ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
6.	CONSIDER REALLOCATION OF REMAINING HEART GRANT FUNDING TO CITY OF MONTEREY’S FRANKLIN STREET STORMWATER PROJECT
Meeting Date:		May 12, 2020	Budgeted:	N/A
From:		David J. Stoldt,	Program/
		General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:		Stephanie Locke	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on May 12, 2020 and recommended ____________.
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15378.

SUMMARY: The District contracted with Ecology Action to undertake the Highly Effective Applied Retrofit Targets (HEART) program using IRWM grant funding. The project began in August 2018 and was completed in early 2019. Approximately $66,000 remains in the grant due to lack of participation in the Seaside Disadvantaged Communities (DAC).

As Ecology Action’s team is no longer available to reinstate the HEART program, the Water Demand Committee discussed the possibility of redirecting the funds to the City of Monterey’s Franklin Street storm drain project which is also a recipient of the same DAC grant funds. The City of Monterey has requested that the funds be reallocated to its $815,000 project.

In early 2018, staff received a request from a 100% subsidized housing project in Carmel Valley for assistance with retrofitting to meet the District’s multi-family dwelling water efficiency requirements. As the site was not in Seaside’s Disadvantaged Community (DAC) where the HEART program grant was targeted, assistance at Rippling River was not pursued. The facility has 79 units and provides housing to elderly and disabled residents. The site needs assistance to replace toilets and to retrofit showerheads and faucets. There is also a community laundry facility that is required to have Hight Efficiency Clothes Washers, the water pressure is required to meet efficiency requirements, and there is a well on site for irrigation that has problems. Recently, a different DAC map identified the Carmel Valley Village area as one that meets the DAC grant criteria.

Staff is proposing to refocus a portion of the remaining grant funds to contract with a plumber to retrofit toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators at Rippling River. In addition, the contractor would check for leaks and repair as needed and test the water pressure at the project and install or repair a pressure regulating device, if needed, Staff anticipates that the cost of this program would be no more than $40,000 ($500/unit), but will issue a Request for Proposals to obtain the least cost that meets the required criteria.

Staff discussed this concept with the grant manager, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, and determined that the proposed Rippling River retrofit project will need to be reviewed and approved by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) before proceeding. If funding can be shifted to address the needs at Rippling River, staff will shift the program funding. However, if this project is not approved by DWR, or if funding remains in the grant after the Rippling River project has been completed, staff is requesting the Board authorize the funds be made available to the City of Monterey’s project.

The City of Monterey’s project scope includes the installation of a new storm drain along Franklin Street, between Alvarado and Figueroa Streets, and intersection improvements along Franklin Street. The purpose is to improve City storm drain facilities and prevent flooding. The project beneficiary is the public. The new storm drain pipe in Franklin Street will intercept and redirect drainage that currently discharges into the Lighthouse Tunnel Pump Station and then into Monterey Bay without treatment. The storm drain is designed to intercept runoff in the downtown area that is susceptible to flooding. This neighborhood is one of the main employment locations for the disadvantaged community. With flooding, there is not only the high risk of washing off pollutants that can be harmful to the environment, but in this case, can affect the businesses in the area which in term would affect the work force. Drainage will be redirected to Lake El Estero which has assimilative capacity and will be used as reclamation source water.

RECOMMENDATION: The Administrative Committee should recommend the Board approve pursuing the Rippling River project and if funds remain after the project or if the project is denied by DWR those funds should be made available to the City of Monterey for its Franklin Street Storm Drain project.

EXHIBIT

None

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