Memorandum
Date: May 3, 2022
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Marina Deligiannis, Deputy Water Resources Department Director and Angela De Palma-Dow, Program Coordinator
Subject: Consideration of Presentation and Discussion by Watershed Protection District for the request to allocate $500,000 matching funds, over a period of six years, to support $1.9 Million in approved, and partially awarded, Blue Ribbon Committee Storm Water Project Grant Funds.
Executive Summary:
The Watershed Protection District is requesting consideration of a presentation to the Lake County Board of Supervisors and to the Board of Directors of the Lake County Watershed Protection District. The presentation will outline a proposed request for matching funds for $500,000 through the fiscal years of 2022/2023 through 2027/2028 to coincide with the approval and award of a Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) for the Rehabilitation of Clear Lake “Lake County Storm Water Infrastructure and Program Improvement” Grant Project.
The “Lake County Storm Water Infrastructure and Program Improvement Project” is supported by the Lake County Clean Water Program (representation from County, Watershed Protection District, City of Lakeport and City of Clearlake) and was approved for funding by the BRC on September 21, 2021. Storm water management and program upgrades are desperately needed as major storm water project plans and projects have not occurred in the County since 2008. Water within the Clear Lake basin flows from the landscape, over soils and buildings, through storm water infrastructure, and into Clear Lake, which is a major source of the County’s drinking water (66%). The lake also provides valuable cultural value and sustenance to our local tribal communities and provides vital habitat for wildlife and fish, of which our water-based tourism economy is extremely reliant.
The project includes seven tasks that will jump-start storm water quality improvement, including a combination of planning, implementation and outreach / education activities:
The seven tasks, and their Blue Ribbon Committee Grant budget allotments are:
1. Project Administration ($180, 590)
2. Infrastructure Assessment and Improvement Planning ($322,425)
3. Storm Water Management Policy and Procedure Review and Improvement ($339,200)
4. Illicit Discharge & Detection Elimination (IDDE) Program Improvement and Trash Plan Implementation ($706,700)
5. Outreach and Education ($179,300)
Not included in tasks overhead / administrative / indirect costs 10% ($172,821)
Subtotal of BRC Award Funds: $1,901,036.00
Project total with $500,000 match: $2,401,036.00
Task 4, the IDDE and Trash Plan Implementation Project has been granted funds immediately from Prop68 funds, and is currently in contracting. The remainder of the projects will be approved through the State of California General Fund Budget in May 2023. Based on this schedule, we are asking for an initial $100,000 of this match to be dispensed for the 2023/2024 fiscal year, with additional $100,000 allocated and allotted for each of the following years until 2027/2028. In this final year, it’s expected that the Blue Ribbon Committee funds will have since expired, however the intent of these projects is to jump-start the rehabilitation of Storm Water programming in Lake County, and the last year of matching funds are needed to; complete any remaining tasks, solidify any additional funds or grants needed for next steps, and to support staff through the transition of the expiration of funds.
Between 2022/2023 to 2027/2028 matching funds will be used:
• To ensure project continuity
• Contribute to overhead and fringe not included in the grant agreement 10% allocated indirect costs
• Unforeseen internal (i.e. labor, staff time) and external (i.e. contractor costs) costs needed to complete the project
• Extra monitoring as needed to evaluate project success or as emergencies arise (i.e. post-fire, post flood, structural failures)
• Apply for any related storm water grants or funding opportunities that would enhance, extend, continue, maintain, or improve tasks within the project or related
• Costs to comply with storm water mandates, state orders or permit requirements
• Additional coordinating costs among Clean Water Program Co-Permittees (Lakeport, Clearlake), Blue Ribbon Committee, Project Partners, and any associated agreement costs.
We anticipate these matching funds to function on a “roll-over” basis, where unused funds in one fiscal year, can “roll-over” and be counted and used into the next fiscal year for the project tasks.
In addition to the gracious match, we are also kindly asking for $50,000 advance in matching funds to ensure programs and grants can start on time with current staff levels and to complete important equipment purchases. The Water Resource Department is not funded with county General Fund monies, and therefore relies heavily on grants and reimbursements to maintain solvency. Therefore $50,000 is requested immediately to provide for a seamless and timely transition to utilize these grant funds and initiate the project.
Discussion can follow the presentation and will include participation from Water Resources and Admin Staff, as needed.
If not budgeted, fill in the blanks below only:
Estimated Cost: _$500,000_ Amount Budgeted: $500,000_ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: _$100,000__
Consistency with Vision 2028 (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☒ Well-being of Residents ☒ Public Safety ☒ Disaster Prevention, Preparedness, Recovery
☐ Economic Development ☒ Infrastructure ☒ County Workforce
☒ Community Collaboration ☐ Business Process Efficiency ☐ Clear Lake
Recommended Action:
Presentation and Discussion. Consider direction to staff, as needed.