To: Board of Directors, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Yvette O’Keefe (707) 547-1943
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First
Title:
Title
Habitat Restoration and Revegetation related to Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District Sewer Trunk Main Replacement Project
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager, acting on behalf of Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District, to execute an agreement with Sonoma Ecology Center for revegetation services through December 31, 2027, in the not-to-exceed amount of $66,589 in a form approved by County Counsel. (First District)
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Executive Summary:
Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District (District) is undertaking the Sewer Trunk Main Replacement Project Reaches 4A, 4B, and 4C (Project) as a phased project to repair and improve the sewer trunk main to reliably handle dry and wet weather inflows. Construction activities related to the 4C portion of the Project (Reach 4C Project) will require the removal of nine trees adjacent to Lilley Creek.
The District’s California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Streambed Alteration Agreement for the Project requires the implementation of a vegetation restoration minimization measure for the removal of the nine trees incurred under the project. No heritage or landmark trees would be removed or impacted during the Project activities. This measure requires planning and designing a planting plan for 42 native riparian tree species; planting; monitoring; and maintaining plants to meet an 85 percent success criteria after five years; tracking data for reporting; and reporting annually on status of restoration effort for a period of five years. In addition, the implementation of the vegetation restoration minimization measure will comply with the Project’s Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration Mitigation Measure BIO-1: Avoid, minimize, or compensate for impacts to jurisdictional wetlands, other waters of the U.S., and impacts to riparian habitat. Planting will be conducted offsite within the Sonoma Valley watershed because there are no areas on the Project site suitable or large enough for the number of trees required to be planted.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
The District’s wastewater collection system includes approximately 188 miles of gravity flow pipelines. The sewer trunk main of the collection system is 10 miles in length, beginning in unincorporated Glen Ellen and ending at District’s wastewater treatment plant on 8th Street East, south of the City of Sonoma in unincorporated Sonoma County.
District’s wastewater treatment plant and collection system operations are regulated by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board). In April 1999, the Regional Board issued a Notice of Violation to District in response to wet weather overflows from the collection system, followed by a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) which provided a schedule to allow for the development of a phased Collection System Replacement Project. The CDO requires the District to complete a capital improvement phased project and achieve full compliance with applicable Wastewater Discharge Requirements by October 31, 2022.
District is undertaking the Project as a phased project to repair and improve approximately 26 miles of the sewer trunk main to reliably handle dry and wet weather inflows. Construction activities related to the Reach 4C Project include, but are not limited to, pruning and removing nine existing trees within District's easement (adjacent to Lilley Creek).
The District’s CDFW Streambed Alteration Agreement (Notification No. EPIMS-SON-14240-R3) requires a vegetation restoration minimization measure for the removal of the nine trees incurred under the Reach 4C Project. This measure requires planning and designing a planting plan for 42 native riparian tree species; planting; monitoring; and maintaining plants to meet an 85 percent success criteria after five years; tracking data for reporting; and reporting annually on status of restoration effort for a period of five years. Implementation of the vegetation restoration minimization measure requirements is intended to fulfill the minimization measure within District’s CDFW Streambed Alteration Agreement for the project and comply with the Project’s Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration Mitigation Measure BIO-1: Avoid, minimize, or compensate for impacts to jurisdictional wetlands, other waters of the U.S., and impacts to riparian habitat. There are no areas on the Sewer Trunk Main Replacement Project site suitable or large enough for the number of trees required to be planted. For this reason, planting needs to be conducted offsite within the Sonoma Valley watershed.
SELECTION PROCESS
On September 7, 2021, District issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to the following four firms:
1. Circuit Rider Community Services, Santa Rosa and Windsor, California
2. Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation, Santa Rosa, California
3. Point Blue Conservation Science, Petaluma, California
4. Sonoma Ecology Center, Eldridge, California
The RFP was also posted on the Sonoma Water and County of Sonoma Purchasing Department websites.
Proposals were received from one firm. The following criteria were used to evaluate the firm:
• Professional qualifications and demonstrated ability to perform the work
• Responsiveness to the work requirements
• Exceptions to standard terms in the sample agreement
• Thoroughness of proposal
Sonoma Ecology Center (Consultant) was selected for the subject work due to its extensive experience implementing restoration projects in a wide variety of habitat types and ecological communities throughout the North Bay, including wetland and riparian ecosystems in Sonoma Valley. Consultant’s experience with restoration design and installation, native plant propagation, irrigation system design-build, long-term monitoring and maintenance, biological monitoring, ecological site assessments, and ability to plant on a site in Sonoma Valley watershed establishes them qualified for the work.
District may seek to amend or enter into subsequent agreement(s) with Board approval if required, relying upon this competitive selection process, after the preliminary or initial work is completed for the Project.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed agreement, Consultant will design a native tree planting plan; install 42 native riparian trees with irrigation and plant protection; maintain plants to meet an 85 percent success criteria after five years; monitor; track data for reporting; and report annually on the status of restoration effort for a period of five years.
The cost of services will not exceed $66,589; the term end date is December 31, 2027.
The agreement includes two options for District to extend this agreement for a period of one year each by providing written notice to Consultant thirty days in advance of the expiration date of the agreement and of the first extension option.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment:
Waste water Treatment and Water Reuse, Goal 1: Improve operational reliability of wastewater treatment and water reuse systems.
This agreement is in support of the larger Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District Sewer Trunk Main Replacement Project, which will decrease overflows from the wastewater collection system and help improve the operational reliability of the District’s wastewater treatment and water reuse systems.
Prior Board Actions:
01/29/2019: Approved adoption of resolution that SVCSD Sewer Trunk Main Replacement Project, Reaches 4A, 4B, and 4C, will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment; approved the adoption of the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration of Environmental Impact for the Project; approved adoption of mitigation measures and the Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Plan/Program; approved making certain related findings; and approved the Project and authorization of the filing of a Notice of Determination.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 21-22 Adopted |
FY22-23 Projected |
FY 23-24 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$66,589 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$66,589 |
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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 |
$66,589 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$66,589 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $66,589 is available from FY 2021/2022 appropriations for the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District Construction Fund. No additional appropriation is required.
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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:
None.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.