To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis, 707-547-1900 and Ryan Pedrotti, 707-521-6209
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): All
Title:
Title
Stormwater Education Program for Unincorporated Sonoma County and the City of Ukiah
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with West Yost & Associates, Inc., in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board, to continue to implement a Stormwater Education Program through June 30, 2026, in the not-to-exceed amount of $20,000. (West Yost & Associates, Inc., is paying Sonoma County Water Agency.)
B) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to amend the agreement, in a form approved by County Counsel, with West Yost & Associates, Inc., to extend the term by up to two years, make modifications to the scope of work, and increase costs provided amendments do not cumulatively increase the total cost beyond $45,000. (West Yost & Associates, Inc., is paying Sonoma County Water Agency.)
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Executive Summary:
This item requests authorization for Sonoma County Water Agency’s (Sonoma Water) General Manager to enter into an agreement with West Yost & Associates, Inc., (West Yost) for Sonoma Water to continue to implement a Stormwater Education Program (Program). The Program will include classroom presentations and field trips focusing on stormwater education for students, who would not otherwise have access to the curriculum. Sonoma Water will be paid by West Yost.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Under federal and state water pollution prevention laws and programs, local jurisdictions that operate municipal stormwater systems (including many Sonoma County jurisdictions and Sonoma Water) must obtain permit coverage for discharges of municipal stormwater. These permits, known as Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits, are issued by the State Water Board or applicable Regional Water Board. Education and outreach are components of the MS4 permits.
The Russian River Watershed Association (RRWA) is a coalition of 10 cities, counties, and special districts in the Russian River Watershed that came together in 2003 to coordinate regional programs for clean water, habitat restoration, and watershed enhancement. Sonoma Water is a member of RRWA and has collaborated with RRWA on multiple regional education projects. The City of Ukiah acts as the administering agency for RRWA and contracts with West Yost to administer and implement RRWA’s annual work plans.
West Yost assisted RRWA in meeting the primary objectives of RRWA’s Proposition 1 grant to develop a regional Stormwater Resource Plan (Plan) for the entire Russian River Watershed. The Plan identified projects that maintain and restore pre-development hydrology and improve water quality by limiting pollutants carried in stormwater runoff from entering local waterways and encourage the use of green infrastructure practices to manage stormwater runoff. Sonoma Water continues to implement stormwater education programs as part of the Plan.
Sonoma Water’s water education program is a comprehensive approach to helping educators teach students the value of water as an important natural resource (Water Education Program). The goal of the Water Education Program is for students to become environmental stewards and informed citizens who can examine the world through an inquisitive, scientific lens.
The Water Education Program promotes water-use efficiency and stewardship of local watersheds through a curriculum including a third-grade classroom program, a musical assembly program, a fifth-grade classroom and field trip program, and teacher workshops.
The Water Education Program services RRWA member agencies who are also members of the Sonoma Marin Saving Water Partnership, including the cities of Santa Rosa, Healdsburg, Cloverdale, Rohnert Park, and Cotati, and the Town of Windsor. Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership comprises 13 water utilities in Sonoma and Marin counties collectively addressing regional water efficiency solutions.
Sonoma Water has been implementing the Stormwater Education Program for unincorporated Sonoma County and the City of Ukiah under agreements with West Yost since 2019.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the agreement, Sonoma Water will implement the Program for students in unincorporated Sonoma County and City of Ukiah. Services under the agreement include:
• Musical assembly program.
• Third grade classroom program and lessons on climate change and storm drain pollution.
• Fifth grade classroom and field trip program.
• Stormwater education programs for multiple grades.
Stormwater education includes teaching students the connection between their streets and homes and local creeks and rivers, what types of pollution end up in waterways, and how pollution impacts water quality for aquatic life. These lessons are led by staff members of the Water Education Program, which includes Program Specialists and Extra-Help Resource Program Technicians and interns.
Under the agreement, Sonoma Water will invoice West Yost for providing the Program at the same rates Sonoma Water allocates to its internal projects and programs up to a maximum of $20,000. Sonoma Water is recovering its actual costs of providing services to West Yost with no mark up.
This agreement covers services through June 30, 2026.
Under the agreement, either party has 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. This Board item would authorize the General Manager to invoke this extension provision, make modifications to the scope of work, and increase costs provided amendments do not cumulatively increase the total cost beyond $45,000 (with West Yost paying Sonoma Water).
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Community Engagement
Strategy: Build collaborative partnerships, trust, and long-term relationships with the community through proactive communication and education.
Action: 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.
Sonoma Water’s Stormwater Education Program includes teaching students the connection between their streets and homes and local creeks and rivers, what types of pollution end up in waterways, and how pollution impacts water quality for aquatic life.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
See attachment 2
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$20,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$20,000 |
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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 |
$20,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$20,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $20,000 is available from the Russian River Projects Fund. Offsetting revenue in the amount of $20,000 will come from West Yost & Associates, Inc.
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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: Agreement with West Yost
Attachment 2: Prior Board Actions
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None