To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Hattie Brown 707-565-3220
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): First District
Title:
Title
Stabilization and Re-vegetation of Hood Mountain Regional Park
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chair of the Board to execute a Professional Services Agreement to the Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation for the Stabilization and Re-vegetation of Hood Mountain Regional Park in the amount of $244,065.00 for a term of three years. (First District)
end
Executive Summary:
During the 2017 wildfires, firefighters bulldozed a large firebreak along a ridgeline in Hood Mountain Regional Park. While it successfully halted advance of the Nuns fire, the site remains subject to post-fire erosion and in need of re-vegetation to stabilize soils and rehabilitate the area. Regional parks received grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to restore the bulldozed firebreak.
Subsequently, the Glass fire (2020) burned much of the natural regeneration that had occurred in the intervening years adding to the need for restoration.
Discussion:
Risk of debris flow and flooding is elevated after a fire that kills both above-ground vegetation and the underground roots holding soil in place. Even in the absence of a major debris flow, as rainfalls on bare earth, unprotected soils can mobilize and flow downstream adding erosive sediments to already impacted creeks and rivers.
Due to the elevated risk of post-fire debris flow and erosion from the 2017 Nuns fire, Regional Parks received grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to repair a 22.5-acre ridgetop bulldozed firebreak that was denuded of vegetation. The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) administers the grant program.
Since the original grant application and award, natural regeneration that was occurring onsite was burned in the Glass fire (2020) further destroying the plant material holding soils in place. Repeated, high-severity fires adds urgency to both the need to stabilization and re-vegetation efforts as well as the need to maintain a functional fuel break.
The ridgetop firebreak carved through a rare plant community of pygmy Sargent Cypress trees endemic to serpentine soils on Hood Mountain. Naturally slow growing and stunted due to the harsh soil conditions, the site hosts a number of native species found in few other locations of the County and State. The firebreak follows part of the Panorama trail within Hood Mountain Regional Park.
In partnership with CALFIRE, Regional Parks has determined a restoration strategy that will both stabilize the site and maintain a functional, strategic firebreak along a ridgetop and trail within the park. The firebreak will maintain ingress/egress access for inholding residents, park users, and firefighters, potentially slow the advance of a wildfire and allow a strategic opportunity for wildfire suppression.
Timeline: This contract and scope of work is anticipated to extend over three fiscal years until June 2023 on the schedule below.
Previous activities and events
October 2017: Hood Mountain impacted by bulldozers during Nuns fire.
December 2020: Grant award to the County of Sonoma from FEMA via CalOES.
April-May 2021: Bid process to award contract under the grant.
Current and future activities and events
June 2021: Board action to award contract.
July 2021-September 2023: Anticipated work under contract.
June 2024: End of 3-year contract term.
Bid Selection Process and Award:
The Stabilization and Re-vegetation of Hood Mountain was advertised for bids on the County’s website and on April 9, 2021 when the County publicly opened the bids for the project. A pre-bid conference was held on site on April 16, 2021 with 9 attendees representing 5 organizations. A total of one bid was received: Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation: $244,065.00.
Prior Board Actions:
Previous board action (# 20-0425) authorized execution of the grant agreement and grant award of $310,813, with a federal share of $233,110 and a local cost share of $77,703.
At the same time, on November 17, 2020, by Resolution No. 20-0425, the Board also and authorized the Director and/or Deputy Director of Regional Parks to execute for, and on behalf of, the County of Sonoma any actions necessary for the purpose of obtaining federal financial assistance under Public Law 93-288, as amended by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988, and/or state financial assistance under the California Disaster Assistance Act, and/or provided by and/or sub-granted through the State of California and/or the federal Department of Homeland Security.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY 20-21 Adopted |
FY21-22 Projected |
FY 22-23 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$103,604.33 |
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|
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
$103,604.33 |
$103,604.34 |
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Total Expenditures |
$103,604.33 |
$103,604.33 |
$103,604.33 |
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Funding Sources |
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|
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General Fund/WA GF |
$25,901.00 |
$25,901.00 |
$25,901.00 |
|
State/Federal |
$77,703.33 |
$77,703.33 |
$77,703.34 |
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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 |
$103,604.33 |
$103,604.33 |
$103,604.33 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Total expenses for the project are $310,813. Total expenses for this specific agreement are $244,065. The bulk of costs associated with this project are to be awarded to the contractor with remaining costs reimbursing staff time associated with project development (pre-award costs), project management, community engagement, and project closeout. Appropriations are available within the FY 2020-21 Budget. Regional Parks will assume minimal additional management responsibilities. Regional Parks anticipates that the agreement will be liquidated over the next two fiscal years. As such, this project will require budget appropriations in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
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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:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Contract