Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jim Eggemeyer, Director, Office of Sustainability
Subject: Amendment to Agreement with Ecology and Environment, Inc. for the Climate Collaboration, Climate Vulnerability, and Adaptation Guidance Project
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an amendment to the agreement with Ecology and Environment, Inc. for consulting services related to the Climate Ready SMC Collaborative, increasing the amount by $350,743 for a new not to exceed amount of $1,255,065.
body
BACKGROUND:
The County launched Sea Change SMC in 2015 to bring together and provide resources to local governments and agencies in San Mateo County on the issue of sea level rise. Under this Initiative, a final Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment (Assessment) for the entire Bayshore and the North Coast (Half Moon Bay north) was released in March 2018. With the completion of the Assessment, the County through the Office of Sustainability (OOS) moved towards implementation of the Climate Change Preparedness Action Plan (CCPAP), or “Phase Two.” The County was also successful in attaining an SB-1 Adaptation Planning Grant award from the California Department of Transportation for $649,500 to fund part of the Phase Two efforts.
In 2018, the OOS contracted with Ecology and Environment, Inc. (E&E) to provide services for the implementation of the CCPAP and (1) establish and facilitate a Countywide Climate Collaborative, (2) provide community engagement on climate adaptation, (3) conduct a climate vulnerability assessment for heat, wildfire, and precipitation in San Mateo County, (4) prepare sea level rise and climate change adaptation guidance resources to mainstream adaptation measures into local plans, policies, operations, and projects, and (5) assist with community adaptation planning pilots and transportation resilience planning. In February 2019, the OOS amended the Agreement to provide resource support to community leaders and members from socially vulnerable or Tribal Communities to participate in the Countywide Climate Collaborative.
DISCUSSION:
The County has taken a prominent leadership role in climate change adaptation, working with a broad coalition of governments across jurisdictional boundaries to assess and evaluate the impacts of sea level rise. The County launched the Climate Ready SMC Initiative in January 2019. The purpose of the Initiative is to bring together non-profit and community-based organizations, local government and public agencies, businesses, research, and other key partners to create and implement solutions to prepare San Mateo County in the face of changing climate. Since the Launch the Collaborative has held two more Convenings on “Preparing for Wildfire" on March 13, 2019 to share information and build coordination on wildfire risk and preparedness efforts in San Mateo County, and “Moving from Vision to Action on April 30, 2019 to share the Collaborative First Year Plan and support learning and cross-sector connections and collaboration. A total of over 350 stakeholders so far have been engaged through the Climate Ready SMC Collaborative Convenings, including a number of community leaders from traditional underrepresented or socially vulnerable communities. To continue to build an inclusive and effective Collaborative and implement the First Year Plan, the proposed amendment adds funds for E&E to facilitate, coordinate and support five additional Collaborative Convenings and up to three Joint Taskforce meetings between June 2019 and June 2020. The amendment also include funds for the Contractor to provide expanded guidance and administer resources to empower community leadership in the Collaborative through establishment of a Community Leadership Group and to support inclusion and elevation of community priorities in the community-wide climate adaptation conversation.
The scope of the climate vulnerability analysis is being expanded to include a debris flow risk analysis from climate hazards such as wildfire, excess precipitation, and inundation previously computed for the Countywide climate risk assessment and develop a menu of options for monitoring and/or managing this risk in vulnerable areas. Lastly, additional funds and resources are being made available for the Community Adaptation Planning Pilot Projects component to help build the capacity of disadvantaged communities to participate in community planning and develop neighborhood or community specific adaptation plans for increasing community resilience in two communities in San Mateo County. These Pilot communities will be selected through a solicitation of interest and application process and the funds can be used for activities such as community engagement, workshop facilitation, and assistance with writing a community specific adaptation plan or concept.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the amended agreement and resolution as to form.
SHARED VISION:
Approval of this resolution contributes to the County's Shared Vision 2025 of being a Collaborative Community by convening countywide stakeholders to identify climate change impacts and develop local and regional solutions to reduce these community-level risks.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
|
Measure |
FY 2019-20 Targets |
|
Number of stakeholders engaged through the Countywide Climate Collaborative |
50 |
|
Number of community members reached through outreach events |
500 |
|
Number of disadvantaged community members engaged |
50 |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The agreement is amended increasing the amount by $350,743 for a new not-to-exceed amount of $1,255,065. The budgeted amounts are included in the FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget and will also be included in the FY 2019-21 Recommended Budgets.
|
Funding Sources |
|
52% |
$649,500 |
Caltrans SB1 Adaptation Planning Grant |
|
48% |
$605,565 |
General Funds |