To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Regional Parks
Staff Name and Phone Number: Minona Heaviland, 707-565-2041
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Second
Title:
Title
Helen Putnam Rainwater Catchment Project Bid Award
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Approve plans and specifications for the Helen Putnam Rainwater Catchment Project, and award a construction contract to Coastside Concrete and Construction Inc., in the amount of $459,900, and authorize the Chairperson of the Board to execute the construction contract for the Project.
B) Authorize the Director of Regional Parks (or designee) to make as-needed minor changes to the project, conduct any agency approvals or other changes which do not exceed 10% of the total project costs.
C) Adopt a Resolution authorizing budgetary adjustments to the Fiscal Year 2023/24 adopted budget to increase revenue and expenditure appropriations in the amount of $100,000 in support of the Project
(Second District) (4/5th Vote).
end
Executive Summary:
Drought conditions exacerbate water shortages and in turn, reduce ability to implement critical fuels reduction projects, ulimately increasing risk of wildfire. During the 2012-2016 drought, Sonoma County Regional Parks (Regional Parks) struggled with water shortages to adequately support conservation grazing, operations, and for emergency water for prescribed fire or wildfire suppression. Helen Putnam Regional Park (Helen Putnam), was one of several properties where water was brought in to the park in orderto sustain minimum operations during the four-year drought period.
This project was developed to construct a rainwater catchment and storage system for Helen Putnam to increase the climate resilience and decrease the carbon footprint of operating the park. This is a pilot rainwater catchment system for Regional Parks, and if successful will be replicated at a few other Regional Parks that do not have adequate water supply during drought conditions.
Discussion:
From 2018-2022, Regional Parks utilized contracted services to haul water from Santa Rosa to Helen Putnam Regional Park in Petaluma to support ongoing park operations. In 2021, Regional Parks closed the park’s restrooms and replaced them with portables to conserve water. This project was developed to provide adequate water supply for grazing animals, restoration plantings, fire suppression and possible reopening of restrooms, and eliminate any reliance on imported water.
In 2022, Regional Parks partnered with Sonoma Resource Conservation District (RCD) to design a pilot rainwater catchment system. This Project includes the permitting and installation of a rainwater catchment system at Helen Putnam to be completed in 2024.
The project will serve as an example of rainwater catchment system with planned outreach and education included in ongoing Regional Parks programs. Regional Parks will plan community engagement that will prioritize equitable messaging and learning opportunities. The project will also include bilingual educational outreach materials about rainwater catchment systems, and how they can be used at multiple scales to assist with climate adaptation and resilience.
The Sonoma County Regional Parks 2019 Green House Gas (CHG) Emissions Inventory Baseline Assessment Memorandum (Rincon Consultants, 2021) identified potable water delivery as a source of GHG emissions and as a priority for GHG reductions. The Sonoma Climate Resilient Lands Strategy and Sonoma County Regional Parks 2023-2025 Strategic Plan (both in development) identify rainwater catchment systems as a priority.
The total contract award of $459,900 , is supported via multiple local sources including the Climate Resilience Fund ($303,320), the Sonoma County Parks Foundation ($56,580), and County Infrastructure funding from District 2 ($100,000).
In January 2024, the project was posted for bids on the County Purchasing Portal and was advertised on January 8 and January 15 in the Press Democrat. On January 19, 2024, a mandatory pre-bid conference at Helen Putnam Regional Park was held to provide contractors a chance to view the project site and evaluate site-specific conditions. On February 7, 2024, bids were opened by the Purchasing Division. Seven (7) bids were received as shown in the attached Bid Summary.
Per California Public Contract Code Section 20128, the low responsive bid was that of Coastside Concrete Construction in the amount of $384,900 for base bid and add alternatives in the amount of $75,000 (Alt 1) and $7,000 (Alt 2). Staff is recommending that the Board approve the project plans and specifications, award the contract to Coastside Concrete Construction in the amount of $459,900, which includes the base bid and Alternate 1, and delegate to the Director authority to approve change orders to the project documents and contract, not exceed 10% of the total project cost, as necessitated by the final conditions, agency approvals and other project contingencies. The project includes the construction of 46,000 gallons of rainwater storage at Helen Putnam Regional Park to provide water for park operations including water for grazing animals, irrigation, wildfire response, and use in sanitation facilities.
This project promotes climate resilient adaptive infrastructure and land management. Rainwater is a multi-beneficial alternative water source that addresses a broad range of water and climate concerns. Collecting water in the winter and storing it for summer use reduces stormwater peak flows, reducing sediment, erosion and flooding. During the dry season utilizing stored rainwater relieves stress on local streams, springs, aquifers, and other water sources during the most critical time of year. Leaving more water in the groundwater and creeks during the driest summer months enhances habitat and survival for threatened and endangered aquatic species and helps support ongoing groundwater sustainability goals. Rainwater catchment systems provides water security against both drought and wildfire, which have become omnipresent in Sonoma County.
The Project is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) § 15303 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 1: Continue to invest in wildfire preparedness and resiliency strategies
Objective: Objective 1: Design or retrofit County facilities to be carbon neutral, zero waste and incorporate resilient construction techniques and materials.
This Project supports grazing vegetation management at Helen Putnam. Grazing is a cost-effective vegetation management strategy to reduce wildfire risks.
Water scarcity in California is largely a result of limited water storage between the rainy season and the dry season. The project invests in fire-proof water storage tanks and a rainwater catchment system to collect and store rainwater to support park operations. The Project also lowers greenhouse gas emissions from reducing trucking water.
This project includes approaches to land management practices that will maximize resilience to climate change and extreme events, particularly drought, and support rangeland management at Helen Putnam.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
In October 2022, the Board approved funding for the Project in the amount of $303,320 as part of the Climate Action and Resilience Division (CARE) Framework. The Project is one of eight projects that was selected for funding as part of the second round of the Climate Resilience Fund (File # 2022-0802).
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY23-24 Adopted |
FY24-25 Projected |
FY25-26 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$30,000 |
$429,900 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$30,000 |
$429,900 |
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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 |
$30,000 |
$429,900 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$30,000 |
$429,900 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The project is supported via multiple local sources including Climate Resilience Fund ($303,320), the Sonoma County Parks Foundation ($56,580), and County Infrastructure funding from District 2 ($100,000). The majority of funds will be budgeted as a part of the FY 24/25 budget process.
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Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
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Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None
Attachments:
Budget Resolution
Contract
Bid Tabulation
Project Plans
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None