BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Title
Single Source Purchase of Services with Our City Forest related to the Lawn Conversion Program (Lawn Busters Program) and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Lawn Busters trainings for the Water Conservation Project for a Fee of $290,000.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
A. Approve a single source purchase of services with our City Forest related to the Lawn Busters Program and DIY Lawn Busters trainings for the Water Conservation Project, Project No. 91151001, for a Fee of $290,000; and
B. Approve the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Santa Clara Valley Water District and Our City Forest for the Lawn Busters Program.
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SUMMARY:
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is with Our City Forest, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and the Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) for Our City Forest’s Lawn Busters Program to include Lawn Busters Direct Installation Program and DIY Lawn Busters Trainings to residents. This participation is possible through funding provided by the Safe, Clean Water and Natural Flood Protection Program, Priority A to ensure a safe, reliable water supply. Staff recommends that the Board of Directors approve this single source purchase of services with Our City Forest based on the attached single source memo “Justification for Single Source Contract: Our City Forest.” (Attachment 2)
This cost-share opportunity provides a low-cost, expedient option for low-income, elderly, disabled, or US veteran homeowners and institutions (including schools) within disadvantaged communities throughout Santa Clara County with direct installation services for water efficiency upgrades, in-person technical expertise designed to reduce water demand in Santa Clara County, and DIY Lawn Busters Trainings to all interested Santa Clara County residents. The Lawn Busters Program’s direct installation services replace high-water using lawns with drought-tolerant or climate-appropriate plants and improve irrigation water-use efficiency. The Lawn Busters Program’s trainings will provide residents a classroom and hands-on lawn conversion training course aiming to serve 240 residents annually.
In order to make the Lawn Busters Program and DIY Lawn Busters trainings as easy as possible for residents and institutions to participate, Valley Water will reimburse Our City Forest directly for the following: $4 per square foot for landscape conversion services, and $25,000 annually to support the trainings. This new agreement will allow this program to offer technical assistance and public educational services to the residents. Reimbursement rate for the Lawn Busters Program and adding the training element were discussed during the Board Water Conservation and Demand Management Committee on April 12, 2021.
Valley Water’s obligation to pay for the total Lawn Busters Program activities is capped at a maximum of $290,000.
This program will help Valley Water meet its long-term water conservation goals specified in the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan, the 2017 Central Valley Project Improvement Act Water Management Plan, the Water Supply Master Plan 2040, and the 2021 Water Conservation Strategic Plan. By partnering together, Valley Water and Our City Forest can combine resources and implement the programs more cost-effectively than would be possible without a cost-sharing partner.
This MOU will remain in effect from the effective date through June 30, 2023, or until funds are depleted, whichever occurs first. The term of the Agreement may be extended by mutual consent of Valley Water and Our City Forest.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This MOU specifies that Valley Water will pay Our City Forest up to $290,000, based on Lawn Busters Program and training activity. There is adequate funding for this agreement in the Board-approved FY 2021-22 Budget Safe, Clean Water (SCW) Fund Priority A Water Conservation Rebates and Program, Project No. 26151001.
CEQA:
The recommended action does not constitute a project under CEQA because it does not have a potential for resulting in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect change in the physical environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: MOU
Attachment 2: Single Source Memo
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
Vincent Gin, 408-630-2633