FOR: Water Subcommittee Meeting [March 27, 2024]
TO: Honorable Water Subcommittee Members
APPROVAL: Stephen Dopudja, P.E., Interim Utilities Manager
Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
...Title
Professional Service Agreement Amendment No. 3 with Soto Resources.
RECOMMENDATION
Request that the Water Subcommittee provide feedback on Professional Service Agreement Amendment No. 3 with Soto Resources in the amount of $100,000 to provide additional as-needed grant writing assistance. (ACTION)
...Body
BACKGROUND
Soto Resources was awarded a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) on July 13, 2021, for $50,250 to provide funding research and strategy reports for the Rialto Habitat Nature Center (RHNC) and as-needed grant writing assistance to the City’s Utilities Division. A First Amendment of the PSA was executed on October 26, 2021, for $150,250, and a Second Amendment on December 13, 2022, for $100,000.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Since 2021, Soto Resources has assisted the Utilities Division with obtaining $17.7 million in grant funding since July 2021, for the following projects (ATTACHMENT 1):
1. FY2022 Community Funded Projects - Rialto Habitat Nature Center (Lake Rialto).
Awarded $1.05 Million.
2. FY2023 Community Funded Projects - Rialto Habitat Nature Center (Lake Rialto).
Awarded $2.0 Million.
3. Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (SAWPA) One Water One Watershed (OWOW) Prop 1 Round 2 - Rialto Habitat Nature Center (Lake Rialto).
Awarded $2.15 Million.
4. United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Water and Energy Efficiency Grant - AMI Project.
Awarded $2.0 Million.
5. Department of Water Resources (DWR) Urban Community Drought Relief Grant - AMI Project.
Awarded $6.0 Million.
6. United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Drought Resiliency Projects - Well 3A Groundwater Treatment Facility.
Awarded $2.0 Million.
7. Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) REAP 2.0 Regional Utilities Supporting Housing - Well 3A Groundwater Treatment Facility.
Awarded $2.5 Million; however, funding paused due to the state budget.
Part of their successful management style includes weekly meetings with staff to discuss anticipated and potential capital improvement projects and to identify new funding opportunities. In addition, internal and external action items including meetings with state and federal grant staff, grant management of approved grants, and to-do items are tracked meticulously to ensure the City/Rialto Utility Authority (RUA) does not miss upcoming funding opportunities such as:
• Rialto Habitat Nature Center Project/Coastal Conservancy (Santa Ana River Conservancy)
• Septic-to-Sewer Disadvantaged Communities Project/CWSRF Construction and Connection Funding.
• Lead and Copper Rule Revisions Residential Change Out Programs.
• Area-Wide Security Assessment.
• The Department of Interior Water-Smart Grant for Water and Energy Efficiency of Irrigation Controllers.
Grant opportunities are regularly announced by the state and federal governments. The City of Rialto/Rialto Utility Authority currently has two (2) applications totaling $5.425 million in potential grant funding pending. Staff is proposing a Third Amendment to the PSA with Soto Resources and would like feedback on potential capital improvement project funding needs.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds are available in Contract Services’ Account No. 56807860-52011, which has an available balance of $375,834.