To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Paul Piazza 547-1968
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership Purchase of Drought Kits
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute a cooperative agreement between Sonoma County Water Agency, cities of Cotati, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa; Marin Municipal, North Marin, and Valley of the Moon water districts; and Town of Windsor, in a form approved by County Counsel, for reimbursement of purchase of drought kits in the not-to-exceed amount of $150,000 (paid to Sonoma Water) and term end date of June 30, 2022.
B) Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Adjustment to the Board Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 in the amount of $150,000 for the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership Purchase of Drought Kits (4/5th Vote Required)
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Executive Summary:
On April 27, 2021, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors proclaimed a local emergency due to the adverse environmental, economic, health, welfare, and social impacts of the drought that pose an imminent threat of disaster and threaten to cause widespread potential harm to people, businesses, agriculture, property, communities, the environment, wildlife, and recreation in the County of Sonoma. The proposed agreement supports water conservation measures of the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership member agencies through a cost-effective bulk purchase of drought kit materials to provide water customers tools that result in immediate reductions in water use at their homes.
Discussion:
In 2005 Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) began working with its water retailers to develop the Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership (Partnership). The Partnership represents 13 water utilities in Sonoma and Marin counties that have joined together to provide regional solutions for water use efficiency. The utilities include the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Sonoma, Cloverdale, Healdsburg, and Cotati; North Marin, Valley of the Moon, and Marin Municipal water districts; Town of Windsor; California American Water Company; and Sonoma Water (Partners). Each of the Partners have water conservation programs that can assist customers in reducing water use. The Partnership was formed to identify and recommend implementation of water use efficiency projects and maximize the cost effectiveness of water use efficiency programs in the region.
On April 27, 2021, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors proclaimed a local emergency due to the adverse environmental, economic, health, welfare, and social impacts of the drought that pose an imminent threat of disaster and threaten to cause widespread potential harm to people, businesses, agriculture, property, communities, the environment, wildlife, and recreation in the County of Sonoma.
In response to the drought declaration and in addition to the Partnership’s year-round conservation campaign efforts, the Partnership launched an aggressive public outreach campaign to emphasize the need to save water by highlighting actions customers can take to reduce water use and improve water use efficiency. These efforts included Drought Drop By events on June 12, 2021, at 16 locations in Sonoma, Marin, and Mendocino counties. At these events, drought kits were distributed free of charge on a first-come basis. The kits included a bucket to catch water for reuse, a WaterSense-labeled low-flow showerhead, a 5-minute shower timer, WaterSense-labeled low-flow faucet aerator, toilet leak-test dye tablets, and a self-closing garden hose nozzle. The drought kits for the June 12 event were purchased using approved Sonoma Water appropriations for Partnership outreach.
The Partnership conducted an additional Drought Drop By event on August 21, 2021, with a third event held on October 9, 2021, being limited to the cities of Santa Rosa and Sonoma, and Valley of the Moon and North Marin Water Districts. Similar to the June 12 event, Sonoma Water purchased an allotment of drought kits for the Partners for the August 21 event. Several of the Partners asked to purchase additional kits in excess of the allotted amount and to contribute funds to do so. In an effort to reduce costs through a bulk purchase, under the proposed agreement, the Partners will contribute funding for the cost of materials to support both the August and October events.
To obtain the materials in a timely manner and at a reduced bulk cost, Sonoma Water purchased materials at a total cost of $236,562 with reimbursement by the Partners for $150,000 of the total cost for additional materials purchased on their behalf. The net cost of $86,562 is within Sonoma Water’s approved FY 2021-22 budgeted expenditures for the Water Conservation Fund.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment:
Water Supply and Transmission System, Goal 1: Protect drinking water supply and promote water-use efficiency.
This project directly supports Goal 1 through distribution and installation of water saving devices in customers’ homes.
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 21-22 Adopted |
FY22-23 Projected |
FY 23-24 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$86,562 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$150,000 |
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Total Expenditures |
$236,562 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$236,562 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$236,562 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $86,562 is available from FY 2021/2022 appropriations for the Water Conservation Fund. Additional appropriations in the amount of $150,000 are required to process this expense. A budgetary resolution has been submitted with this item.
Offsetting revenue in the amount of $150,000 will come from Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership member agencies, while Sonoma Water’s contribution is $86,562 for the cost of materials to support the August Drought Drop By event.
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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:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None