To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Permit and Resource Management Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: John Mack, 565-1233
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First and Second
Title:
Title
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Grant Fund Extension
End
Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Authorize the Director of the Permit and Resource Management Department (Permit Sonoma) to continue to: a) accept grant funds from the Environmental Protection Agency San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund for drainage and storm water activities and; b) extend the cooperative agreement with participating agencies; and c) take all actions necessary to implement extending the grant agreement for Federal and State ordered storm water regulatory permit requirements for the period May 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021. (First and Second Districts)
end
Executive Summary:
Approval of this item would authorize Permit Sonoma to continue to accept grant funds to offset costs associated with the implementation of Federal and State ordered storm water regulatory permit requirements for the period May 1, 2019 through December 31, 2021.
Each year Sonoma County is required to perform and report on State mandated actions and measurable goals under National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permits to reduce impacts to water quality due to storm water runoff. Permit Sonoma collaborates with Sonoma County Transportation and Public Works, Sonoma County Regional Parks, and other partner organizations to attain these goals. Specific actions are required for watersheds that drain to the San Francisco Bay. To fund that work, Permit Sonoma is receiving grant funding in the amount of $991,119 from the EPA San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund. The funding was awarded on January 23, 2015. This item requests authorization for the Director of PMRD to continue to administer the grant
Specific tasks that will be accomplished under the grant include: 1) repair primary sediment sources in Sonoma Creek watershed; 2) engage the community to reduce pathogen and pesticide levels in Sonoma Creek, the Petaluma River, tidal marshes, and San Francisco Bay; 3) track progress toward TMDL and other watershed health targets; and 4) project management.
Section 402(p) of the Federal Clean Water Act requires NPDES permits for storm discharges from municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s). The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) authorized General Permit coverage for storm water discharges for Small MS4s (Phase II communities) in Sonoma County by Water Quality Order No. 2013-0001-DWQ NPDES General Permit No. CAS000004 (Permit Order). Permit Sonoma administers the County MS4 permit and manages and performs the mandated storm water program activities.
The Permit Order requires compliance with all applicable Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs). TMDLs are numerical calculations of the maximum amount of pollutants that the Petaluma River and Sonoma Creek can assimilate and still meet the San Francisco Bay Basin Plan water quality standards. These TMDL requirements include monitoring and testing for sediment, pathogens, and pesticides.
Discussion:
The EPA San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund offers funding grants for projects supporting and restoring the San Francisco Bay. On April 30, 2014 the Department submitted the grant application titled Clean Streams in Southern Sonoma County to the EPA. The grant was awarded in the amount of $991,119 to help the County fund its efforts to improve water quality and meet the TMDL and NPDES permit requirements over a four-year period beginning May 1, 2015. The EPA has granted an extension of the timeline of the Clean Streams in Southern Sonoma County grant until December 31, 2021.
Permit Sonoma will administer the grant and water improvement quality work on behalf of the project partners, Sonoma County Transportation and Public Works, Sonoma County Regional Parks, and work from partnerships with the Sonoma Ecology Center, Friends of the Petaluma River, and the City of Sonoma. Administrative responsibilities include demonstrating compliance with the grant provisions and quarterly financial and narrative reporting and invoicing.
Prior Board Actions:
04/07/2015: The Board authorized acceptance of a grant, delegating its administration to the Permit Sonoma Director from the Environmental Protection Agency’s San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund in the amount of $991,119.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 18-19 Adopted |
FY19-20 Projected |
FY 20-21 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
122,290 |
142,290 |
96,545 |
|
Total Expenditures |
122,290 |
142,290 |
96,545 |
|
Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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|
|
|
State/Federal Grant Reimbursements as amended |
122,290 |
142,290 |
96,545 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
122,290 |
142,290 |
96,545 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Scheduled dollar spending funded by the grant as amended will require an increase of cost appropriations for SEC contract spending of $192,270, and other grant reimbursable costs of $168,855 over the revised grant period as follows: $122,290 into FY18-19, $142,290 for FY19-20, and $96,545 for FY20-21. With all remaining anticipated costs combined, the required increase in appropriation is $122,290. Costs related to the local match amounts are satisfied by conducting the storm water work required irrespective of the grant to comply with the NPDES permit. Costs related to the remaining 1,065 hours are already included.
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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:
Attachment A: EPA Original Funding Letter
Attachment B: EPA Amendment Extending Term
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None