BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:
Title
Resolution Authorizing the Chief Executive Officer to Execute a Grant Agreement With the State Water Resources Control Board for a Storm Water Grant Under Proposition 1 for the Development of a Storm Water Resource Plan for the Santa Clara Basin in Santa Clara County.
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RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution AUTHORIZING THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER TO EXECUTE A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR A STORM WATER GRANT UNDER PROPOSITION 1 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STORM WATER RESOURCE PLAN FOR THE SANTA CLARA BASIN IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
Body
SUMMARY:
The Santa Clara Valley Water District submitted a grant application for Proposition 1 Storm Water Grant funding on behalf of the Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program (SCVURPPP) member agencies. With approval of the grant application, SCVURPPP will proceed in preparing Storm Water Resource Plan (Plan) with support by District staff as the lead applicant, and other member agencies. The District will submit the Plan to the State Water Resources Control Board upon completion.
Background
On December 15, 2015, the SWRCB adopted guidelines for its Storm Water Grant Program funded by Water Bond 2014 (Proposition 1), for both planning and implementation of storm water capture and use projects. The solicitations for Round 1 planning and implementation grants opened January 19, 2016. The purpose of the Storm Water Grant Program and resulting storm water plans and projects is to move beyond managing storm water as a nuisance and utilize storm water and dry weather runoff to create benefits such as increased water supply, improved water quality and reduced flood risk. The State Water Board’s vision for their storm water grant program is summed up in their vision statement:
Our vision is to change the perception of storm water and dry weather runoff as a contaminant source to a valuable resource, to recharge groundwater aquifers, reuse for domestic purposes, support watershed processes, and beautify communities creating habitat and open spaces.
At the time that Proposition 1 was approved by the voters, legislation (SB 985) was passed that amended the State Water Code to require that storm water and dry weather runoff capture projects needed to be prioritized projects within a Storm Water Resource Plan in order to receive grants from Proposition 1 and all future bond measures. Proposition 1 Storm Water Grant Program planning grants were made available to help fund development of Storm Water Resource Plans. The SCVURPPP Management Committee and staff approached District staff with a proposal to partner on the development of a grant application for preparing a regional Storm Water Resource Plan, consistent with the District’s One Water Plan, which would allow SCVURPPP member agencies to apply for implementation grants for projects prioritized within the Plan. District staff evaluated the grant program requirements, terms and conditions, and criteria prior to agreeing to be the lead agency on the grant proposal and subsequently determined that the concept of a Storm Water Resource Plan for the Santa Clara Basin within Santa Clara County was eligible and competitive for funding. With grant applications due March 18, 2016, the District and partnering staff at SCVURPPP submitted an application on March 17th, with the District as the lead agency (Attachment 1). The application did not require a resolution to apply for grant funding.
On July 26, 2016, the District received written notice that the application was successfully recommended for award in the amount of $471,708 (Attachment 2), and in fact was the top ranked application out of 45 applications to the State for the grant (28 applications received funding). Funding shall be made available provided that the District can satisfy the grant terms, conditions and requirements, and complies with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations including the California Environmental Quality Act.
In order for grant applications to be finalized, they must include a resolution adopted by the Board that designates an authorized representative to execute a grant agreement with the State. Staff recommends that the Board adopt the resolution (Attachment 3) delegating authority to the District CEO or her designee to execute a grant agreement.
Storm Water Resource Plan for the Santa Clara Basin in Santa Clara County
The purpose of this grant is to develop a Storm Water Resource Plan for the Santa Clara Basin that, in combination with other existing planning documents, satisfies the requirements of the State Water Code and Storm Water Resource Plan Guidelines and allows cooperating entities to apply for future State grant funds for storm water and dry weather runoff capture and use projects. The cooperating entities include the 13 cities and towns located within the Santa Clara County portion of the Santa Clara Basin, the County of Santa Clara, and the District, which will serve as the lead agency on behalf of the cooperating entities. These entities are also members, through an MOA, of SCVURPPP, through which they jointly fund and conduct countywide efforts to comply with the San Francisco Bay Municipal Regional Storm Water Permit (MRP).
The Storm Water Resource Plan will be coordinated with the District’s current efforts to develop its Integrated Water Resources Master Plan, or “One Water” Plan, storm drain master planning efforts being conducted by the cooperating entities, and the cooperating entities’ efforts to develop local Green Infrastructure Plans by 2019 as required by the MRP. Building on existing documents that describe the characteristics and water quality and quantity issues within the Santa Clara Basin, the Storm Water Resource Plan will identify and prioritize multi-benefit runoff capture projects throughout the Basin, using a metrics-based approach for quantifying project benefits. The metrics-based analysis will be conducted using hydrologic/hydraulic and water quality models coupled with GIS resources. The product of these analyses will be a prioritized list of projects and strategy for implementation. The Storm Water Resource Plan will also include an education, outreach and public participation element throughout the planning process that builds on the stakeholder participation process begun in early 2015 for the District’s One Water Plan.
Schedule
Development of the Storm Water Resource Plan will begin upon execution of the Agreement with State Water Resources Control Board. The Plan is expected to take 12 to 18 months and will be completed in time for SCVURPPP member agencies to apply for implementation funding under Proposition 1 in 2018.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The total cost of preparing the Storm Water Resource Plan is estimated at $945,000. This includes the approved Proposition 1 grant for $472,000, $12,000 in in-kind grant administration costs from the District, and $461,000 in in-kind costs from SCVURPPP (including additional District contribution). District contributions will be funded through project 0071011 with related deliverables under Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, Priority B, Project B2. There are sufficient funds in the Fiscal Year 2017 budget for project 0071011.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonable foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Grant Application
Attachment 2: Award Letter
Attachment 3: Resolution
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER:
Manager
Ngoc Nguyen, 408-630-2632