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Approve a Partnership Agreement for the Collaborative Stakeholder Structure for the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project between the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, Solano County, City of Suisun City, and Greenbelt Alliance; Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to provide letters of support on behalf of requesting partner agencies for grants related to the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project; and Authorize the County Administrator, or designee, with concurrence of County Counsel, to execute agreements on behalf of the County to receive sub-awarded grant revenues through the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District for the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project and to sign associated amendments, modifications, and reimbursement forms
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a Partnership Agreement (Attachment A) for the Collaborative Stakeholder Structure for the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project (Attachment A, Exhibit A) between the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, Solano County, City of Suisun City, and Greenbelt; and
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to provide letters of support on behalf of requesting partner agencies for grants related to the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project; and
3. Authorize the County Administrator, or designee, with concurrence of County Counsel, to execute agreements on behalf of the County to receive sub-awarded grant revenues through the Fairfield Suisun Sewer District for the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project and to sign associated amendments, modifications, and reimbursement forms.
SUMMARY:
In December 2023, the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District (FSSD) was awarded $601,113 grant through the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Regional Resiliency Planning and Implementation Grant program for the Solano Bayshore Resiliency Project (Resiliency Project). FSSD allocated $200,000 from the OPR grant for Solano County staff to partner on the Resiliency Project and oversee shallow groundwater studies supporting the San Francisco Estuary Institute’s (SFEI) Sea-Level Rise and Shallow Groundwater Future Condition Mapping. The Resiliency Project involves collaborating with partner agencies to develop a Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Analysis and Action Plan focused on identifying solutions to climate hazards impacting infrastructure and communities from sea-level-rise induced flooding along the Bayshore region of southwestern Solano County which extends from City of Vallejo to the Travis Air Force Base and Suisun Marsh (Attachment B). This region includes critical utility and transportation infrastructure that supports cities, communities, and Travis Air Force Base, along with habitat resources such as the Suisun Marsh. Based on prior studies by Solano County and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), infrastructure and communities in this region of Solano County are vulnerable to sea level rise-induced flooding and saltwater intrusion.
The Resiliency Project fosters collaboration with multiple stakeholders and community engagement to identify priority projects aimed at reducing risks to critical infrastructure and communities from sea level rise. The County benefits by participating in the Solano Bayshore Resilience Project as it furthers the County’s goals to work in partnership with federal, state, and local agencies to improve flood control and drainage and reduce the risk to critical infrastructure in the county.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Regional Resilience Planning and Implementation Grant program is state funded through the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) as part of the Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Program (ICARP) for a term of July 1, 2024 through September 30, 2026. FSSD allocated $200,000 for county staff to partner on the Project and contract with experts through the SFEI to conduct a shallow groundwater study. This sub awarded funding from the OPR grant will cover county staff participation and consultants to conduct shallow groundwater study and condition mapping as part of the Project. Therefore, there is no additional impact to the County General Fund. Funding for the project will be included in the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
FSSD has applied for additional funding for over $1,128,000 through the California Ocean Protection Council SB 1 Sea-Level Rise Adaptation Planning Grant and is applying for other grant funding opportunities to complete and implement the Project. If successful, FSSD will allocate additional funds to Solano County to help develop a Sea Level Rise Action Plan and associated studies as part of the Project.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item and associated with collaboration with FSSD in developing the Project are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Solano County’s 2011 Climate Action Plan and Sea Level Rise Strategic Program, and the BCDC’s 2020 Regional Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Study highlighted numerous vulnerable locations and assets in the County that are at risk from sea level rise-induced impacts as early as 2030. Since November 2022, Department staff have been participating in a working group along with staff from various cities and special districts in Solano County to explore innovative solutions to build resilience from the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. The focus of this working group’s efforts has been in the Bayshore region of southwestern Solano County, which extends from the City of Vallejo to Travis Air Force Base and Suisun Marsh. The Resiliency Project was developed from these efforts aimed at evaluating regional actions to reduce sea level rise induced impacts to communities and infrastructure along the southwestern Solano County region.
The goals of the Resiliency Project include building upon existing local, state, and federal studies and initiatives to develop nature-based shoreline adaptation solutions to ensure that vulnerable communities are prioritized in Project implementation, building capacity for community engagement to plan and implement adaptation projects, and improve the health of the Suisun Marsh and San Francisco Bay. It builds upon the 2020 Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) Bay-wide Sea Level Rise Study to focus on sea level rise related impacts including linkages to shallow groundwater flooding. As part of SB 272, enacted in October 2023, local governments are required to develop sea level rise planning and adaptation plans by 2034. These plans are required to meet BCDC guidance which is set to be available in late 2024. The Project includes collaborating with BCDC and local entities to build upon prior efforts and studies in order to meet the requirements of SB 272 and to identify nature-based solutions to potential climate hazards impacting critical infrastructure within the project area. The Project also includes coordinating with scientific and technical entities to develop a Climate Vulnerability Analysis which will include GIS mapping to visualize critical at-risk areas and assets along the Bayshore region of southwestern Solano County.
The working group is also pursuing other funding opportunities to support the development of an action plan that will identify priority projects along with strategies, recommendations, and the development of preliminary concept designs for implementation. This effort will focus on evaluating the feasibility of nature-based solutions like enhanced horizontal levees, also known as living levees, to both conserve and restore ecosystems while reducing flood risk to infrastructure.
Though the initial grant funding must be expended by September 2026, the entire Resiliency Project is estimated to extend into FY2027/28 and will cost approximately $1.7 million to complete. The project includes four tasks, summarized in Attachment A, Exhibit A. The OPC grant provides funding to initiate the work. In order to fully fund the Project, the FSSD and collaborating entities are actively pursuing other grant funding opportunities. Staff is requesting authorization to enter into new revenue agreements but will return to the Board for approval of any consulting contracts that exceed the County Administrator’s signing authority.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose:
1. Not to approve the Partnership Agreement. This is not recommended as approval would provide the opportunity to partner with FSSD and other agencies to collaborate on the Project.
2. Not authorize signing letters of support. This is not recommended as the Board will miss an opportunity to support collaborating agencies to pursue funding efforts needed to complete the Project.
4. Not authorize the County Administrator to submit and execute sub-grant agreements with the FSSD to conduct studies as part of the Project. This action is not recommended as it would reduce flexibility and timeliness in completing the scope of work outlined for the Project.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Solano County is collaborating with Fairfield Suisun Sewer District, Vallejo Flood & Wastewater District, Cities of Benicia, Fairfield, Suisun City, and Vallejo, Solano County Water Agency, Solano Transportation Authority, Bay Conservation Development Commission. San Francisco Estuary Institute, County of Office of Education, Fairfield-Unified School District, Vallejo Unified School District, Greater Vallejo Recreation Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Travis Air Force Base, Solano RCD, Suisun RCD, Solano Land Trust, Greenbelt Alliance, Sustainable Solano, and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION