BACKGROUND:
In the 1990s, the State Regional Water Quality Control Board (SRWQCB) began discussing threats to drinking water quality with cities in the Coachella Valley. The SRWQCB worked with the Desert Water Agency (DWA) and the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) to conduct studies of cities with high septic system use in residential areas. They found contaminants including nitrates, bacteria, and viruses from septic tank seepage in the upper levels of the underground aquifer serving Cathedral City and other desert cities. The study findings were significant and identified installation of sanitary sewers and elimination of septic tanks as a vital step to stop further spread of contaminants and to permanently protect the area’s groundwater.
DWA and the CVWD provide water and sewer services to Cathedral City residents.
DWA generally serves our residents west of the Whitewater River Stormwater Channel and CVWD generally serves east of the Whitewater River Channel. Since DWA does not have a wastewater reclamation plant it relies on connections to the City of Palm Springs or CVWD, which have wastewater treatment plants, to treat the wastewater that is collected and transported to these plants, respectively.
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) administers the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) Program which provides planning and construction grants for converting septic tank served areas to sewer collection system served areas (“septic to sewer”) in residential areas. Building on a federal investment of $46.8 billion, the State CWSRFs have provided $145 billion to communities through 2020. The State has provided financial assistance to over 42,800 projects to protect public health, protect valuable aquatic resources, and meet environmental standards benefiting hundreds of millions of people. Cathedral City’s Septic to Sewer Project would qualify under the wide range of water infrastructure projects funded through the CWSRF.
On February 9, 2022, the City Council approved a Professional Service Agreement with Woodard and Curran Consulting (Consultant) to provide CWSRF Program grant related services required to submit a planning grant for the City’s Septic to Sewer Project as outlined in the discussion below.
On August 10, 2022, the City Council approved Resolution 2022-42 authorizing the City Manager to sign and file, for and on behalf of the Entity, a funding agreement from the SWRCB for the planning, design, and construction of the Project.
Current background: This past October, the SWRCB requested the City to revise the title of Resolution 2022-42, and to remove the word “grant” which appears once in the recitals. The other recitals and terms of the Resolution for this agenda item are identical to the recitals and terms of Resolution 2022-42 and do not need to be revised.
DISCUSSION:
The Consultant and City Staff had identified the five residential areas in Cathedral City on individual septic systems and are eligible for the CWSRF (maps are attached to this Staff Report):
•CVWD Service area projects:
oWhispering Palms Neighborhood
oSouth City (Ocotillo Park area)
oPomegranate Lane area
oRoyal Palms and Caliente Sands Mobile Home Parks (MHP) ▪Note: Subject to further allottee and private ownership approval, respectively.
•DWA Service area:
oLakeview Condos
The Consultant had submitted the CWSRF planning grant application and supporting documents. The SWRCB requires a Certified Authorizing Resolution be submitted with the executed application and supporting documents. The Resolution identified the official(s) authorized to execute the necessary planning grant applications and related documents.
Again, this past October the SWRCB requested the City to revise the title of Resolution 2022-42, and to remove the word “grant” which appears once in the recitals. The other recitals and terms of the Resolution for this agenda item are identical to the recitals and terms of Resolution 2022-42 and do not need to be revised.
The title of the original Resolution 2022-42 read as follows: “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cathedral City, Approving and Authorizing Designated City Staff to Accept, Execute and Endorse All Program Supplemental Agreements, Fund Exchange Agreements, and/or Fund Transfer Agreements to the Master Agreement Administering Agency-State Agreement for Federal-Aid Project No. 08-5430F15 Between the City of Cathedral City and the State of California, Acting Through the Department of Transportation, for the Purpose of Administering and Disbursement of Federal Funds for the Completion of Cathedral City Highway Safety Improvement Program Projects in Cathedral City”.
The title of the new Resolution is being changed to read: “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Cathedral City, Approving and Authorizing the California State Water Resources Control Board Clean Water State Revolving Fund Application for the Septic-to-Sewer Planning Project and Designating Authorized Representatives”.
Additionally, the third recital from the original Resolution states:
“WHEREAS, The City wishes to secure grant funding to design a septic-to-sewer project to connect the affected areas to the municipal sewer systems owned and operated by Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency.” As cited prior, the SWRCB has requested the City to remove the word “grant” from the recital above. This recital will now read:
“WHEREAS, The City wishes to secure funding to design a septic-to-sewer project to connect the affected areas to the municipal sewer systems owned and operated by Coachella Valley Water District and Desert Water Agency.” As mentioned previously, the other recitals and terms of the Resolution for this agenda item are identical to the recitals and terms of Resolution 2022-42.
The application and supporting documents are required to receive CWSRF Program funds. A blanket Resolution is preferred over a specific individual Resolution to expedite the approval of agreements and processing funding.
City Staff requests that the City Council rescind Resolution 2022-42 and approve a new Resolution authorizing the City Manager and/or designee to negotiate and execute the necessary CWSRF Applications and related documents required for submitting the Septic-to-Sewer Project planning grant application to the SWRCB.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact for revising the title of the Resolution.
The Consultant fees for securing the planning grant through the CWSRF Program will be reimbursed by the SWRCB once the Planning Grant Funding Agreement is executed. After the Agreement is executed, City Staff will solicit proposals from design consultants.
FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL B: COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
Objective: Cathedral City roads, gateways, public spaces, and other city infrastructure are well planned, designed, constructed, and maintained.