To: Board of Supervisors of Sonoma County
Department or Agency Name(s): Sheriff’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jody Like, Department Analyst, EH 565-2175
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program Agreement
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Sheriff to ratify a grant application and execute the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program Agreement, and any amendments or additional related documents, with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways, to receive grant funding for provision of boating safety and enforcement services in the amount of $513,899 for FY 21-22. The grant promotes safety on Sonoma County’s waterways while also reducing the County’s General Fund contribution for the Marine Unit’s activities.
end
Executive Summary:
The Sheriff’s Office is seeking the Board’s approval to ratify a grant application and execute the award agreement and any amendments or additional related documents with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways, Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program; and authorization for the Sheriff to accept $513,899 for FY 21-22 to support the Marine Unit’s boating safety and enforcement activities on Sonoma County waterways, including Bodega Bay and Lake Sonoma, and portions of the Russian River, Petaluma River/San Pablo Bay, Gualala River, and coastal Pacific Ocean.
Discussion:
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit maintains primary law enforcement jurisdiction over Sonoma County’s waterways including Bodega Bay and Lake Sonoma, and portions of the Russian River, Petaluma River/San Pablo Bay, Gualala River, and coastal Pacific Ocean.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways provides financial aid to subvention grantees for boating safety and enforcement expenses. The purpose of the program is to provide financial aid to local governmental agencies whose waterways have high usage by transient boaters and an insufficient boat tax base to fully support a boating safety and enforcement program. The program is intended to augment existing local resources for boating safety and enforcement activities and is not intended to fully fund these programs.
The Sheriff’s Office has received grant funds from the Division of Boating and Waterways since 1985. Most recently, in December 2020, Sheriff’s Office staff submitted a subvention grant application and received an award of $513,899, the maximum for which the County is eligible in FY 21-22. As a grantee in the financial aid program, the Marine Unit can claim reimbursement for direct program-related costs including personnel, operations, equipment, maintenance, and administration up to $513,899. Costs related to peace officer training, weapons, and the purchase of vessels or vehicles, and one-time payments for separation or medical causes are ineligible for reimbursement. The grant will subsidize and offset approximately half of the FY 21-22 projected costs associated with providing law enforcement services on Sonoma County waterways.
Historically, Marine Unit revenue has come from the annual subvention grant from the Division of Boating and Waterways and from a contract with the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide law enforcement services during the main recreation season at Lake Sonoma, including holidays, May through September. Additionally, Harbors and Navigation code 663.7(e) requires that 100% of funds received by the County from personal property taxes on vessels be allocated to boating safety and enforcement programs. Historically, this has been reflected as the general fund contribution to the net cost of the program as boat tax revenue is not directly appropriated in the Sheriff’s Office Budget.
The Unit is authorized for three staff allocations: two deputies and a sergeant. The Unit uses alternate marine deputies as a pool of trained personnel available to relieve sick, vacation and training time of full-time deputies.
|
SHERIFF’S OFFICE MARINE UNIT BUDGET |
FY 21-22 Recommended |
|
Revenue |
|
|
Division of Boating and Waterways, Boating Safety and Enforcement Grant |
$513,899 |
|
Division of Boating and Waterways, SAVE grant |
$30,000 |
|
Army Corps of Engineers |
$190,000 |
|
Boat tax Revenue received by County |
$163,559 |
|
TOTAL REVENUE |
$897,458 |
|
Expenses |
|
|
Salary and Benefits |
$990,663 |
|
Services and Supplies |
$251,376 |
|
TOTAL EXPENDITURES |
$1,242,039 |
|
|
|
|
GENERAL FUND NET COST |
$344,581 |
The $1.2 million in total expenditures and $733,899 in offsetting revenue are included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 21-22 Recommended Budget. The Sheriff’s Office is the law enforcement agency responsible for monitoring and responding to calls for service on all waterways in Sonoma County, whether it receives funding from the Division of Boating and Waterways or not. Funding from this grant assists the Sheriff’s Office in meeting its law enforcement obligations. If the County does not accept this grant funding, additional General Fund contributions beyond the projected $344,581 would be needed to maintain current service levels. The net cost increase of 6.8%, or $32,468 over prior year is due to anticipated equipment replacement needs for the County’s aging Marine fleet.
Over the years, there have been opportunities to increase the amount of the Agreement in the form of Supplemental funding. Such opportunities require quick turnaround due to the limited length of boating season. Therefore, the Sheriff is also requesting authorization to execute any amendments or additional documents related to this grant, in consultation with the County Administrator and County Counsel, and under the condition that such documents have no increase in net cost to the Sheriff’s Budget. The Sheriff’s Office recommends the Board adopt the resolution authorizing the Sheriff to execute the Agreement with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways, Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program to accept $513,899 in FY 21-22 funding assistance for provision of the Marine Unit’s boating safety and enforcement services.
Prior Board Actions:
Subvention grant agreements with the Division of Boating and Waterways have been approved annually since 1985, most recently Resolution 19-0222 on May 14, 2019.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$1,242,039 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
$1,242,039 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
$344,581 |
|
|
State/Federal |
|
$733,899 |
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
$163,559 |
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
|
$1,242,039 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The subvention grant provides State reimbursement for Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit boating safety and enforcement expenses, not to exceed $513,899 for FY 21-22. The Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit FY 21-22 Recommended Budget includes funding from two grants, a federal contract, and the General Fund. The General Fund contribution of $344,581 is augmented by an estimated $163,559 in local boat tax revenue collected by the County in FY 20-21, for a total County contribution of $508,140.
|
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:
1. Resolution authorizing execution of the Division of Boating and Waterways Financial Aid 2.Program Agreement Division of Boating and Waterways Financial Aid Program Agreement.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None