Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5th
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jim Eggemeyer, Director of Office of Sustainability
Subject: Grant Funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Regional Stormwater Capture Design
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation to:
A) Adopt a resolution authorizing the County of San Mateo to accept a grant in the amount of $500,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and further authorize the Director of the Office of Sustainability or his/her designee to enter into the grant agreement and procure design services for regional stormwater capture systems and identification of additional regional project opportunities for an amount not to exceed $500,000; and
B) Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request recognizing $500,000 in grant funds from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to fund design services for regional stormwater capture systems.
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BACKGROUND:
In December 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQIF), a competitive grant program to protect and restore San Francisco Bay by improving water quality and restoring aquatic habitat in the Bay and its watersheds. A FY 2019 Request for Proposals was released on October 10, 2018, with a 50 percent funding match and preference given to proposals that benefit disadvantaged communities. For the grant, emphasis was placed on multi-objective, multi-benefit projects that result in direct and measurable water quality improvements.
In December 2018, the Office of Sustainability (OOS) submitted a grant proposal to the U.S. EPA for the Water Quality Improvement Fund FY 2018 Request for Proposals. Letters of support from City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG), City of Redwood City, City of San Bruno, and Congresswoman Jackie Speier were included with the submission. In March 2019, the EPA notified the County of San Mateo that the OOS project, San Mateo County Regional Stormwater Project Design and Identification (Project), was selected to receive funding in the amount of $500,000. The final award was made June 11, 2019.
The Project will develop preliminary designs for two regional stormwater capture projects in San Mateo County and a detailed planning effort to identify and prioritize additional opportunities for regional projects at public open spaces such as public parks, sports fields, parking lots, and schools. The total proposed cost for the Project was $1,072,300. The $500,000 grant from the EPA will be matched using in-kind funds from existing and ongoing stormwater project prioritization efforts, including the San Mateo County Green Infrastructure Plan and the C/CAG Sustainable Streets Master Plan. The project will be completed November 2021.
DISCUSSION:
This Project builds upon existing green infrastructure (GI) planning; climate change resiliency efforts, such as extreme weather and flooding; as well as supporting the changing paradigm of sustainable stormwater management in San Mateo County from traditional stormwater infrastructure to GI that captures and treats stormwater through natural processes such as plant and soil-based treatment. Completing preliminary designs is the next necessary step towards constructing regional projects and additional potential projects needed to achieve long-term water quality and resilience goals.
Once constructed, the environmental benefits of the stormwater capture, and treatment projects will include improved water quality, flood mitigation, and potable water offset. The projects will reduce polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, trash, and sediment loads in drainage areas and help San Mateo County agencies meet mandated Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and Municipal Regional Permit (MRP) requirements. The projects will be among the first of their kind in San Mateo County and will serve as models for future multi-benefit projects.
The Office of Sustainability will coordinate with C/CAG, the City of Redwood City, the City of San Bruno, and Caltrans as necessary to ensure project success.
The resolution prepared for this grant acceptance includes authorization for the Director of the Office of Sustainability, or his/her designee, to execute a funding agreement and any other documents associated with acceptance of this grant funding from the EPA.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreement and resolution as to form.
Approval of the resolution contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of an Environmentally Conscious Community through the design of regional-scale, public green infrastructure projects, which provide benefits such as water quality improvements in creeks and the San Francisco Bay, potable water offsets, and flood protection.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Appropriation Transfer Request will recognize grant funds in the amount of $500,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be included in the Office of Sustainability’s FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget.
The grant requires at least 50 percent matching funding from the County. Through existing C/CAG and County contracts, and staff hours directly related to the proposed project, OOS has identified approximately $572,000 of in-kind matching funds which have already been allocated in the Offices FY 2019-20 Recommended Budget.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Funding Agreement between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the County of San Mateo
B. Resolution
C. Appropriation Transfer Request