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Adopt a resolution approving participation in the California State Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways Surrendered and Abandoned Vessels Exchange Grant Program in the amount of $10,000 for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027, affirming the grant expenditure plan; Authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff, and the Director of Administrative Services to sign the grant award agreement and related documents, including any service contracts that remain within the grant budget; and Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request recognizing unanticipated grant revenue offset by appropriations to assist in the abatement of surrendered and abandoned vessels in County waterways (4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Sheriff recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt a resolution approving participation in the California State Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways Surrendered and Abandoned Vessels Exchange Grant Program in the amount of $10,000 for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2027, affirming the grant expenditure plan;
2. Authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff, and the Director of Administrative Services to sign the grant award agreement and related documents, including any service contracts that remain within the grant budget; and
3. Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request recognizing unanticipated grant revenue offset by appropriations to assist in the abatement of surrendered and abandoned vessels in County waterways. (4/5 vote required)
SUMMARY:
In April 2025, the Sheriff’s Office submitted a competitive grant application to the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) for participation in the Surrendered and Abandoned Vessels Exchange (SAVE) Grant Program under the FY2025/26 grant cycle. The DBW allocates State funds administered through the SAVE Grant Program to local government agencies to facilitate the removal of owner-surrendered vessels and the removal and disposal of abandoned hazardous vessels located in County waterways.
On September 18, 2025 the Sheriff’s Office received notice of an award from DBW. Solano County is to receive $10,000 to remove and dispose of abandoned and turned-in vessels in Solano County. DBW requires a Board-certified resolution to be submitted to finalize the acceptance process.
A detailed description of the SAVE Grant Expenditure Plan (Plan) is enumerated in the Discussion section of this report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The SAVE FY2025/26 grant administered by DBW requires the Sheriff’s Office to expend the grant award of $10,000 to remove and dispose of abandoned and turned-in vessels by September 30, 2027. The SAVE grant program also requires a ten percent (10%) cash or in-kind match. Solano County’s award together with a $1,000 match requirement brings the total to $11,000 in program funds. The Sheriff intends to fulfill the match obligation via in-kind services of salary and benefit costs from the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol personnel performing grant-related activities.
An Appropriation Transfer Request will recognize the $10,000 in unanticipated grant revenue offset with appropriations to used towards the removal and disposal of abandoned vessels and/or vessel turn-ins.
The budget submitted as part of the grant application was $80,000; however, only $10,000 was awarded due to State budget constraints as the State has temporarily reduced program funding from $2.7 million to $1 million for this grant cycle. Grant funds are expected to be sufficient for currently known abandoned vessels and vessels to be turned-in; however, County General Funds may be needed to augment the cost for removal and disposal of unknown vessels.
The cost associated with preparing the agenda item is nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
In October 1997, Senate Bill 172 created the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund (AWAF) which provides funds to public agencies to remove, store and dispose of abandoned, wrecked or dismantled vessels or any other partially submerged objects which pose a substantial hazard to navigation in navigable waterways, adjacent public property, or private property with the owner’s consent. In January 2010, Assembly Bill 166 (Chapter 416, Statutes 2009) established Vessel Turn-In Program (VTIP) to prevent abandoned vessels by providing an easy and free alternative for boat owners to surrender their unwanted vessels. The SAVE grant program combines these two effective grants into an easily managed single grant with sufficient flexibility to cover both AWAF and VTIP issues.
Pursuant to Harbors and Navigation Code §525, the DBW will provide SAVE Grant funds to the Sheriff to remove and dispose abandoned and derelict vessels from county waterways and owner-surrendered vessels that will be delivered or picked up by the Sheriff’s Office, towed to a local landfill, and destroyed. Owners will be required to provide proof of vessel ownership, sign title transfer, and complete a release of liability/interest form before the vessel is discarded.
The Sheriff’s Office has participated in the AWAF, VTIP and SAVE grant programs since their inception. SAVE grant funds awarded in the past have been used by the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol for the disposal of vessels surrendered by their owners and for the removal and disposal of hazardous vessels that were abandoned, impeding navigation and polluting Solano County waterways. During the current SAVE grant cycle, Marine Patrol has located, removed and disposed of 1 vessel abandoned in the Sacramento River near Rio Vista and has accepted and disposed of 8 vessels and 6 vessel trailers that citizens turned-in. Other funds have been allocated to remove and dispose of two abandoned vessels, one in Rio Vista and one in the Montezuma Slough, and to remove and dispose of two large, surrendered vessels. Any remaining funds will be used for unanticipated owner-surrenders and/or abandoned vessels.
The SAVE Grant Expenditure Plan developed by the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol and then modified in response to the award amount is included below:
Abandoned Vessels in Jurisdiction. $6,000 to help fund contracted services for the removal and disposal of one abandoned 34-foot ChristCraft Cabin Cruiser located along the Sacramento River near Rio Vista. The Sheriff’s Office expects the Courts to enter a judgment against the owner for the cost of removal and disposal.
Surrendered Vessels in Jurisdiction. $4,000 to fund the removal and disposal of up to 10 owner-surrendered vessels. The recent three-year average cost to dispose of vessels is around $400. However, the cost will increase should removal or towing services be necessary.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board can choose not to participate in this grant program; however, this alternative is not recommended as nonparticipation will result in the loss of $10,000 in grant funding that would have been used to keep Solano County waterways safe and navigable through the abatement of surrendered and abandoned vessels. Moreover, the grant funding will be obligated to other Counties and no longer available to Solano County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMENDATION