To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency.
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency.
Staff Name and Phone Number: Chase Takajo / 521-1872.
Vote Requirement: Majority.
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Joint Implementation of Creek Stewardship Program
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Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
In an ongoing effort to encourage community use of, and stewardship for, creeks, authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s (Sonoma Water) General Manager to execute an agreement, in a form approved by County Counsel, with the City of Santa Rosa (City) for joint funding and implementation of the Creek Stewardship Program through June 30, 2025, in the not-to-exceed amount of $536,000 paid by Sonoma Water to City. City will pay $252,000 to Sonoma Water.
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Executive Summary:
Under the proposed agreement, the City will provide a full time Environmental Specialist position in its Utilities Department that will act as the Creek Stewardship Program Coordinator (Program Coordinator). Sonoma Water will fund half of this position, and the Program Coordinator will work half-time on stewardship programs in Zone 1A flood control channels. Sonoma Water’s obligation under the agreement is not to exceed $536,000. Sonoma Water will provide labor for associated stewardship work in creeks operated by the City and will be compensated for these services by the City in the amount of $252,000.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water, City, and County of Sonoma (County) are co-permittees for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System storm water permit. As part of the permit work plan, Sonoma Water agreed to develop and support an Adopt-A-Creek Program that would increase citizens' awareness of the value provided by the creeks within the permit boundary by providing opportunities for groups and individuals to assist in creek cleanups, trail maintenance, and public outreach. The permit boundaries are the city limits of Santa Rosa, therefore, the project incorporates all creeks within the city limits of Santa Rosa.
The Santa Rosa Creek Master Plan (adopted in 1993 by the Santa Rosa City Council, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, and Sonoma Water Board of Directors, and updated in 2013) includes goals for (1) encouraging community use of creeks to learn about natural processes and habitat, (2) caring for the creeks through adopt-a-stream programs, and (3) providing docent-guided walks.
Sonoma Water and the City have implemented the Creek Stewardship Program (Program) since 2002, through three previous Joint Funding Agreements. Involvement in the Program fulfills Sonoma Water's commitment to develop an Adopt-A-Creek Program. In 2013, the California Stormwater Quality Association presented the Creek Stewardship Program with the “Outstanding Stormwater News, Information, Outreach and Media Award.”
Program Goals and Objectives:
1. Implement, support, and realize the benefits of a successful Creek Stewardship Program that maximizes community involvement to help maintain, restore, and protect creeks.
2. Increase residents’ awareness of the values provided by the creeks within the Program area by providing outreach materials along with stewardship and educational activities in conjunction with local community, youth, and environmental organizations.
3. Recruit, train, and support volunteers to report problems and help maintain and enhance creeks.
4. Provide timely and effective response to reports regarding creek related maintenance, environmental, safety, and recreational issues.
5. Designate a Program Coordinator to organize volunteers, coordinate educational and stewardship activities, facilitate City and Sonoma Water communication and cooperation, and integrate the expertise and resources of the community into the Program.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED BY CITY
Under the proposed agreement, the City will provide a full time Environmental Specialist position in its Utilities Department that will act as the Program Coordinator. Sonoma Water will fund half of this position, and the Program Coordinator will work half-time on stewardship programs in Zone 1A flood control channels. Funding will be provided using flood control Laguna-Mark West Watershed Zone 1A maintenance funds. The Program Coordinator will organize volunteers, coordinate educational and recreational activities, facilitate City and Sonoma Water cooperation, and integrate the expertise and resources offered by community organizations into the Program.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED BY SONOMA WATER
Under its contract with the Sonoma County Probation Department, Sonoma Water will provide supervised adult crew labor for associated stewardship work in creeks operated by the City and will be fully compensated for these services by the City.
The annual cost of services for six years is shown in the table below. Over the course of the agreement, Sonoma Water will expend at total of $788,000; $536,000 will be paid to City to fund half of a Program Coordinator positon, and City will reimburse Sonoma Water $252,000 for supervised adult crew labor services. The term end date is June 30, 2025
|
Fiscal Year |
Sonoma Water Budget for Program Coordinator (half position) |
Sonoma Water Budget for Adult Crew Labor (for City Creeks) |
Total Sonoma Water Budget |
City Budget for Reimbursement of Adult Crew Labor (for City Creeks) |
|
2019/2020 |
$ 83,500 |
$37,500 |
$121,000 |
$ 37,500 |
|
2020/2021 |
$ 85,000 |
$39,000 |
$124,000 |
$ 39,000 |
|
2021/2022 |
$ 88,000 |
$40,500 |
$128,500 |
$ 40,500 |
|
2022/2023 |
$ 90,500 |
$43,000 |
$133,500 |
$ 43,000 |
|
2023/2024 |
$ 93,000 |
$45,000 |
$138,000 |
$ 45,000 |
|
2024/2025 |
$ 96,000 |
$47,000 |
$143,000 |
$ 47,000 |
|
Total |
$536,000 |
$252,000 |
$788,000 |
$252,000 |
Prior Board Actions:
09/10/2013: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and City for Funding and Joint Implementation of Creek Stewardship Program. Cost $486,000 to Sonoma Water; $255,000 paid by City to Sonoma Water; term ends June 30, 2019.
03/18/2008: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and City for Funding and Joint Implementation of Creek Stewardship Program
05/07/2002: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and City for Funding and Joint Implementation of Creek Stewardship Program.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 18-19 Adopted |
FY19-20 Projected |
FY 20-21 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$0 |
$121,000 |
$124,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$0 |
$121,000 |
$124,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$0 |
$121,000 |
$124,000 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$0 |
$121,000 |
$124,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $121,000 is available from FY 2019-2020 appropriations for the Zone 1A fund. Of the $121,000 in FY 2019-2020, $83,500 will be paid to City for half of a full time Program Coordinator position, and $37,500 will fund supervised adult crew labor for work in City creeks. City will fully reimburse Zone 1A $37,500. The annual cost of services for future years is shown in the tables above. Over the course of the agreement, $788,000 will be expended by Sonoma Water and City will reimburse $252,000 to Sonoma Water.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A - I Step) |
Additions (number) |
Deletions (number) |
|
N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A.
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Draft Agreement for Funding and Joint Implementation of Creek Stewardship Program.
Attachment 2: SAC Agreement, Probation, SW FY20.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None