DEPARTMENT Water Enterprise - Natural
Resources Lands Management
AGENDA NO. 17
MEETING DATE December 13, 2022
APPROVAL:
COMMISSION
SECRETARY Donna Hood
AGENDA ITEM
Public Utilities Commission
City and County of San Francisco
Professional Services Award: Regular Calendar
Contract Manager: Tim Ramirez/Carla Schultheis
Award Agreement No. PRO.0184, Coordinated Natural Resources Projects Summary of
Proposed
Commission Action:
Award Agreement No. PRO.0184, Watershed Re source Management, to Alameda County Resource Conservation District to provide expertise to assist in the planning and design of watershed resources management projects within the Alameda Creek watershed lands associated with the operation of the San Francisco P ublic Utilities Commission water system; and authorize the General Manager to execute a professional services agreement with ACRCD for an amount not-to-exceed $8,500,000, and with a duration of nine years.
Background: The proposed agreement would follo w from a previous, similar agreement with ACRD that had a term from 2008 through 2011 and resulted in • Develop and begi n implementation of an upper Alameda Creek Watershed outreach plan.
• Begin the design of interpretive exhibits for the plan ned Alameda Creek Watershed Center
• Conduct a historical ecology survey of Alameda Creek. • Develop curriculum for 4 th-8th grade students at the Sunol Agricultural Park.
• Conduct rangeland monitoring in the Alameda Watershed. • Completed the construction of t he Arroyo de l a La guna Willow and t he Arroyo de l a Laguna resto ration project following completion of review under the California Environm ental Quality Act (CEQA) and began annual monitoring of the site.
• Conduct education regarding conservation easement an d beg in conservation easement facilitation.
This new proposed agre ement will continue this partnership between the SFPUC and the ACRCD and provide for the on-going planning and design of Agreement: PRO.0184, Watershed Resource Management
Commission Meeting Date: December 13, 2022
natural resources management projects in the Alameda Creek Watershed.
Description of Scope
of Services:
The work under this agreement consists of:
• Assist in the development of partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies and private lando wners to devel op and implement lan d use strategies that further the goals of SFPUC and ACRCD.
• Work closely with SFPUC tenants in developi ng conservation pla ns that address range management techniques to improve sustaina ble forage production and species composition and to pr omote proper grazing methods to protect a gainst soi l erosio n and to prot ect water quality and natural resources.
• Develop and implement inventory and monitor ing s trategies to determine natural resour ces conditions and trends and to ass ist in prioritizing conservation e fforts in t he Alameda Creek W atershed consistent with region al conservation and agricultural strategies , including but not limited to water quality sampling, creek surveys and vegetation monitoring.
• Develop conservation and restoration practices to protect and enhance riparian and wetland areas for ecological resource protection. • Develop strategies for enhancement of native sp ecies and their habitats.
• Implement carbon sequestration and he althy soils programs on watershed lands.
• Develop conservation and restoration practices to protect from surface soil erosion and improve and protect water quality.
• Provide a ssistance in the planning, design of restoration projects including the development of engineering and/or vegetation solutions for significant problems that require restoration actions. • Provide assistance in planning rangeland infrastructure improvements including but not limited to fencing along creeks and designs for alternative, off-site livestock and wildlife water sources. • Provide assistance in devel oping and designing a pond rest oration program and pond restoration projects in the watershed. • Evaluate and inspect three livestock water syst ems – Sheep Camp Creek, San Antonio Creek, and Goat Rock to identify deficiencies and possible solution.
• Provide a ssistance with seed col lection and pl ant propagation in the Alameda Creek
• Provide assistance with th e development of a vegetation management plan including fire management, non -native invasive species and special status species.
• Development of conceptual Plans and Specifications and permits for enhancement projects.
• Coordinate implementation and monitorin g of construction activities for enhancement projects on SFPUC watershed lands.
• Provide assistance with d esign creek erosion repair projects for S an Antonio Creek and Sheep Camp Creek
• Provide assistance in developing a conservation easement program for privately held property near watershed lands, including outreaching to Agreement: PRO.0184, Watershed Resource Management
Commission Meeting Date: December 13, 2022
and working with private landowners to develop conservation easements on their property.
Result of Inaction: A delay in awa rding this a greement will delay management of watershed activities to protect source water quality, native species and their habi tat and delay the identification of waters hed lands critical to restoration a nd protection of source water qu ality, key ecosyst em restorati on nee ds and restoration priorities.
Budget, Funding and
Costs:
Funding: Funds will be avail able with individual task orders awarded from Water Enterprise Capital Project funds.
Not-to-Exceed Amount: $8,500,000
Schedule: Estimated Notice-to-Proceed Date: December 2022 Estimated End Date: July 2031
Duration: Nine years
Compliance with
Chapter 14B: Local
Business Enterprise
Utilization and Non-
Discrimination in
Contracting
Ordinance:
Chapter 14B Local Business Enterprise (LBE) subcontractor participation and Non-Discrimination in Contracting Ordinance do not apply to this agreement.
Environmental
Review:
Approval of as-needed contracts or other funding mechanisms do not fall within the definition of a project under California Environmental Qual ity Act (CEQA) Gui delines Sectio n 15378(b)(4) related to the creation of government funding mechanisms which do not involve any commitment to any specific project that may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment.
No work will commence under this c ontract until the proposed work is reviewed and determined whether environment al review under CEQA has already been conducted or is required, and if required, the appropriate CEQA review is conducted.
Recommendation: SFPUC staff recommends that the Commission adopt the attached resolution.
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
RESOLUTION NO.
WHE
REAS, The S an Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) require s the services of Ala meda Co unty Resour ce Conservation District (ACRCD), a Califor nia Spec ial District, to provide speciali zed services in planning and desi gn of watershed resource management projects within the Alameda Creek watershed lands associated with the operation of the SF PUC water system to supplement SF PUC staff in SFPUC’s effort to p rotect natural resources and protect source water quality; and
WHEREAS, The estimated cost of services is $8,500,000; and WHEREAS, The duration of this agreement is nine years; and WHEREAS, On December 16, 2021, the Office of Cont ract Administration approved a Sole Source Justif ication for assistance with the planning and desi gn of pr ojects within the Alameda Creek watershed lands; and
WHEREAS, The ACR CD recei ved a waiver for com pliance w ith the Equal B enefits Provisions of Chapter 12B of the City’s Administrative Code; and WHEREAS, Com pliance wit h Loc al Business Enterprise Ut ilization a nd Non- Discrimination in Contracting Ordinance, in accordance with Chapter 14B of the San Francisco Administrative Code, does not apply to this agreement; and WHEREAS, Approval of as-needed contracts or other funding mechanisms do not fall within the definition of a project under California Environm ental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) related to the creation of government funding mechanisms which do not involve any commitment to any specific project that may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment; and WHEREAS, No work will commence under this contract until the proposed work is reviewed and determined whether environmental review under CEQA has already been conducted or is required, and if required, the appropriate CEQA review is conducted; now, therefore, be it;
RESOLVED, That this Commission he reby awards Agreement No. PRO.0184, Coordinated Natural Resources Projects, to Alameda Resource Conservation District to provide specialized services to assist in the planni ng and design of wa tershed r esources management projects within the Alameda Creek watershed lands associated with t he operation of the SFPUC water system, and authorizes the General Mana ger of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to execute a professional servi ces agreement f or an amount not -to-exceed $8,500,000 and with a duration of nine years.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Public Utilities Commission at its meeting of December 13, 2022.
Secretary, Public Utilities Commission