To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Dale Roberts 707-547-1979
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Consulting Services for the North Coast Resource Partnership
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the First Amended and Restated Agreement for Consulting Services for the North Coast Resource Partnership with West Coast Watershed, Inc., in substantially the form as the draft presented to this Board. The amended agreement increases the amount by $225,000 and expands the scope of work to include additional work under the existing tasks for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $1,035,000 and no change to end date of June 30, 2026.
end
Executive Summary:
The North Coast Resource Partnership (Partnership) develops guiding foundational plans for the North Coast region and submits grant applications to secure funding for plan implementation. These plans address critical regional and community needs related to water, natural resources, forest health and wildfire risk reduction, increasing renewable power, and climate resiliency. Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is responsible for development of the overall Partnership program to stimulate local development and investment, continue the integration of climate initiatives into the North Coast planning framework, secure grant funding, and conduct outreach and advocacy. County of Humboldt is responsible for grant administration including contracting with the state and other funders and overseeing completion of participating entities’ projects. Approval of the proposed amended agreement will enable West Coast Watershed (WCW) to help Sonoma Water continue its successful role in the integrated regional water management and climate resiliency effort.
The proposed amended agreement supports the administration and program management of the Partnership, including the planning, grant writing, and facilitation aspects of the Partnership. The proposed amended agreement also expands the scope of work to include added services necessitated by the diversification and expansion of Partnership’s funding streams, requiring increased coordination, meetings, and resource allocation.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Since 2005, Partnership planning and project implementation has secured financing from a variety of sources, including Integrated Regional Water Management grant funding from Department of Water Resources; California Energy Commission, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Program; a regional capacity building grant from the California Natural Resources Agency and Department of Conservation; and Strategic Growth Council Sustainable Communities Grant funding. Most recently, in 2023, the Partnership received $10 million CAL FIRE Forest Health Grant as a pilot project to demonstrate an integrated approach to achieving the mutual objectives of the Partnership’s Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program and CAL FIRE’s Forest Health Program. Additional funding awards that benefit the region - including Sonoma County - include grant awards for lidar development and deliverables from NASA, USGS, and the California State Coastal Conservancy totaling over $8 million, as well as an award from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research for climate resilience planning. As a result of the work conducted by WCW, to date the Partnership has secured over $130 million in state funding, and leverage over $200 million in funding match. With the Partnership’s commitment to achieving multiple objectives through local action, the Partnership is well positioned to continue to attract and utilize new federal, state, local, and private funding sources as they become available.
The Partnership team continues to seek funding for the North Coast region, develop and analyze data to prioritize projects and initiatives, coordinate Partnership Leadership Council and Technical Peer Review meetings comprised of appointees from Tribal and county boards of supervisors, and coordinate with county legislative programs on shared priorities, coordinate with Humboldt County and the Leadership Council and Technical Peer Review Committee to manage and report on a suite of implementation projects throughout the region. Partnership continues to coordinate and provide capacity investments and technical assistance to economically challenged and historically underrepresented communities in Sonoma County and the region, including Tribes and other groups.
Sonoma Water and WCW entered into an agreement for project management services, dated May 18, 2021, in the amount of $810,000.
SELECTION PROCESS
WCW was selected on 2021 from a list of qualified consultants developed from a 2020 competitive selection process. Attached is a memo that explains the competitive selection process.
WCW was selected for the subject work due to superior experience, expertise, and long held positive relationships essential for effective facilitation and consensus on funding decisions.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the amended agreement, WCW will provide additional services under the following tasks:
• Task 3: Develop Grant Application;
• Task 4: Website Maintenance, Enhancement, and Training;
• Task 6: Stakeholder and Public Outreach;
• Task 9: Sustainability; and
• Task 10: Decision Support Framework and Tools.
This amendment is necessary for Sonoma Water to continue its successful role in the integrated regional water management and climate resiliency effort, and secure grant funding for these efforts. Additionally, the Partnership has grown and diversified and continues to successfully attract funding to the region focused on climate resilience, economic vitality, ecosystem function, conservation of natural resources, protection of water quality and supply, and regional equity and capacity building. The success of the NCRP has resulted in a need to expand the foundational coordination and planning role of West Coast Watershed to support this growth and diversification.
The additional cost is $225,000, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $1,035,000. There is no change to end date of June 30, 2026.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment:
This item directly supports Sonoma County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Climate Action and Resiliency
Goal: Goal 5: Maximize opportunities for mitigation of climate change and adaptation through land conservation work and land use policies
Objective: Objective 1: By 2025, update the County General Plan and other county/special district planning documents to incorporate policy language and identify areas within the County that have the potential to maximize carbon sequestration and provide opportunities
The Partnership continues to successfully maximize opportunities for climate change mitigation and adaptation by attracting funding to the region focused on climate resilience, economic vitality, ecosystem function, conservation of natural resources, protection of water quality and supply, and regional equity and capacity building.
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Climate Change
Strategy: Develop and implement practices to understand and minimize vulnerability to climate change impacts.
Action: Continue legislation support and policy development at national, state, regional, and local levels.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
05/18/2021: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and West Coast Watershed, for consulting services for North Coast Resource Partnership. Cost $810,000 and term end date June 30, 2026.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$225,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$225,000 |
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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 |
$225,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$225,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $225,000 is available from FY 2024/2025 appropriations for the Sustainability/Renewable Energy Fund ($150,000) and the Warm Springs Dam Fund ($75,000). 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:
Attachment 1: Amended Agreement with West Coast Watershed
Attachment 2: Consultant Selection Memo
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.