To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 707-547-1911, Molly Oshun 707-547-1937
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Consulting Services for North Coast Resource Partnership
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with West Coast Watershed, Inc., in substantially the form presented to this Board, for North Coast Resource Partnership planning services, development of grant applications, and related services through June 30, 2028, in the not-to-exceed amount of $750,000.
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Executive Summary:
The North Coast Resource Partnership (NCRP) develops guiding foundational plans for the North Coast region and submits grant applications to secure funding for plan implementation. These plans address critical regional and community needs related to water, natural resources, forest health and wildfire risk reduction, increasing renewable power, and climate resiliency. Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is responsible for development of the overall NCRP program to stimulate local development and investment, continue the integration of climate initiatives into the North Coast planning framework, secure grant funding, and conduct outreach and advocacy.
Discussion:
In August of 2003, Sonoma Water’s Board of Directors directed Sonoma Water staff to coordinate development of an Integrated Regional Water Management plan for the North Coast region. In 2013, the NCRP Leadership Council voted unanimously to change the name of the North Coast Integrated Regional Water Management Program to North Coast Resource Partnership (NCRP).
Since 2004, West Coast Watershed, Inc. (Consultant) has assisted the NCRP in receiving grant and contract awards totaling over $130 million for planning, identification, and implementation of local and regional projects to improve water quality and supply; watershed and ecosystem vitality; climate resilience; community health and safety; and forest health and fire resiliency. Significant amounts of this funding have been allocated in Sonoma County and the Russian River watershed.
SELECTION PROCESS
A competitive selection process was not completed, and a Single/Sole Source Waiver was obtained from Sonoma Public Infrastructure Department, Purchasing Division on December 10, 2024. Consultant has been providing services to Sonoma Water for NCRP for over ten years and is trusted by North Coast governments, Tribes, and NGOs. In addition, Consultant is well respected by funding agencies such as the Department of Water Resources, CalFire, Cal Natural Resources Agency, and the Department of Conservation. In addition, contracting with another firm would cause delays and increase costs while acquiring the necessary knowledge and skill to perform the work.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed agreement, Consultant will provide consulting services in support of the NCRP. Services will include coordinating the convening of the NCRP Leadership Council, Technical Peer Review Committee, staff team and regional partners via meetings, workshops, and conferences; gathering data and engaging in mapping and modeling of NCRP projects and initiatives that support the NCRP mission, goals, and objectives; supporting efforts to stimulate local economic development; conducting regional outreach; enlisting participation in California and nationwide initiatives; supporting communications, legislative research and advocacy on behalf of the NCRP; and continuing the integration of energy independence, extreme-event resiliency, and climate initiatives into the north coast planning framework.
The cost of services will not exceed $750,000; the term end date is June 30, 2028.
Under the agreement, the General Manager will have the ability 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 expiration date. The extension would be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by the parties.
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 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
Under this agreement, Sonoma Water will continue to support development of NCRP programs by seeking funding for programs related to water resources, reduced greenhouse gas emission, increased renewable power production, forest health and wildfire risk reduction, climate resilience, species and habitat restoration, stormwater management, and regional sustainability.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
This item directly supports Sonoma Water’s Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following goal, strategy, and action item.
Goal: 5. Climate Change - Assess risk and uncertainty of climate change, and develop and take actions that improve resiliency and sustainability.
Strategy: 5.1 Develop and implement practices to understand and minimize vulnerability to climate change impacts.
Action Item: 5.1.5 Continue legislation support and policy development at national, state, regional, and local levels.
The NCRP continues to successfully maximize opportunities for climate change mitigation and adaptation by attracting funding to the region focused on climate resilience, economic vitality, ecosystem function, conservation of natural resources, protection of water quality and supply, and regional equity and capacity building.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
12/03/2024: Approved First Amended and Restated Agreement for Consulting Services for the North Coast Resource Partnership between Sonoma Water and West Coast Watershed. Cost $1,035,000 and no change to end date of June 30, 2026.
05/18/2021: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and West Coast Watershed, for consulting services for North Coast Resource Partnership. Cost $810,000 and term end date June 30, 2026.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$399,000 |
$251,000 |
$100,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$399,000 |
$251,000 |
$100,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
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|
State/Federal |
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|
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|
Fees/Other |
$399,000 |
$251,000 |
$100,000 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
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General Fund Contingencies |
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|
|
|
Total Sources |
$399,000 |
$251,000 |
$100,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $399,000 is available from FY 2025/2026 appropriations for the Water Transmission ($70,000), Recycled Water ($75,000), Russian River Projects ($200,000), and Flood Control Zone 1A ($54,000) funds. FY 2026/2027 and 2027/2028 appropriations will be budgeted in those fiscal 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):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Draft Agreement with West Coast Watershed, Inc.
Attachment 2: Single/Sole Source Waiver
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.