priorities, potential funding, sustainable risk reduction, and ecological benefits.
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 $1,170,820 in State funding directly advances this objective and expands the resources available for climate-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 grant scope requires early and sustained engagement with tribal governments, environmental justice communities, community-based organizations, and historically underserved populations in identifying assets, evaluating vulnerability, 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 North Bay TIDE 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 North Bay TIDE Plan. The project will meet the Ocean Protection Council’s community-engagement requirements and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission’s Equity Assessment Standard. Engagement and technical work will evaluate differences in exposure, vulnerability, adaptive capacity, access, benefits, and potential burdens. Staff should coordinate with the Office of Equity during plan development and determine whether a formal Racial Equity Analysis should accompany a future Board action adopting the North Bay TIDE Plan or selecting adaptation priorities.
Prior Board Actions:
None.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$823,000 |
$272,476 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$75,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$75,000 |
$823,000 |
$272,476 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$75,000 |
$823,000 |
$272,476 |
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$75,000 |
$823,000 |
$272,476 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The OPC approved State grant funding of up to $1,170,820 for the North Bay TIDE 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 appropriations totaling $75,000 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 work plan, schedule, and budget approved by the Ocean Protection Council. 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 and City of Petaluma staff time, consultant services, materials, and allowable administrative or indirect costs, as authorized by the final grant agreement. Under the draft grant terms, the State may retain up to 10 percent of reimbursement amounts until completion of the project.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
No new position allocations are requested. Existing Permit Sonoma staff will administer and support the North Bay TIDE 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 Sonoma County Grant Proposal
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.