AGENDA REPORT
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
CORONA UTILITY AUTHORITY ACTION
DATE: 11/1/2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Honorable President and Board Members
FROM: Department of Water and Power
SUBJECT:
Title
City Council and Corona Utility Authority consideration of Resolution 2017-108 approving the submittal of an application for the 2017 Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program on behalf of the Temescal Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency to the California Department of Water Resources.
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
That the:
1. City Council adopt Resolution No. 2017-108 approving the submittal of an application for the 2017 Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program on behalf of the Temescal Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency to the California Department of Water Resources and, if awarded, authorizing the acceptance of such grant on behalf of the City and amending the budget accordingly.
2. City Council to authorize the General Manager, or his or her designee, to execute all grant-related documents.
3. Corona Utility Authority (CUA review, ratify and to the extent necessary direct that the City Council take the above actions.
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ANALYSIS:
On March 15, 2017, the City of Corona became part of the Temescal Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), along with the City of Norco and Home Gardens County Water District, in order to comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) to ensure sustainable management of the Temescal Subbasin. As part of the SGMA, GSAs are required to create Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) which outline the current groundwater conditions, future plans, and methodologies to ensure sustainability. Proposition 1 was approved by the voters on November 4, 2014 and provides funding for the Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program to assist agencies with preparation of GSPs. The Department of Water Resources (DWR) is administering the funds for this program. The final Proposal Solicitation Package (PSP) was published in September 2017 and applications are due November 13, 2017. The PSP identifies two categories:
Category 1 provides funding for groundwater sustainability projects that benefit Severely Disadvantage Communities.
Category 2 provides funds for GSP preparation.
Department of Water and Power staff has reviewed the PSP and recommends applying for Category 2 funding. For Category 2, funding levels are divided into two tiers: Tier 1 funding provides a maximum grant of $1.5 million for the 21 critically-over drafted basins; Tier 2 funding provides a maximum grant of $1 million for other high and medium priority basins. Both Tiers require 50 percent cost share by applicants. The Temescal Subbasin is medium priority and eligible to apply under Tier 2, and can apply for up to $1 million in grant funding.
The City has been utilizing Todd Groundwater for items related to SGMA because they have extensive experience with the City’s hydrogeologic system and with DWR’s groundwater divisions. DWP recommends utilizing the existing on-call agreement with Todd Groundwater to prepare the grant proposal. Todd Groundwater believes that the most successful grant awards for medium-priority basins will be valued near $500,000. Todd Groundwater has estimated the cost of preparing the grant proposal at a not-to-exceed amount of $40,000 and will be completed by the application deadline.
COMMITTEE ACTION:
Not applicable.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There are sufficient funds in the Water Utility Fund’s operating budget to fund the creation of the grant proposal. DWP has already budgeted $250,000 per fiscal year for creation of this GSP; if awarded, the existing budget will be used as the local match. The department will return to City Council for authorization to increase revenue estimates if the application is approved.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
No environmental review is required because the proposed action is not a project governed by the California Environmental Quality Act.
PREPARED BY: KATIE HOCKETT, DWP OPERATIONS MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: TOM MOODY, GENERAL MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: KERRY D. EDEN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER/ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DIRECTOR
SUBMITTED BY: DARRELL TALBERT, CITY MANAGER