To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sheriff’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jody Like, 565-2175
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment Grant - FY 2020/21
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Sheriff to execute the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways, Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment Grant Agreement and all related documents, for a grant award amount of $79,438, and term ending September 30, 2021, to purchase equipment that will restore the Marine Unit’s ability to provide boating safety and law enforcement services on the County’s waterways.
B) Adopt a Resolution adjusting the Sheriff’s Office FY 2020-2021 Adopted Budget, increasing expenditure appropriations and offsetting grant revenue from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways in the amount of $79,438. (4/5th Vote Required)
end
Executive Summary:
The Sheriff is requesting authorization to execute a Grant Agreement and subsequent related documents for a grant award in the amount of $79,438 from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW). The grant was written and approved for the purchase of a new patrol boat; however, due to recent major equipment failures, the Sheriff’s Office intends to request grant modification to fund the purchase and installation of replacement equipment. The Division of Boating and Waterways has verbally approved the proposed modification to the grant purchases once this Grant Agreement has been executed. Grant items must be purchased, received, and installed prior to September 30, 2021.
Discussion:
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways makes grants available through its Equipment Grant Program for local government agencies to purchase boating safety and law enforcement equipment. The Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit maintains primary law enforcement jurisdiction over Sonoma County’s waterways, which include Bodega Bay, Lake Sonoma, the Russian River, Petaluma River/San Pablo Bay, Gualala River, and coastal Pacific Ocean.
In April 2020, the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit applied for a DBW grant and was notified in August 2020 that the Sheriff’s Office had been awarded $79,438 to purchase a 15’ airboat for the purpose of patrolling the County’s shallow waterways, such as the Russian River (summer months), the Estero Americano, the Gualala River, and the sloughs of the Petaluma River.
After the grant application was submitted, the Sheriff’s Petaluma River Safe Boat experienced motor failure, removing this primary patrol vessel from service. The cost to restore functionality in this boat by replacing two new motors, upgrading electronics, and completing related installation is approximately $43,000. The Sheriff’s Office has a second Safe Boat that is primarily responsible for patrolling Bodega Bay. This boat’s motors are anticipated to experience a similar failure or require costly repair in the near future based on the age of the equipment. This assumption is based on industry knowledge and known issues with the particular motor. Experts in this equipment are recommending replacement of both the Petaluma and Bodega Bay Safe Boat motors with new and upgraded equipment. Replacing all four motors, two motors per boat, is estimated to cost $86,000. The Division of Boating and Waterways has verbally approved the concept of the Sheriff using the grant funds to repair existing boats instead of purchasing a new boat. They also encouraged the Sheriff’s Office to request the total funds needed, which are approximately $7,000 above the existing grant award amount. This change will be done through the grant modification process. If DBW does not increase the allocation to $86,000, the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit existing maintenance budget can cover the additional $7,000 to complete the replacements.
Using these grant funds to replace the failing motors and related repairs will eliminate the need for the Sheriff’s Office to cover these costs and potentially seek additional General Fund contribution from the Board. In addition, the new equipment will be under warranty, reducing maintenance costs over the next five years. Upon the Board’s authorization, the Sheriff will execute the award documents and immediately request a grant modification to replace the request of purchasing of a new vessel with a request to purchase equipment and services needed to restore functionality of two existing vessels. If the grant award cannot be used to restore functionality to one or both of the Sheriff’s existing boats, the Sheriff will not accept the grant. DBW requires execution of the Grant Agreement prior to approving modification requests.
Appropriations needed to proceed with approved expenditures are being requested through a budgetary resolution. The Sheriff is requesting the attached Budget Resolution be approved to appropriate expenditures and offsetting revenue from DBW in the amount of $79,438. If the grant agency modifies the grant and increases the award to $86,000, then the Sheriff will submit a consolidated budget adjustment accordingly.
Prior Board Actions:
Prior Equipment Grants from the Division of Boating and Waterways were approved by the Board in October 2017 ($45,744), September 2016 ($81,182; amended in January 2017, amount unchanged), April 2015 ($40,000) and October 2010 ($35,000).
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$79,438 |
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Total Expenditures |
$79,438 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$79,438 |
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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 |
$79,438 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
No matching funds are required for the Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment Grant. The Sheriff’s Office will be reimbursed up to $79,438 for its related purchases. If the grant award is increased at a later date based on a grant modification request, the Sheriff will submit a consolidated budget adjustment to reflect the increase in the grant award. The accompanying resolution requests offsetting the Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment Grant revenue and expenditure appropriations in the Sheriff’s Marine Unit. These are one-time expenditures that will be 100% grant revenue-funded.
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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:
1. Resolution authorizing execution of the Division of Boating and Waterways Equipment Grant Agreement.
2. Resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments to the FY 20-21 Sheriff’s Office budget for the Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment Grant revenue and expenditures.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Copy of California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways Grant Agreement #C20L0626