To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sheriff’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Sheriff Eddie Engram, Connie Newton 565-8884
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) Grant - FY 26-27
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Sheriff-Coroner to execute the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways, Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) grant agreement, and related documents, providing funding in the amount of $10,000 for the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit to dispose of surrendered, wrecked, and abandoned recreational boats through September 30, 2028. The grant promotes navigational and environmental safety on Sonoma County waterways by removing, reducing, and preventing abandoned recreational vessels and marine debris. (Majority)
Adopt a Resolution adjusting the Sheriff’s Office FY 2026-2027 Adopted Budget, increasing expenditure appropriations and offsetting grant revenue from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways in the amount of $10,000. (4/5 Vote Required)
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Executive Summary:
The Sheriff’s Office is requesting the Board’s approval to execute a Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) grant agreement, and related documents, with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways; and authorization for the Sheriff-Coroner to accept $10,000 for fiscal years 26-27 to enable the Marine Unit to dispose of surrendered, wrecked, and abandoned recreational vessels on Sonoma County waterways. Grant funds may not be used for the removal or disposal of commercial vessels.
Discussion:
The Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) grant from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is available statewide to qualified local public agencies with jurisdiction over navigable waterways. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit maintains primary law enforcement jurisdiction over Sonoma County’s waterways: Bodega Bay, coastal Pacific Ocean, Lake Sonoma, Russian River, Petaluma River/San Pablo Bay, and the Gualala River.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit was awarded SAVE grant funding in 2016 ($21,100), 2017 ($14,900), 2018 ($40,000), 2020 ($43,000), and 2022 ($40,000) and 2024 (155,000). DBW is experiencing budget limitations and reduced SAVE grant awards accordingly. To date, these funds have been used to remove surrendered vessels and abandoned vessels from Sonoma County’s waterways. Finalization of the grant requires a Board resolution authorizing execution of the grant agreement.
Historically, problems with abandoned vessels have occurred primarily in Bodega Bay and the Petaluma River/San Pablo Bay areas. To prevent vessel abandonment, the Division of Boating and Waterways administers a Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) through local participating agencies, providing a path for boat owners to surrender unwanted recreational vessels free of charge. The Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit started its Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) in 2017 and currently has 12 vessels on the waitlist. However, due to the reduced grant award, the Marine Unit will prioritize project based on the significance of the potential hazard.
Under Harbors and Navigation Code, Section 526.1, a "surrendered vessel" is a recreational vessel that the verified titleholder has willingly surrendered to an accepting public agency under both of the following conditions:
(a) the public agency has determined that the vessel is in danger of being abandoned, and therefore has a likelihood of causing environmental degradation or becoming a hazard to navigation.
(b) the decision to accept a vessel is based solely on the potential of the vessel to likely be abandoned and cause environmental degradation or become a hazard to navigation.
Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) Grant. The $10,000 SAVE grant is for the Marine Unit to remove and dispose of abandoned and derelict vessels and/or to dispose of boats surrendered through the Unit’s Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP). The cost to remove abandoned boats varies depending on the unique circumstances and issues for each vessel, including the size, type (sail, engine), condition, and location/accessibility (sunk, afloat, beached, dry-storage). The SAVE grant agreement #C26S0624 is ready for execution by the County. The Sheriff's Office must secure a fully executed agreement, complete the work, and submit for reimbursement by September 30, 2028.
As a condition of the grant award, the Division of Boating and Waterways requires a ten percent contribution (in this case $1,000) from the local agency receiving the grant. The contribution may be rendered in cash or through verifiable in-kind contributions which may include personnel hours and the cost of excess removal and/or storage expenses. The Marine Unit expects to contribute in-kind personnel hours. No General Funds are requested.
Appropriations needed to proceed with approved expenditures are being requested through a budgetary resolution. The Sheriff is requesting the attached Budget Resolution be approved to appropriate expenditures and offsetting revenue from DBW in the amount of $10,000 for FY26-27.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
9/20/2016, 9/25/2018, 4/17/2018, 12/8/2020, 10/25/2022, and 11/5/2024 - Approval of the Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) grant from the Division of Boating and Waterways.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$10,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
$10,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$10,000 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$10,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) grant provides State reimbursement for expenses incurred by the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit to remove derelict vessels, not to exceed $10,000 through September 30, 2028. The accompanying resolution requests offsetting SAVE Grant revenue and expenditure appropriations in the Sheriff’s Marine Unit The 10% in-kind match requirement ($1,000) will be covered by personnel expenses already included in the Marine Unit budgets for FY 26-27.
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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:
1. FY 26-27 Resolution authorizing execution of the SAVE-26 Grant Agreement.
2. FY 26-27 Budgetary Resolution for the SAVE-26 Grant.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Copy of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways SAVE -26 Grant Agreement #C26SO624.