FOR: City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Meeting June 11, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: G. Michael Milhiser, Interim City Manager
FROM: Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
...Title
Request that the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board: 1) Authorize submission of a grant application to the Bureau of Reclamation's Environmental Water Resources Project for the Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project; 2) Adopt Resolution No. 8241 Authorizing the Grant Application, Acceptance, and Execution for the “Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project"; and 3) Adopt RUA Resolution No. 08-34 Authorizing the Grant Application, Acceptance, and Execution for the “Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project".
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board 1) Authorize submission of a grant application to the Bureau of Reclamation's Environmental Water Resources Project for the Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project; 2) Adopt Resolution No.
8241 Authorizing the Grant Application, Acceptance, and Execution for the “Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project"; and 3) Adopt RUA Resolution No. 08-34 Authorizing the Grant Application, Acceptance, and Execution for the “Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project"
BACKGROUND:
On January 9, 2024, the City Council authorized an application to the WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program grant which provides cost-shared funding for the study, design, and construction of aquatic ecosystem restoration projects that are collaboratively developed, have widespread regional benefits, and result in the improvement of the health of fisheries, wildlife, and aquatic habitats. Staff requested up to $5.20 million from the USBR WaterSMART Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Program (AERP) which would fully fund the design and construction of the Project, including being reimbursed for soft costs (i.e., some design, staff time, post-construction monitoring). The USBR WaterSMART grant requires a 35% cost share that is already secured with non-federal matching funds.
The awardees for the USBR WaterSMART AERP grant are scheduled to be announced in mid-to-late June 2024.
Therefore, a similar grant application by the Bureau of Reclamation's Environmental Water Resources Project (EWRP) for the Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project is proposed to be submitted as a backup grant funding opportunity. Similar to the AERP grant, if awarded, the EWRP grant would fully fund the Rialto Habitat Nature Center (RHNC).
The current application period for the EWRP grant closes on June 18, 2024.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
The Project is proposed to be located adjacent to and south of the city’s Water Treatment Plant. The Project’s scope includes:
- Constructing approximately 10 acres of wetlands/vegetation, with an estimated 41 acre-feet of total seasonal recycled water storage.
- A lake that will be filled with recycled water from the city’s adjacent water treatment plant. Currently, this tertiary treated effluent is discharged into a concrete-lined flood control channel that flows into the unlined Rialto Channel.
- Reengineering an existing dry pit to create a shallow marsh wetland (3 to 4 acres) that receives tertiary treated effluent, and a deeper lake (6 acres) that receives cleaned effluent once it has passed through the bio-filtration system thereby providing water temperature and nutrient management benefits.
Besides being aesthetically pleasing, the Project has the additional benefit of water quality improvements to water temperature and nutrient management. Before releasing effluent from the city’s Water Treatment Plant into the flood control channel, the effluent will be stored in the Project area for several days allowing the water temperature to lower to a suitable temperature for native fish and other aquatic species. Two native fish that thrive in cooler temperatures reside immediately downstream of the point of discharge - the federally threatened Santa Ana sucker and the Arroyo chub. Nutrient management occurs through nitrogen and phosphorus bioremediation, which removes microplastics and creates a habitat that benefits native wildlife. The Project will benefit the Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan (regional watershed) and promote multiple species’ recovery.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
The requested City Council action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has the potential to result in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
Approval of this action complies with the following:
Our City government will lead by example and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact
On May 28, 2024, the City Council authorized a Third Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement (PSA) with Soto Resources to provide as-needed grant writing assistance for the Rialto Utility Authority. There is sufficient funding of approximately $118,000 remaining on that Purchase Order to submit the grant application, which should not exceed $6,000.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
A significant portion of the Project’s construction costs has been secured through grants:
|
AMOUNT |
SOURCE |
|
$2.15 million |
SAWPA (state) |
|
$2.00 million |
Rep. Pete Aguilar (federal) |
|
$1.05 million |
Senator Connie M. Leyva (state) |
|
$5.20 million |
Amount Funded |
Staff is requesting up to $5.20 million from the Bureau of Reclamation's Environmental Water Resources Project (EWRP) for the Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project as a backup grant funding opportunity. Similar to the AERP grant, if awarded, the EWRP grant would fully fund the design and construction of the Project, including being reimbursed for soft costs (i.e., some design, staff time, and post-construction monitoring) of the RHNC.
Staff has spoken with the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), which oversees both the AERP and EWRP grants, and confirmed that if selected for funding under AERP, then the BOR can remove the EWRP application from consideration. By applying for both grants it puts the city in a better position to receive full funding for the RHNC from the BOR.
The BOR’s AERP and EWRP grants require a 35% cost share that can be matched with non-federal matching funds already secured in the above table.
Licensing
This action does not require a business license.