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HomeMy WebLinkAbout _ 4.11(a)--2024 WaterSMART DRP Grant CITY OF REDDING REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL Recommendation Adopt Resolution authorizing the submittal of a grant application by the City of Redding Water Utility to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Fiscal Year 2024 WaterSMART Drought Response Program funding in the amount of $2,000,000 for the construction of a new drought resiliency well. Fiscal Impact Adoption of this Resolution would have no fiscal impact. However, if the application is successful, the City of Redding (City) could receive up to $2,000,000 from the Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) WaterSMART Drought Response (DR) Program. The WaterSMART DR Program requires local matching funds that are equal to or greater than the amount requested. The Water Utility would use funds that have been budgeted for a future groundwater well to fulfill the local match requirement. The estimated total project value is $4,175,505 for design and construction of a new well along Airport Road, in southeast Redding, including infrastructure connecting the well to the City’s water system. Alternative Action The City Council may choose not to adopt the Resolution and, therefore, not authorize an application to the WaterSMART DR Program. In this case, the City would not apply for the funding opportunity and would not have the opportunity to receive grant funding from this program. MEETING DATE: October 2, 2023 ITEM NO. 4.11(a) FROM: ***APPROVED BY*** caukland@ci.redding.ca.us btippin@cityofredding.org SUBJECT: 4.11(a)--Adopt Resolution Authorizing Submittal of Grant Application to the Bureau of Reclamation 2024 WaterSMART Drought Response Program Chuck Aukland, Public Works Director Report to Redding City Council September 25, 2023 Re: 4.11(a)--2024 WaterSMART DRP Grant Page 2 Background/Analysis The Reclamation is a federal agency tasked with the management of water resources. Reclamation accomplishes this mission through a number of mechanisms including grant funding for state, local, and private organizations. The WaterSMART DR Program enables partner organizations to leverage federal resources to plan and implement actions that increase water supply reliability by investing in existing infrastructure. Eligible projects under this program are intended to build long-term resilience to drought. The Water Utility is responsible for providing customers with a reliable supply of high -quality drinking water. The Water Utility serves approximately 90,000 customers over a 60-square-mile service area. The Water Utility’s 2020 Urban Water Management Plan identified the addition of new groundwater wells as a critical element of drought resiliency, particularly because additional groundwater sources help reduce reliance upon available surface water from Whiskeytown Lake and the Sacramento River. The Fiscal Year 2024 WaterSMART DR Program opportunity would enable the Water Utility to partner with federal funding to provide an additional groundwater well that would come online in 2025. The new well would be located in south Redding as a result of the geography of groundwater availability and quality. The Water Utility would request up to $2,000,000 from the WaterSMART DR Program and provide up to $2,175,505 in local matching funds for a total project cost of up to $4,175,505. This opportunity represents a responsible use of public funds by leveraging local funding to access federal resources. Environmental Review This action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and no further action is required. Should the City receive grant funding project specific environmental analysis will be conducted in compliance with CEQA. Council Priority/City Manager Goals • Budget and Financial Management – “Achieve balanced and stable 10-year Financial Plans for all funds.” • Government of the 21st Century – “Be relevant and proactive to the opportunities and challenges of today’s residents and workforce. Anticipate the future to make better decisions today.” Attachments ^Resolution RESOLUTION NO. 2023-___ A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING AUTHORIZING A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WATERSMART DROUGHT RESPONSE PROGRAM WHEREAS, the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2024 is a mechanism for leveraging federal resources to plan, implement, and construct groundwater facilities that increase water supply reliability through investments in new infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the City of Redding Water Utility strives to increase drought resiliency by developing new groundwater wells that will reduce the reliance on Bureau of Reclamation contract surface water from the Sacramento River and Whiskeytown Lake; and WHEREAS, the United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2024 is a potential funding source for an additional well that will provide greater drought resiliency; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL FINDS, RESOLVES AND ORDERS as follows: 1. The above recitals are true and correct. 2. The City Manager, or approved designee, is authorized to execute all documents necessary to facilitate grant application and grant acceptance thereby contractually binding the City of Redding to all grant conditions; 3. The City Council has reviewed and supports the application submitted; 4. The City of Redding has the capability to provide the amount of funding and/or in -kind contributions specified in the funding plan; 5. The City of Redding will work with the Bureau of Reclamation to meet established deadlines for entering into a grant or cooperative agreement. I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was introduced at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Redding on the 2nd day of October, 2023, and was duly adopted at said meeting by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: _______________________________ MICHAEL DACQUISTO, Mayor ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: _____________________________ ________________________________ SHARLENE TIPTON, City Clerk BARRY E. DeWALT, City Attorney