To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency Board of Supervisors, County of Sonoma
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency, County of Sonoma Human Services Department
Staff Name and Phone Number: Chase Takajo 707-521-1872; Lillian Torres 707-565 5677
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Stream Maintenance Services
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager and County of Sonoma’s Human Services Department Director, (CR) as partners of the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps, to execute the First Amended and Restated Cooperative Funding Agreement for Stream Maintenance Services, in a form approved by County Counsel. The amended agreement increases the amount by $10,919 for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $910,919 and no change to the end date of June 30, 2024.
B) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager and County of Sonoma’s Human Services Department Director to amend the agreement to extend the term, make modifications to the scope of work, and increase costs provided amendments do not cumulatively increase the total cost to Sonoma County Water Agency beyond $15,000.
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Executive Summary:
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) performs annual stream and creek maintenance to reduce the threat of flooding. Several priority flood control projects are scheduled, and Sonoma Water may not have adequate resources available to perform planned priority and maintenance projects. Sonoma Water needs continued assistance from County of Sonoma (County) Human Services Department (HSD) to complete these projects.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water maintains approximately 75 miles of engineered flood control channels and has hydraulic easements on approximately 150 miles of modified or natural channels. Required maintenance activities on engineered channels include sediment removal, bank stabilization, and vegetation management. Required maintenance activities on modified and natural channel easements include vegetation and debris removal that obstruct flow.
Sonoma Water’s Stream Maintenance Program Manual, best management practices, and long-term programmatic permits require that maintenance activities are conducted in a manner that promotes the establishment of a healthy, native riparian corridor. Stream maintenance best management practices also require that crews conducting vegetation removal have a biologist or arborist on site for guidance and direction. Due to its seasonal and regulatory constraints, stream maintenance work is concentrated into a relatively short period of time.
Sonoma Water does not have the staff to perform the amount of work needed and therefore needs to supplement its crews on a short-term basis. Sonoma Water desires to enter into the proposed amended agreement for continued stream maintenance services for the channels where Sonoma Water has maintenance authority. Without the additional crews, Sonoma Water would not be able to implement some required flood channel maintenance activities.
In 2009, HSD and Sonoma Water partnered to lead the development and implementation of the Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps (SCYEC). The two agencies have worked collaboratively since to provide meaningful opportunities to engage and employ young people while benefiting the community, including the development of vocational County internships through especially HSD’s My Pathway Program (Program).
SCYEC provides youth and young adults with paid work experience, environmental education, and the opportunity to explore careers and develop work-readiness skills. Youth contribute to their community while completing environmental and conservation-related projects. HSD values and supports the opportunities SCYEC provides to young people, especially the Program which helps young people who have experienced challenges or barriers gain and retain permanent employment and prioritizes opportunity youth (those not in school and not working), foster and former foster youth, and youth receiving CalWORKS benefits. Sonoma Water’s year-round crew opens the door for these young people to participate in valuable, extended employment opportunities and exposure to a range of careers with the County, along with potential pathways to those positions. This aligns with the County’s goal of building a more diverse and inclusive workforce, meets the needs of the Program’s older youth who are looking for more than a summer job, and emphasizes the career pathway focus of the Program’s primary funding source, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
Sonoma Water and HSD entered into a cooperative funding agreement for stream maintenance services, dated August 18, 2021 in the amount of $900,000.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed amended agreement, HSD will continue to provide crews under its existing contract with Conservation Corp North Bay (CCNB) for Sonoma Water stream maintenance projects. These services include vegetation thinning, tree pruning and removal; installation of erosion control; tree planting and maintenance; and debris removal. Sonoma Water will reimburse HSD for a portion of the cost of these services. HSD will match Sonoma Water funds with WIOA funding for 50 percent of year-round crew costs, up to $ 192,000 annually. Sonoma Water may use additional crew members and pay full cost for additional hours to HSD.
Amending the agreement is necessary in order to continue providing needed stream maintenance and to provide a raise in wages for the SCYEC crew. This wage increase will allow for more competitive hiring and equal pay throughout CCNB crews.
The additional cost is $10,919, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $910,919. There is no change to the end date of June 30, 2024.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 5: Support, fund, and expand flood protection.
Objective: Objective 1: Develop partnerships with cities, tribal governments, and private organizations regarding flood protection and sustainability to identify gaps and address climate change impacts.
Work performed under the proposed amended agreement will continue to provide annual stream and creek maintenance to reduce the threat of flooding and promote the establishment of a healthy, native riparian corridor.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Flood Protection, Goal 1: Provide efficient and effective flood protection programs.
Sonoma Water owns in fee or maintains easements for several stream, creeks, and channels requiring annual maintenance to prevent flooding. Under the proposed amended agreement, HSD will continue to perform the necessary flood control maintenance at these locations, and Sonoma Water will reimburse HSD for a portion of the cost of these services.
Prior Board Actions:
07/20/2021: Approved a cooperative funding agreement between Sonoma Water and HSD for stream maintenance services. Cost $900,000; term July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024.
06/08/2021: Approved an agreement between HSD and Conservation Corps North Bay for creek maintenance and other services, to commence June 10, 2021.
09/11/2018: Approved a cooperative funding agreement between Sonoma Water and HSD for Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps and Career Pathway Program. Cost $1,275,000; term July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2021.
09/12/2017: Approved first amendment to Youth Education & Employment Services contract with the Conservation Corps North Bay, increasing amount by $479,880 for a new contract amount not to exceed $633,036, in order to implement the pilot Sonoma County Youth Ecology Corps Career Pathway Program. No changes to term (July 2017- June 30, 2018).
06/13/2017: Approved contracts with Conservation Corps North Bay, Petaluma People Services Center, Social Advocates for Youth, the Center for Social and Environmental Services, and West County Community Services to provide Youth Education & Employment Services program services to at-risk youth and young adults.
05/17/2016: Approved agreement with Conservation Corps North Bay to provide creek maintenance services for $450,000; agreement terminated on June 30, 2019.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 21-22 Adopted |
FY22-23 Projected |
FY 23-24 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$10,919 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$10,919 |
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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 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$10,919 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $10,919 is available from FY 2021/2022 appropriations for the Flood Control Zones 1A, 2A, and 3A Funds. No additional appropriation is required.
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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:
None.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.