BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT:
Title
Approve the Request for Sponsorship of the Bay Area Council Foundation’s California Resilience Challenge 2024 Program.
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
A. Receive information on the Bay Area Council Foundation’s California Resilience Challenge; and
B. Approve the request for sponsorship in the amount of $25,000.
Body
SUMMARY:
The Bay Area Council (BAC) Foundation is requesting sponsorship of the 2024 California Resilience Challenge (Challenge), which is a statewide initiative to build local climate resilience in under-resourced communities and support a shared vision for a resilient California in the face of ever-increasing climate threats. The Challenge brings together businesses, utilities, non-profit organizations, and a diverse array of environmental and community leaders, to develop a pipeline of climate adaptation projects across the state to strengthen local and regional resilience to heat, drought, floods, and wildfire. Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) has participated as an annual sponsor since 2021.
The Challenge was formed to fund comprehensive, statewide projects that reflect California’s extraordinary geographic, economic, environmental, and cultural diversity and climate adaptation needs. Since 2020, the BAC Foundation, in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Planning & Research, has partnered with a diverse coalition of businesses, utilities, environmental non-profits, and community-based organizations to award more than $6 million in climate adaption planning grants to public policy and advocacy groups, environmental science organizations, California Native American tribes, local municipalities, and regional public entities representing under-resourced communities across California.
The Challenge is seeking contributions to support its 2024 program, which is focused on generating more visibility about the program’s work to date. Despite the extraordinary work accomplished since the program’s inception, many communities and policy makers are unaware of the Challenge and the lessons learned from its supported projects. A sponsorship from Valley Water would help maximize the value created by the BAC Foundation’s grantee network through the creation of educational tools and promotional assets, including a series of short films, web-based sharing tools, and a Spring 2025 showcase in Sacramento.
The Challenge’s work has a direct nexus to Valley Water’s mission to provide Silicon Valley safe, clean water for a healthy life, environment, and economy. The Challenge also aligns with Valley Water’s policies for a reliable, clean water supply for current and future generations and a healthy and safe environment for residents, businesses, and visitors. Climate change threatens the sustainability of our water supply, the health of our watersheds, and the safety of our communities, as well as exacerbates water scarcity and severe, ongoing drought conditions. The Challenge has provided Valley Water with the opportunity to support climate adaptation projects that protect and enhance our natural resources while also providing critical flood risk mitigation.
Given the direct nexus the Challenge has had with Valley Water’s mission and Board Governance Policies, it is recommended that Valley Water support the 2024 program at the amount of $25,000. In consideration of significant financial challenges facing the agency, Valley Water would contribute a significantly lower sponsorship amount to the Challenge this year. Valley Water contributed a $200,000 sponsorship annually for the last three Challenge programs in 2021, 2022, and 2023; however, this lesser amount of $25,000 will continue to support the important work of the BAC Foundation in advocating for climate resilience in California.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY IMPACT:
There are no Environmental Justice impacts associated with this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Staff recommends a $25,000 sponsorship. Funds for this sponsorship have been budgeted in the Local Government Relations Project, Project No. 60231005.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have the potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Sponsorship Letter
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Marta Lugo, 408-630-2237