REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BROCK D. BUCHE, PE, PLS, Director
Department of Public Utilities
BY: PETER MARACCINI, PE, PhD, Licensed Engineer Manager
Department of Public Utilities - Utilities Planning & Engineering
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Authorize the Director of Public Utilities or designee(s) to prepare and submit applications, accept funds, and execute the financial assistance agreements and any amendments thereto with the California State Water Resources Control Board on behalf of the City of Fresno for the planning, design, and construction of water infrastructure to serve the communities of New Horizon Mobile Home Park and Del Oro-Metropolitan District: City Of Fresno Regional Consolidation Project Group 1. (Unincorporated Fresno County) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends City Council adopt the resolution and authorize the Director of Public Utilities, or designee, to sign and execute all associated documents on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The communities of New Horizons Mobile Home Park (NHMHP) and Del Oro-Metropolitan District (Del Oro): City of Fresno Regional Consolidation Project Group 1, hereby referred to as the Project Beneficiaries, are small, Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) located outside of city limits but within the Sphere of Influence (SOI). The Project Beneficiaries are served by contaminated or vulnerable groundwater wells and desire to connect to the City’s drinking water distribution system.
The Project Beneficiaries have been identified by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) as candidates for the Expedited Drinking Water Grant funding program (EDWG) that will fund 100 percent of the cost for system extensions and service connections. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) intends to submit the applications to the SWRCB to fund the projects, which first requires the adoption of this resolution to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to prepare and submit the necessary applications, accept funds, and execute the financial assistance agreements and any amendments thereto on behalf of the City. DPU must and will obtain approval from Fresno Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo) to extend services to the Project Beneficiaries prior to executing any funding agreement.
BACKGROUND
The DPU has been working with the SWRCB on identifying DACs within or near the city limits that have residential groundwater wells and septic systems who would benefit from connecting to the City’s drinking water systems. Partnering with Self-Help Enterprises, the Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, and the Project Beneficiaries themselves, DPU is developing various planning and construction applications documents for the EDWG program. Recently, the SWRCB communicated that the applications for the Project Beneficiaries to connect to the City’s drinking water system would be eligible for the EDWG, which first requires a resolution adopted by the City Council that designates an authorized representative or their designee(s) to prepare and submit applications, accept funds, and execute the financial assistance agreements and any amendments thereto. As the name suggests, the funding process for the EDWG is expedited and priority is being provided to the City to apply on behalf of the Project Beneficiaries assuming the City can submit the necessary paperwork expeditiously.
A short description for each of the Project Beneficiaries is provided below:
(1) New Horizon Mobile Home Park is located near the intersections of Olive and Marks Avenues and serves approximately 77 residential units with single groundwater well and residential septic system. NHMHP is experiencing elevated levels of Nitrate in their drinking water, possibly caused by a leaking septic system. There is also contamination from pesticides.
(2) The Del Oro community is located near the intersection of Olive and Marty Avenues, west of the City, and currently serves approximately 29 residential units with a single groundwater well and residential septic system. Del Oro is experiencing elevated levels of Nitrate in their drinking water, possibly caused by a leaking septic system.
The Project Beneficiaries are identified as DAC per SWRCB Division of Financial Assistance Criteria. As such, the water improvements are eligible for 100 percent grant funding through the EDWG program which as the name suggests, expedites the funding of drinking water projects for DACs. DPU intends to apply for the appropriate funding EDWG program to fund the installation of the water extensions to serve the Project Beneficiaries.
The goal of this regional consolidation effort is to provide vulnerable water systems and residential communities with a safe and reliable drinking water source by consolidating with the City of Fresno.
The Project Beneficiaries are located outside the City limits and are not currently eligible for annexation. Per California Government Code section 56133(c) LAFCo has the authority to authorize a city or special district to provide new or extended services outside of its jurisdictional boundaries to respond to an existing or impending threat to the health or safety of the public or residents of the affected territory. The City has initiated the process of obtaining approval from Fresno Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo) to extend services to the Project Beneficiaries and will obtain approval prior to executing any agreements. Prior to the Project Beneficiaries connecting to the City’s water distribution services, they will enter into an Extra-territorial Service Agreement with the City.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this action is not a “Project” for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this action does not include a bid or an award of a
construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
This Project has no impact on the General Fund. No matching funds are required under this financial
assistance agreement.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Attachment 2 - Vicinity Map