Title
Consider Adopting a resolution to:
a. Provide a one-time appropriation of $250,000 from the FY 2023-24 General Fund contingency to fund preparation of several plan documents required to respond to a Notice of Violation (NOV) issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to the Pajaro County Sanitation District;
b. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to increase appropriations for Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017 by $250,000 financed by a decrease in appropriations of $250,000 in Contingencies, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO020 (4/5ths vote required);
c. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations and operating transfers in by $85,000 for Pajaro County Sanitation District, Fund 151, Appropriation Unit PFP047, financed by an operating transfer out of $85,000 from Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017 (4/5ths vote required);
d. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations and operating transfers in by $82,500 for Boronda County Sanitation District, Fund 156, Appropriation Unit PFP049, financed by an operating transfer out of $82,500 from Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017 (4/5ths vote required);
e. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations and operating transfers in by $82,500 for Chualar CSA-75, Fund 093, Appropriation Unit PFP046, financed by an operating transfer out of $82,500 from Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017 (4/5ths vote required); and
f. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to transfer $250,000 for the FY 2023-24 from Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017, to Pajaro County Sanitation District, Fund 151, Appropriation Unit PFP047 ($85,000), Boronda County Sanitation District, Fund 156, Appropriation Unit PFP049 ($82,500), and Chualar CSA-75, Fund 093, Appropriation Unit PFP046 ($82,500) (4/5ths vote required).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution to:
a. Provide a one-time appropriation of $250,000 from the FY 2023-24 General Fund contingency to fund preparation of several plan documents required to respond to a Notice of Violation (NOV) issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board to the Pajaro County Sanitation District;
b. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to increase appropriations for Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017 by $250,000 financed by a decrease in appropriations of $250,000 in Contingencies, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO020 (4/5ths vote required);
c. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations and operating transfers in by $85,000 for Pajaro County Sanitation District, Fund 151, Appropriation Unit PFP047, financed by an operating transfer out of $85,000 from Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017 (4/5ths vote required);
d. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations and operating transfers in by $82,500 for Boronda County Sanitation District, Fund 156, Appropriation Unit PFP049, financed by an operating transfer out of $82,500 from Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017 (4/5ths vote required);
e. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations and operating transfers in by $82,500 for Chualar CSA-75, Fund 093, Appropriation Unit PFP046, financed by an operating transfer out of $82,500 from Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017 (4/5ths vote required); and
f. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to transfer $250,000 for the FY 2023-24 from Other Financing Uses, General Fund 001, Appropriation Unit CAO017, to Pajaro County Sanitation District, Fund 151, Appropriation Unit PFP047 ($85,000), Boronda County Sanitation District, Fund 156, Appropriation Unit PFP049 ($82,500), and Chualar CSA-75, Fund 093, Appropriation Unit PFP046 ($82,500) (4/5ths vote required).
SUMMARYDISCUSSION:
The County owned Pajaro County Sanitation District (PCSD) is in northern Monterey County. It includes a wastewater collection system of approximately 16.5 miles of gravity sewer pipe, six pump stations, and approximately 2.4 miles of force sewer main. There are approximately 1,047 sewer connections and 1,768 billing units. PCSD is a collection system only and does not provide wastewater treatment. Instead, collected sewage is pumped to the City of Watsonville Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment under an agreement with the City.
On August 11, 2023, the Public Works, Facilities and Parks Department (PWFP) received a Notice of Violation from the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), Central Coast Division regarding the PCSD. PWFP informed the Board of Supervisors of the NOV via Board Memorandum dated August 14, 2023 (please see Attachment A).
A significant NOV requirement is for the creation and adoption of a Sanitary Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP), Overflow Emergency Response Plan (OERP), a Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) plan, and operating procedures. Staff obtained a consultant proposal to develop these documents since specialized expertise is required. Since the RWQCB intends to audit the other two County sewer collection systems (Boronda County Sanitation District (BCSD) and the Chualar CSA-75 sewer system), the proposal includes developing these same documents and procedures for those systems.
The cost to prepare a SSMP, OERP, FOG plan and operating procedures for all 3 sanitation entities (the PCSD, BCSD and Chualar systems) is a combined total of approximately $250,000. None of these systems anticipated this unexpected cost in the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Proposed or Adopted Budgets, and none of the systems have funding capacity for this compliance work. Therefore, staff recommends Board of Supervisors’ support for an appropriation of approximately $250,000 from General Fund contingency to fund the work needed to respond to and satisfactorily address this major requirement within the NOV. Failure to timely address the NOV will result in financial penalties to the County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
This item was presented to the Budget Committee at its August 30, 2023 meeting and was supported.
FINANCING:
The adopted budgets for PCSD, BCSD and Chualar CSA-75 do not include sufficient funding to support the estimated cost of $250,000 to develop required plans to address the NOV issued by the RWQCB. Staff recommends support for a one-time appropriation of $250,000 from the General Fund contingency to fund this effort. Available sources for the General Fund contribution consists of Contingencies. As of the date this report was written, the balance in Contingencies is $2,862,758. Approving the transfer of $250,000 from the Contingencies would reduce its balance to $2,612,758.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The recommended action supports the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Initiatives for Administration. Having operations in compliance with State requirements and making positive strides to address a Notice of Violation helps prevent the County from receiving fines and intends to improve operational efficiencies through providing clear parameters and guidelines for staff.
__Economic Development
X Administration
__Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
__Public Safety
Prepared by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Tom Bonigut, PE, Assistant Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
Tom Moss, P.G., Senior Water Resources Hydrologist
Reviewed by: Jessica Cordiero-Martinez, Finance Manager III
Approved by: Randell Ishii, MS, PE, TE, PTOE, Director of Public Works, Facilities and Parks
The following attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board:
Attachment A - Board Memo dated August 14, 2023
Attachment B - Draft Board Resolution