BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT:
Title
Adopt a Resolution by the Santa Clara Valley Water District Authorizing Representatives to Submit a Grant Application to the United States Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grant Program for up to $2,000,000 and, if Awarded, Delegate Authority to the Chief Executive Officer, to Negotiate and Execute a Grant Agreement and any Amendments Thereto, for the Water Conservation Landscape Rebate Program.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Adopt the Resolution AUTHORIZING SUBMISSION OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WATERSMART WATER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY GRANT PROGRAM FOR UP TO $2,000,000 AND, IF AWARDED, DELEGATE AUTHORITY TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO, FOR THE WATER CONSERVATION LANDSCAPE REBATE PROGRAM, PROJECT NO. 91151001;
B. Delegate authority to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to submit a grant application and, if awarded, to negotiate and execute a Grant Agreement with the US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to support the Water Conservation Landscape Rebate Program, provided all grant requirements can be met;
C. Delegate authority to the CEO to sign and submit invoices to USBR for grant fund reimbursements to be made pursuant to the Grant Agreement; and
D. Delegate to the CEO such other authority as needed to provide management and support services required for the performance of the work and administration, pursuant to the Grant Agreement, as deemed necessary and appropriate.
Body
SUMMARY:
Staff recommends submitting a grant application to the USBR for a WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grant Program for the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s (Valley Water) Water Conservation Landscape Rebate Program (Landscape Rebate Program), in accordance with the application deadline of November 13, 2024.
The grant, if awarded, will support additional water conservation in Santa Clara County through the Landscape Rebate Program by providing funds for an additional dollar per square foot in landscape rebates, including turf removal, planting of low-water vegetation, and irrigation equipment. Without this grant, the program runs the risk of reverting from a $2 per square foot rebate to $1 per square foot as the Safe, Clean Water Program funding will be used for other water conservation projects beginning in Fiscal Year 2025.
Valley Water is submitting this grant application to seek financial assistance through the USBR WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grant Program funding opportunity to support the Landscape Rebate Program for a two-year period at approximately $1 million per year.
Next Steps
If staff recommendations are approved and the Board adopts the resolution, staff will submit the grant application. A formal decision on grant funding is expected by spring 2025 (or later if necessary), subject to the timing of final FY2025 appropriations.
Valley Water staff has implemented a program to identify and track compliance responsibilities for grants management. Before executing the Grant Agreement, staff will review and confirm all grant requirements to ensure ongoing compliance with the terms and conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY IMPACT:
There are no Environmental Justice Impacts associated with this action. Seeking outside funding to provide support for the Landscape Rebate Program could result in additional water conservation and enhanced water supply options for all residents of Santa Clara County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The preliminary cost estimate for the Landscape Rebate Program is still under development; however, the WaterSMART grant would reimburse up to $2,000,000 of total Landscape Rebate Program costs over an approximate two-year period, beyond the 50% local match provided by Valley Water.
The Landscape Rebate Program is included in the FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget for Project No. 91151001. There are adequate funds in the Landscape Rebate Program’s FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget to cover the anticipated matching funds required should the grant be awarded. Funds to cover expenses in subsequent fiscal years expenses will be recommended by staff during the biennial budget process through budget adjustment(s).
CEQA:
This proposed grant application and Resolution does not constitute a project under CEQA because it has no potential for resulting in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
Should the grant be awarded, the proposed grant-funded activities are within the scope of the Categorical Exemptions for the Graywater Rebate Program, the Large Landscape Lawn to Mulch Rebate Program, and the Landscape Rebate Program of Valley Water, as filed with the County of Santa Clara on November 30, 2021, and July 13, 2022, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 and 15304.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Resolution
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Kirsten Struve, 408-630-3138