To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Brad Sherwood 707-547-1927
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Public Outreach and Coalition Development
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute an agreement with Kathleen Ritzman, in a form approved by County Counsel, for public outreach and coalition development services through September 30, 2025, in the not-to-exceed amount of $90,000.
end
Executive Summary:
Kathleen Ritzman (Consultant) will support Sonoma County Water Agency’s (Sonoma Water) governmental and community affairs program by developing public outreach coalitions in support of implementing Sonoma Water’s Strategic Plan. Included in the Strategic Plan is a goal for Sonoma Water to engage with the community to build understanding, trust, and support for projects and programs. This includes building legislative and community awareness for issues concerning Sonoma Water’s aging infrastructure, climate change, water quality and supply, and developing stakeholder awareness of these and other issues.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Sonoma Water is a California special district with responsibility for wholesale water supply, flood protection, wastewater treatment, and recycled water distribution. Sonoma Water also operates a hydroelectric plant and allows recreational use over some of its properties. Significant efforts are underway to increase renewable power production, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide for climate change adaptation.
Sonoma Water’s Community and Governmental Affairs Department manages the public outreach and information, governmental affairs, water education, and water conservation functions for Sonoma Water.
Sonoma Water requires support for its governmental and community affairs program, including counsel on key state and federal legislative efforts related to extreme weather events, advanced water supply management technology, climate resiliency initiatives, and coalition development. This counsel is effective in developing coalitions and awareness of Sonoma Water’s legislative goals and community engagement efforts.
SELECTION PROCESS
A competitive selection process was not completed, and a Single/Sole Source Waiver was obtained from Sonoma Public Infrastructure Department, Purchasing Division. Consultant’s professional experience and knowledge of federal and state funding processes and stakeholders on issues related to extreme weather, atmospheric rivers, weather forecasting and legislative process is unique and critical to support the scope of work under this agreement. The professional relationships and knowledge of the issues identified above are essential and unique to achieving results within the scope of work of this agreement.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under this agreement, Consultant will support Sonoma Water’s government and community affairs program by providing counsel on key state and federal legislative efforts related to extreme weather events, advanced water supply management technology, climate resiliency initiatives, and coalition development. Programs and initiatives the consultant may engage in include the Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information program, Conference of the Parties (COP) - the main decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), NOAA specific climate and extreme weather outreach initiatives, and other as needed climate resiliency programs.
The cost of services will not exceed $90,000; the term end date is September 30, 2025.
The agreement includes authorization for the General Manager to make changes to lengthen time schedules or make minor modifications to the scope of work, which do not increase the amount paid under the agreement, in a form approved by County Counsel.
Under the agreement, Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager shall have the ability to extend the term of the agreement for two additional years by providing written notice to Consultant thirty days in advance of the expiration date. The extension shall be formalized in an amended agreement or amendment signed by Sonoma Water and Consultant.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Community Engagement.
Strategy: Focus public outreach and engagement to increase understanding of Sonoma Water’s needs and challenges for infrastructure investments.
Action: Assess existing outreach strategies and activities to refine and implement a plan that better tells the infrastructure, natural hazard, and climate risk story.
Work performed under this agreement supports Sonoma Water’s Strategic Plan, which includes goals for Sonoma Water to engage with the community to build understanding, trust, and support for Sonoma Water’s projects and programs. This consists of building legislative and community awareness for issues concerning Sonoma Water’s aging infrastructure, climate change, water quality and supply, and development of stakeholder awareness of these and other issues.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
03/14/2023: Approved amended agreement between Sonoma Water and Kathleen Ritzman for Strategic Public Outreach and Coalition Development services; Cost $106,500; term end 03/31/2024.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$15,000 |
$60,000 |
$15,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$15,000 |
$60,000 |
$15,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
$15,000 |
$60,000 |
$15,000 |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$15,000 |
$60,000 |
$15,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The budgeted amount of $15,000 is available from FY 2023/2024 appropriations for the General Fund. FY 2024/2025 and FY 2025/2026 appropriations will be budgeted in those fiscal years.
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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.