To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Minona Heaviland, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Regional Parks Vegetation Management and Prescribed Fire Planning Open Scope Professional Services Agreements
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Director of Sonoma County Regional Parks to execute seven (7) new multi-year, Open Scope Professional Service Agreements with a per contract total not to exceed $100,000 annually with the following consultants: Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc., Panorama Environmental, Inc., Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc., Sherwood Design Engineers, Sonoma Resource Conservation District, SWCA Environmental Consultants and Vollmar Natural Lands Consulting.
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Executive Summary:
In June 2022, Sonoma County Regional Parks released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for consultant services for forest management, vegetation prescriptions, and prescribed fire planning and permitting. Through this competitive process, Sonoma County Regional Parks has selected a range of vegetation management specialists including certified professional foresters, certified rangeland managers, and prescribed fire specialists to provide services with complementary skills and the capacity to efficiently deliver services. Services provided by all consultants are for planning and permitting only and will not include implementation tasks. In a separate item coming to the Board on October 18, 2022, the Director of Regional Parks is requesting authorization to execute an agreement with Audubon Canyon Ranch (ACR) to implement prescribed fire activities across multiple Regional Parks in the coming years. These prescribed fire activities were not included in this RFP.
Professional services agreements with the selected firms will extend for three years after the date of contract execution. These contracts are for planning and permitting purposes, and any implementation will be performed under separate agreements in compliance with any applicable laws.
Discussion:
The acquisition of several new properties, combined with the impact of climate change, has created a need at Sonoma County Regional Parks to create vegetation management and prescribed fire plans and permits in order to implement ecologically sound vegetation and natural resource management. Through a competitive process, Sonoma County Regional Parks has selected a range of vegetation management specialists including certified professional foresters, certified rangeland managers, and prescribed fire specialists to provide services with complementary skills and the capacity to efficiently deliver services.
Professional services are needed to support plan developments and obtaining relevant permits for vegetation management at several Regional Parks properties that range from the Mayacama Mountain range to the coastal range with ecological systems ranging from mountainous pygmy forests to mixed oak woodlands, upland meadows to coastal redwoods. Services will be used to develop forest management plans, prescribed fire plans, grazing management plans, and permitting for vegetation management prescriptions on a range of properties. Treatment prescriptions may be used to improve forest health, address fuel loads, and provide a variety of tools including prescribed fire or grazing to ensure ecosystems are resilient to wildfire, climate change, and pathogens.
Applicants with experience in developing forest management plans, vegetation management for ecological benefits, prescribed fire, rangeland management plans, or stewardship plans based on ecologically sound practices were solicited and selected. Selected consultants have experience applying best management practices to forest stands that strengthen the ecological integrity of these ecosystems against the threat of wildfire, climate change, and pathogens. Certification as a Rangeland Manager or Registered Professional Forester are desired for some tasks. Experience with prescribed fire planning and permitting is desired for other tasks.
Out of nine (9) proposals received, seven (7) consultants were moved forward for services:
1. Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc.
2. Panorama Environmental, Inc.
3. Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc.
4. Sherwood Design Engineers
5. Sonoma Resource Conservation District
6. SWCA Environmental Consultants
7. Vollmar Natural Lands Consulting
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 1: Continue to invest in wildfire preparedness and resiliency strategies
Objective: Objective 3: Leverage grant funding to support sustainable vegetation management program.
Description: This project supports forest management plans, vegetation unit prescriptions, grazing management plans, and prescribed fire planning that will allow Regional Parks to obtain necessary permits and apply for grants to support more vegetation management projects.
Prior Board Actions:
April 19, 2022: Acting as the Board of Directors of Ag + Open Space, authorized Cal Fire Cooperative Prescribed Burning Agreement for Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve and Professional Services Agreement with Audubon Canyon Ranch for Prescribed Burn Implementation on District Fee Lands.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$52,881 |
$250,000 |
$300,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$52,881 |
$250,000 |
$300,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
$52,881 |
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
$250,000 |
$300,000 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$52,881 |
$250,000 |
$300,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
In FY 22-23, any work performed will be designated from a current CALFIRE grant received through the Sonoma Land Trust. We anticipate utilizing the remaining funds of $52,881 that are available this year. For subsequent years, when work is required, these contracts will be paid for from Measure M funds or any additional available grant funds. Given past and projected workload over the three-year contract period, we estimate the usage of these agreements will be between $50,000 and $100,000 per vendor annually for a subset of the selected vendors. Appropriations were included in the FY 22-23 Budget and future needs will be included in the budgets for subsequent years.
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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):
None
Attachments:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
1. Professional Service Agreement with Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc.
2. Professional Service Agreement with Panorama Environmental, Inc.
3. Professional Service Agreement with Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc.
4. Professional Service Agreement with Sherwood Design Engineers
5. Professional Service Agreement with Sonoma Resource Conservation District
6. Professional Service Agreement with SWCA Environmental Consultants
7. Professional Service Agreement with Vollmar Natural Lands Consulting