DEPARTMENT
Wastewater Enterprise
AGENDA NO.
11 MEETING DATE April 9, 2024
AGENDA ITEM
Public Utilities Commission
City and County of San Francisco
Modification of Green Infrastructure Grant Program Rules: Regular Calendar Project Manager: Sarah Bloom
Approve Modifications of Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines
Summary of
Proposed
Commission Action:
Approve modification of the Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines to raise the maximum cost per acre of impervious surface area managed by grant -funded projects from $ 930,000 to $1,035,000 and the maximum grant award per project from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000 to account for inflation; revise funding disbursement requirements for City Departments only; and revise program eligibility criteria and other program requirements.
Background: Summary of Green Infrastructure Grant Program The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Green Infrastructure Grant Program (Grant Program) is designed to encourage San Francisco property owners to design, build, and maintain performance -based green stormwater infrastructure, including but not limited to permeable pavement ; rainwater harvesting; rain gardens; and vegetated roofs. The goal of the Grant Program is to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff entering SFPUC’s sewer system and improve system performance while also providing co-benefits such as non- potable reuse, climate resilience, and workforce development.
On November 13, 2018, by Resolution No. 18- 0189, this Commission approved the Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines and authorized the General Manager to award green infrastructure grants of up to $2,000,000 each to eligible applicants
on a first come, first
served basis, without further Commission approval . On February 25, 2020, by Resolution No. 20- 0045, this Commission approved revisions to the funding disbursement procedures of the Green Infrastructure Grant Program.
On March 22, 2022, by Resolution No. 22- 0058, this Commission approved modifications to the Program Guidelines to reflect compliance with San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 21G, revise grant team experience and co -benefit eligibility criteria, increase cap on planning and design costs, and revise other program requirements.
Agenda Item: Approve Modifications to Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines Commission Meeting Date: April 9, 2024
Page: 2
Summary of Board of Supervisors Approval
In 2019, by Ordinance No. 26-19, the Board of Supervisors delegated its authority under Charter Section 9.118 to authorize the General Manager to enter into grant agreements under the Grant Program with terms of up to 20 years. Ordinance No. 26- 19 required each grant be awarded/approved by the Commission at a public hearing. Ordinance No. 26-19 had a sunset date of July 1, 2020. On June 23, 2020 , the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance No. 101-20, extending the General Manager’s authority for an additional two years through July 1, 2022. Ordinance No. 101-20 removed the requirement that the Commission approve each grant. Accordingly,
the General
Manager currently awards grants under the Grant P rogram. On June 21, 2022 the Board of Supervisors approved Ordinance 159-22, extending the General Manager’s authority for an additional two years through July 1, 2024.
Proposed Modification to Cost Per Acre Maximum
The Grant Program Guidelines currently set a maximum cost per acre limit of $ 930,000, with a $2,000,000 total grant limit per project.
Staff proposes to amend the Grant Program Guidelines to increase the maximum per acre cost from $ 930,000 to $1,035,000 to account for annual inflation.
The San Francisco Annual Infrastructure Constru ction Cost Inflation Estimate (SF AICCIE) , which is widely used in San Francisco for infrastructure planning uses a 5 -6% annual increase over the last two years. Staff proposes to use the SF AICCIE to increase the maximum per acre cost, rounding down to $1,035,000 per acre managed in 2024 dollars.
Increasing the maximum cost per acre to this amount will reflect the actual cost of construction for our current grantees. If approved, this new maximum per acre cost would apply prospectively for all new green infrastructure grants.
Year SF AICCIE % Increase Grant Program Cost per Acre
2022 - $930,000
2023 6.0% $985,800
2024 5.0% $1,035,090
Proposed Modification to Maximum Grant Award
If the Commission approves increasing the per acre cost maximum in the Grant Program Guidelines, staff also proposes to increase the maximum grant award from $2 ,000,000 to $2,5000,000, to ensure projects of a similar size can continue to be awarded.
Agenda Item: Approve Modifications to Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines Commission Meeting Date: April 9, 2024
Page: 3
Criteria for Grant Amendments
The Guidelines currently authorize the Gener al Manager to execute amendments to existing grants whose grant agreements were executed under a prior cost per acre maximum , to increase the grant amount based on the grantee submitting evidence of : (1) construction bid overages; and/or (2) change orders, in accordance with the General Manager's criteria. S taff proposes to add amendments to existing grants to increase the grant amount based on additional stormwater management performance achieved by the project , subject to the criteria below . This will allow SFPUC to leverage for additional stormwater manage ment discovered during project planning and design phases.
• Additional Stormwater Performance
o Grantees must submit an updated stormwater
management plan, performance calculation, and
project budget documenting the proposed additional
scope to be added to the project.
There are currently 19 existing grantees with projects in the planning and design phase. If the Commission appro ves this agenda item, the General Manager will review requests received for amendments to increase the grant amount from existing grantees, according to the criteria set forth above.
Proposed Modifications to Program Eligibility
• Expand the Definition of Eligible Project Location to the Public Right of Way
Currently, grants awarded under this program go only to projects located on parcels. Expanding the program to projects in the public right of way will open up additional opportunities for stormwater management and provide new opportunities to engage with City Agencies and the publi c. Staff proposes to revise language to the Eligible Project Location section of the guidelines to include projects located in the pu blic right of way.
• Update the Biodiversity Co-Benefit Definition
In 2023 the San Francisco Department of the Environment adopted the San Francisco Biodiversity Guidelines , which translate various local policies (including the General Plan and the Sustainab ility Plan), as well as State, National and international biodiversity plans and policies, into concrete actions that support the City’s biodiversity goals and the conservation and restoration of San Francisco’s natural heritage. Staff proposes to update the Biodiversity co -benefit Agenda Item: Approve Modifications to Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines Commission Meeting Date: April 9, 2024
Page: 4
definition to align with the City’s Biodiversity Guidelines.
Proposed Modifications to Other Program Requirements
• Remove the Pre-Application Meeting from the Application Process
Staff propose removing the pre -application meeting
requirement. Each applicant has multiple touch points with SFPUC staff throughout the application process and a separate pre-application meeting is not needed.
• Update Grant Disbursement Process for City Departments Application
Staff propose updating the funding disbursement to City Departments only to provide 90% of grant funding up front.
Without this change, City Departments will likely have to seek Board of Supervisor’s approval of each grant project to solicit bids without project funds currently available.
Additional Text Clarifications
• Clarification that a project location that drains to an SFPUC owned and operated sewer system may be within an adjacent sanitation district that is a rate payer to the SFPUC for sewer services.
• Clarification that the list of eligible stormwater Best Management Practices ( BMPs) is a subset of available
technologies and is not intended to be exhaustive. It also clarifies that removal of impervious surface meets the
performance requirement of the grant program.
• Clarification that the SFPUC may provide only a partial grant award to an applicant based on program requirements, eligible cost items and available funding.
Additional Administrative Text Edits
The guidelines document was originally created in 2018 and updated in 2022. Some of the language is now outdated. Staff proposes to edit and remove language from the guidelines document that is no longer relevant. These edits are strictly grammatical and do not result in any changes to the program ’s eligibility criteria or other material requirements.
Grant Agreement: Description of the Grant Agreement:
The Green Infrastructure Grant Agreement sets forth the terms and conditions under which SFPUC will provide financial assistance to Agenda Item: Approve Modifications to Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines Commission Meeting Date: April 9, 2024
Page: 5
grantees.
Parties to Agreement: SFPUC and Grantee(s)
Purpose: Construct, operate, and maintain green
infrastructure projects on private and
public parcels in San Francisco to manage
stormwater runoff.
Location: Properties that are connected to a SFPUC-
owned and operated sewer service area.
Commencement Date: Upon execution of Grant Agreement.
Length of Agreement 20 years from the date of project
completion, including ongoing
maintenance obligations.
Funding, Budget, and
Costs:
Funds for the Grant Program are available from the Sewer System Improvement Program (SSIP) Stormwater Management Grant Project 10034553.
Schedule: Each Grant A greement will have a 20 -year term . The General Manager’s authority to award and execute grant agreements under the Grant Program is set to expire June 30, 2024 per Ordinance No.159-
22. Environmental
Review:
This action does not constitute a "Project" under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) because the proposed Green Infrastructure Program creates a government funding mechanism which does not involve commitment to any specific project which may result in a physical change in the environment. Payments
for construction will not be issued for any
grant-funded project until the proposed work is reviewed and any appropriate environmental review under the CEQA, if required, has been completed.
Attachment: 1. Revised Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
RESOLUTION NO.
WHEREAS, Green infrastructure protects and enhances the function of the City and County of San Francisco’s combined sewer system by reducing the volume and rate of stormwater run-off into the system; and
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has a multi- faceted program to maximize the retention and diversion of stormwater, including through green infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, On November 13, 2018, by Resolution No. 18-0189, this Commission approved the establishment of the Green Infrastructure Grant Program and delegated authority to the General Manager to award grants without further Commission approval; and WHEREAS, On February 5, 2019, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 26-19, delegating authority under Charter Section 9.118 to the SFPUC General Manager to enter into grant agreements with terms of 20 years under the SFPUC’s Green Infrastructure Grant Program, provided that this Commission must approve the award of each grant at a public hearing and with a sunset date of July 1, 2020; and WHEREAS, On February 25, 2020, by Resolution No. 20-0045, this Commission approved revisions to the funding disbursement procedures of the Green Infrastructure Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, On June 23, 2020, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 101-20, extending the Green Infrastructure Grant Program for an additional two years through July 1, 2022, including the delegation of authority under Charter Section 9.118, and removing the prior requirement that grants be awarded at a hearing of the Commission; and WHEREAS, On July 27, 2021, by Resolution No. 21-0122, this Commission approved increasing the maximum cost per acre from $765,000 to $930,000; and WHEREAS, On March 22, 2022, by Resolution No. 22- 0058, this Commission approved modifications to the Program Guidelines to reflect compliance with San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 21G, revise grant team experience and co -benefit eligibility criteria, increase cap on planning and design costs, and revise other program requirements.; and WHEREAS, The Grant Program Guidelines establish a minimum project size of 0.5 acres of impervious surface and require that grant-funded projects must manage the first 0.75 inches in rainfall depth over the drainage area; and
WHEREAS, SFPUC Staff recommends that the Grant Program Guidelines be amended to raise the maximum cost per acre of impervious surface area managed by grant -funded projects from $ 930,000 to $1,035,000 and t he maximum grant award per project from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000, to account for inflation; revise funding disbursement requirements for City Departments only; and revise program eligibility criteria and other program requirements; and
WHEREAS, This action does not constitute a "Project" under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4) because the proposed Green Infrastructure Program creates a government funding mechanism which does not involve commitment to any specific project which may result in a physical change in the environment. Payments for construction will not be issued for any grant -funded project until the proposed work is reviewed and any appropriate environmental review under the CEQA, if required, has been completed; and
WHEREAS, A copy of the proposed modifications to the Grant Program Guidelines is on file with the Commission Secretary and was presented to the Commission at its April 9, 2024 meeting; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, The Commission hereby approves the modifications to the Green Infrastructure Grant Program Guidelines on file with the Commission Secretary to raise the maximum cost per acre of impervious surface area managed by grant -funded projects from $930,000 to $1,035,000 a nd the maximum grant award per project from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000, to account for inflation; revise funding disbursement requirements for City Departments only; and revise program eligibility criteria and other program requirements.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Public Utilities Commission at its meeting of April 9, 2024.
Secretary, Public Utilities Commission
1 Green Infrastructure Grant Program
Program Guidelines
(July 2024)
Grant Program Overview
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s (SFPUC) Green Infrastructure Grant Program (Grant Program) is designed to encourage San Francisco property owners to design, build, and maintain performance-based green stormwater infrastructure (Green Infrastructure or GI) projects, including but not limited to: permeable pavement, bioretention, rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, and vegetated roofs. The goals of this program are to improve the performance of SFPUC’s sewer system by reducing the amount of stormwater runoff entering the system, while delivering benefits that enhance the quality of life of San Franciscans.
To receive funding under the Grant Program, an applicant must satisfy the Grant Program’s Eligibility Criteria, as set forth below.
The SFPUC will determine the dollar amount of each grant award by the amount of impervious acreage the proposed project can manage using green infrastructure (i.e., the amount of impervious surface that drains stormwater runoff during storms to green infrastructure, or “impervious acres managed”). Individual grant awards are capped at a maximum of $1,035,000 per impervious acre managed, up to a maximum of $2,500,000 per grant. For grants executed under prior per acre cost limits, please see Page 15 setting forth criteria to request retroactive amendments to increase the per acre cost limit.
The SFPUC will accept applications and award grants through an open and competitive process.
Applications will be solicited in accordance with the Competitive Solicitation requirements of City Administrative Code Chapter 21G as outlined in Section II and Section IV below, subject to the availability of funds and all City budgetary requirements.
Grantees and property owners will be required to enter into a 20-year Green Infrastructure Grant Agreement with the SFPUC. The Green Infrastructure Grant Agreement requires the property owner to maintain the project for the 20-year term and authorizes the SFPUC to periodically inspect the project. Further, the property owner of the grant project location will be required to execute a declaration of deed restriction that will be recorded.
The purpose of the Grant Program is to fund stormwater retrofits (meaning, construction of GI projects on existing developments). Parcels undergoing new development and redevelopment that trigger the Stormwater Management Ordinance, San Francisco Public Works Code, Article 4.2, et seq.,1 are not eligible for grant funds. Participation in this Grant Program does not prohibit participation in other SFPUC programs.
1 New development and redevelopment projects that create and/or replace: (1) ≥5,000 square feet of impervious surface in separate and combined sewer areas; or (2) ≥2,500 square feet of impervious surface in separate sewer areas trigger the Stormwater Management Ordinance.
2 I. Eligibility Criteria
Eligible Applicants
A Grantee may be a property owner, a for-profit or nonprofit entity, an individual, or a governmental entity. All Grantees (other than governmental entities) must be registered to do business in the State of California and the City and County of San Francisco.
Eligibility Criteria
Applications that meet all of the following six criteria are eligible and will be evaluated for potential funding under the Grant Program:
1. Project Size: The proposed project must manage stormwater runoff from a minimum of 0.5 acres of impervious surface. The total area of impervious surfaces does not need to be contiguous and can be comprised of several smaller impervious drainage areas totaling 0.5 acres.
2. Project Location: The proposed project site must connect to an SFPUC-owned and operated sewer system service area. The project may be located in either the combined sewer system area, municipal separate storm sewer system area, or in a sanitation district that discharges to the SFPUC sewer system. Projects may be located on a parcel, in the public right-of-way, or a combination of both.
3. Performance: The project’s proposed Green Infrastructure features must capture the 90th percentile 24-hour storm, equivalent to 0.75-inch depth. The 90th percentile 24-hour storm represents an amount of precipitation that 90% of all rainfall events for the historical period of record do not exceed.
4. Grant Team Experience: The grant team must include the property owner, an identified grant or project manager, and a licensed engineer or landscape architect registered in the State of California. The Project Application Form must identify the engineer or landscape architect that will design the project. The proposed project team must collectively demonstrate a history of successful project implementation, have previous experience designing, constructing, and/or maintaining green infrastructure, and be in good standing in any currently active Green Infrastructure Grant Program projects. ‘Good standing’ means that all active projects are on-schedule, regularly submit deliverables on-time, and are not delinquent on grant requirements.
5. Concept Design: Applicants must submit a conceptual design plan drawing approximately equivalent to a 10% level of design.
The concept design must identify the following information:
• Existing conditions
- Property and easement boundaries
- Road labels
- Contours
- Vicinity map including minor watershed(s)
- Utilities, e.g., water lines, electric lines (as available) - Doors and emergency egress
3 - North arrow and scale
- Existing impervious areas, e.g., roof, pavement, driveway - Existing stormwater infrastructure (including existing connections to the sewer system) and drainage management areas for those connections - Existing trees (drip line and trunk diameter)
• Proposed Site Plan (at a scale no greater than 1”=20’-0”) - Project boundary
- Grading contours
- Changes to land cover including impervious surfaces
- Green stormwater infrastructure facilities (also referred to as Best Management Practices or BMPs)
Facility type and sizing information, e.g., footprint (square feet), depth, volume
Corresponding drainage management area (DMA) to each BMP. Each DMA should include the portion of the project site that drains to a single BMP (or group of hydraulically connected BMPs) and the area of the BMP itself, or the portion of the project site that drains directly to the sewer system. Label the size of each DMA (square feet).
BMP conveyance items, e.g., overflow, underdrain, outlet control structures.
Show each proposed pervious and impervious surface type (including stormwater BMPs) with a distinct hatching type. Label all BMPs with an ID number (e.g. for vegetated roof, VR-01, VR-02, etc.). Use the same BMP ID number in the Maintenance and Inspection Schedules.
- Proposed conveyance (i.e., connections to BMPs, connections to existing conveyance systems or sewers, and connections for irrigation) and site drainage features (e.g., drains, downspouts, and flow direction arrows) Include within the site plan all necessary information to clearly demonstrate the stormwater path of travel. For example, include roof slope break lines, area and roof drains, and downspouts; pipes from drains to BMPs and from BMPs to sewer connections; underdrains and overflows associated with BMPs; and pipes from uncaptured areas to sewer connections. Provide flow direction arrows for sheet flow and pipe flow.
6. At Least Two Co-Benefit Opportunities: Applicants are required to demonstrate that the proposed project will deliver at least two (2) of the identified co-benefits listed below. GI projects provide a variety of co-benefit opportunities in addition to reducing the amount of stormwater runoff that enters the SFPUC’s sewer system. Evaluation and scoring criteria for each co-benefit will be provided in the solicitation of each grant application cycle. All co- benefits are eligible grant expenses and must relate to an SFPUC rate-payer purpose.
Co-Benefit Definition
Community Benefits:
Environmental Justice The SFPUC is committed to the goals of environmental justice to promote healthy communities in all SFPUC service areas by eliminating disproportionate environmental burdens and
distributing public and environmental benefits equitably. To help address social and environmental issues, the SFPUC has
4 adopted Environmental Justice and Community Benefits
policies.
Projects can foster environmental justice by engaging with environmental justice communities throughout the project, providing new environmental benefits to a historically
underserved community, helping to heal past environmental burdens, enabling proactive and community-led solutions, or by providing site-based programming that engages environmental justice communities.
Public Access, Open Space,
and Recreation
Green infrastructure projects that prioritize public access, open space, and recreation can support the creation of high quality spaces that are engaging, aesthetically pleasing, and support the community's well-being by offering opportunities to socialize, recreate, and interact with green infrastructure. Projects that are open to the public and all SFPUC rate payers also promote awareness of and education about the importance of
stormwater management and the city’s combined sewer system.
This can be achieved by locating the project in a publicly accessible space that is open and inviting for unstructured, daily public use. Public access must be advertised and promoted through signage that is clearly visible to the public or through other means of advertisement. If a project site is only open to the public during specific times of the day (e.g., after school programs), the schedule must be included in signage and advertisements. Public schools that select this co-benefit must be enrolled in the Shared Schoolyard Program. Other properties must be open for a minimum of 7 hours per weekend day or 3 hours per weekday.
This can also be achieved by integrating public gathering spaces into project design, by enhancing an existing public space, or by creating new opportunities to socialize, gather, recreate and interact with nature in a publicly accessible space.
Community Engagement,
Collaboration, and
Placemaking
Projects that prioritize community engagement, collaboration, and placemaking during the design process can empower
communities and support outcomes that meet community
goals. Engaging the community and key stakeholders can also support the long-term success and stewardship of the project and improve long-term maintenance outcomes.
This can be achieved by including members from the community or place stewards (such as care takers, maintenance staff, property managers, or community members with an interest in the property), in addition to the property owner and technical team, in the grant team. This must include a detailed
community engagement strategy that prioritizes community members’ input throughout the design process, including workshops, design charettes, or other outreach events that aim
5 to integrate the community’s vision and goals into the green infrastructure design.
Education and Watershed
Stewardship
Projects that integrate art and/or educational elements can promote awareness of and education about the importance of stormwater management and green infrastructure for the city’s combined sewer system, and help prepare the next generation of watershed stewards. Education can also improve project success and maintenance outcomes.
This can be achieved by providing detailed educational signage relating to the function of green infrastructure and its impact on the broader watershed and sewer system. This can also be achieved by delivering a long-term curriculum plan, creating lesson plans that incorporate learning related to specific project elements, or by integrating educational elements or an art installation with the green infrastructure elements.
Green Infrastructure Job
Training
Providing jobs and job training in the green stormwater infrastructure sector is an important part of successfully implementing green infrastructure in San Francisco. As part of the Community Benefits policy, the SFPUC is committed to providing workforce development opportunities for residents of San Francisco. Increasing the competency in the workforce can help
enhance the quality of green infrastructure delivered at other sites throughout San Francisco.
This can be achieved by providing a long-term green
infrastructure job training program or by serving as a training site for trainees learning about the design, construction, maintenance, or monitoring of green infrastructure. Projects that select this co-benefit must be open and accessible to trainees and their instructors for a minimum of 16 hours per year (during business hours).
Environmental Benefits:
Water Supply Projects that support the use of rainwater and stormwater for alternative water supplies through non-potable reuse can reduce potable water demand and benefit the city’s water supply.
This can be achieved by collecting, treating, and using rainwater or stormwater to satisfy non-potable water demands, including landscape irrigation or toilet flushing.
Climate Resilience Projects that support the design of spaces to respond to future impacts of climate change, including urban heat and flooding can contribute to making San Francisco a climate-resilient city.
Combating urban heat with nature-based solutions aligns with the city’s Climate Action Plan goal of increasing urban tree canopy. Improving the city’s resilience to flooding during large storms aligns with the city’s Hazards and Climate Resilience Goals.
6 Heat resilience may be attained by prioritizing environmental cooling and shade (i.e., vegetation, tree canopy). For projects located in or upstream of flood-prone areas, flood resilience can be attained by achieving a higher stormwater performance than the 0.75” design storm (i.e., larger facilities that manage a 5- year, 3-hour 1.3” design storm).
Biodiversity Projects that prioritize creating native habitat to support native wildlife can contribute to making San Francisco an ecological city. San Francisco has adopted a citywide Biodiversity Policy and Biodiversity Guidelines to restore and maintain diverse native habitats in the city. Projects that select this co-benefit must comply with section 1 (Wildlife and Plants) of the Biodiversity Guidelines.
This can be achieved through the project’s landscape planting plan and integrated into the design through features such as native pollinator gardens, habitat connectivity plans, and increased tree canopy. This can also be achieved by identifying specific native species that the project is designed for and providing a plant palette selected to attract that species.
II. Application Process
Application Solicitation
Grants will be awarded through an open and competitive process. Applications will be solicited in accordance with the Competitive Solicitation requirements of City Administrative Code Chapter 21G.
Each application solicitation will include a clear statement of the process and deadlines for submitting applications and for evaluating applications, including the evaluation criteria the SFPUC will use to rank applications.
Application
The grant application will use an Excel workbook available for download on the program website. The workbook includes required forms that must be completed and printed out (see the table below for sections of the application) in order to apply. All forms must be completed. The SFPUC will not consider incomplete applications, which it will return to the applicant.
Application Template Description
Project Application Form General information about the proposed project including the location, proposed project team, and the total amount of funds requested. Applicants must provide a project narrative that briefly describes the proposed project. This form also includes a checklist of the deliverables that must be included with the application submittal.
7 Grant Team Experience The narrative should describe the project team’s previous experience with delivering projects of a similar scale and complexity, as specified in the Eligibility Criteria.
Project Budget Template
The budget template describes how the grant team proposes to spend the grant funds. The budget template is divided into construction costs and non-construction costs. The budget should be consistent with the proposed conceptual design and include contingencies that are consistent with a 10% level of design. A contingency of approximately 20% is typical at 10% design phase. These contingency multipliers can be reduced if the design is farther along than 10% but should not be
increased without approval from the SFPUC Grant Program Administrator.
Stormwater Performance
Calculator
The stormwater performance calculator determines the
performance of the proposed BMP(s) based on their size and the impervious area draining to them. This calculator is used to demonstrate that the proposed concept design meets the
minimum stormwater performance requirement of capturing the 90 th percentile storm from the impervious drainage areas. The inputs in this calculator include the BMP type(s), BMP footprint size, and impervious drainage management area. For rainwater harvesting cisterns re-use rates are also required.
Applicants must also input the predominant hydraulic soil group type at the site, which the SFPUC uses to determine the performance of infiltrating facilities. If the soil type at the site is unknown, applicants can view the soil map within the calculator and select the appropriate type based on the project location.
Applicants must enter the stormwater service type for the site as either combined sewer system or municipal separated storm sewer system (MS4). A webmap of MS4 areas is available on the program website.
To use the stormwater performance calculator, applicants should divide the proposed project site by BMP type and account for the impervious area draining to each type.
The stormwater performance calculator will not show the performance output of the project until the data entered shows that approved GI practices are used to manage at least 0.5 acres of impervious area and capture the 90
th percentile storm
from the proposed drainage areas.
Communications Plan Applicants will describe the proposed Communications Plan to be implemented if awarded a grant. The Communications Plan should identify key stakeholders (including the property owner), propose a schedule with milestones for stakeholder
engagement (including meetings or activities prior to award), and describe a process for communicating with stakeholders throughout the project.
8 Co-benefits Narrative Applicants will describe how the proposed project will deliver community and/or environmental co-benefits. The project must deliver at least two (2) co-benefits from the identified list. The narrative should describe how the community engagement
process will inform co-benefit outcomes, how co-benefits will be integrated in the project design, and how the co-benefits will contribute to the goals of the project’s key stakeholders, including SFPUC rate-payers.
Applicants should describe how the project will provide co- benefits using specific, measurable, and achievable design goals.
Project Schedule The proposed project schedule must include major grant administration, stakeholder engagement, design, and
construction milestones. The schedule should assume that SFPUC will take a maximum of 30 days to review each design deliverable.
The schedule must propose starting construction of the project within 2 years after execution of the Green Infrastructure Grant Agreement.
Maintenance Plan
The maintenance plan will outline the proposed maintenance activities for the proposed green infrastructure facilities.
Applicants can refer to the
SFPUC BMP Fact Sheets f or
recommended maintenance activities and frequencies for the proposed BMP types in the project.
If the project proposes to use proprietary BMPs, applicants should refer to the manufacturer for typical inspection and maintenance activities or prepared maintenance guides.
In addition to the Excel-based application template, applicants must also submit the following three (3) attachments:
Application Attachments Description
Site Photographs Photographs showing the existing conditions of key locations on the property, focusing on proposed location of green
infrastructure facilities.
Conceptual Design A conceptual design plan-drawing with the elements outlined in the Eligibility Criteria must be submitted.
Property Owner Letter of
Support
For projects where either the applicant or grantee is not the property owner, applications must include a letter of support from the property owner stating their intent to sign the 20-year ongoing maintenance agreement and deed restriction if the project is awarded.
9 Complete applications for the Green Infrastructure Grant Program must be sent via e-mail to [email protected]. A complete application must be received by the SFPUC Grant Administrator by the deadline identified on the grant application solicitation. Applicants will receive a confirmation e- mail with the date and time of the application. If a confirmation e-mail is not received within 5 business days, applicants should e-mail the SFPUC Grant Administrator at [email protected].
III. Important Information
Eligible and Ineligible Costs
Eligible Costs: Grant funds can be used to cover all project costs related to the construction of the proposed Green Infrastructure facility. Grant funds cannot be used to pay for non-green infrastructure project elements, such as play equipment or furnishings. No more than 30% of the grant amount may be used for non-construction activities.
Eligible Costs Ineligible Costs
• Construction elements of Green Infrastructure
BMPs (surface and subsurface):
- Soil
- Plants
- Trees
- Concrete
- Excavation
- Grading
- Underdrains
- Irrigation
• Educational signage and art relating to
stormwater
• Replacement in-kind of existing site facilities
impacted by construction, if applicable
• Regrading of surfaces draining to BMPs
• Impervious surface removal and replacement
with new permeable surfaces
• Non-construction activities (up to 30% of total
grant amount):
- Project management
- Planning
- Design
- Permitting and environmental
review
- Geotechnical investigations
- Structural investigations
- Engineering surveys
- Construction management and
administration
• On-going maintenance and operations costs
(including any contractor maintenance
period)
• Non-green infrastructure components,
including by not limited to:
- Decorative items
- Benches
- Play equipment
- Lighting
- Public Amenities
• Monitoring or research
• Land costs
10 Approved Green Stormwater Infrastructure Best Management Practices (BMPs): The stormwater BMPs selected for the project must be located and sized appropriately to capture runoff from the impervious areas on the site. Approved Green Stormwater Infrastructure BMPs include:
• Bioretention/ Rain Garden: Stormwater facilities that rely on vegetation and specially engineered soils to capture, infiltrate, transpire, and remove pollutants from runoff. • Permeable Pavement: Any porous load-bearing surface that temporarily stores rainwater prior to infiltration or drainage to a controlled outlet. • Infiltration Trench/Gallery: An unvegetated, rock-filled trench that receives surface stormwater runoff and allows it to infiltrate.
• Vegetated Roof: Roofs that are entirely or mostly covered with vegetation and soil. • Rainwater Harvesting: Cisterns that collect roof runoff and provide water for indoor or outdoor use.
• Impervious Removal and Replacement with Landscaping: Landscaped areas that absorb rainfall and produce less runoff than impervious area.
Any alternative BMPs will be subject to review by the SFPUC and approved on a case by case basis.
Grant Disbursement
Grant funds will be provided to the Grantee in four (4) disbursements:
• Planning and Design: Upon SFPUC’s receipt of all required documentation set forth in the chart below, the SFPUC will disburse up to 30% of total project costs solely for planning and design (pre-construction) activities.
• Construction funding will be disbursed in three payments, subject to the documentation requirements set forth below:
o First construction payment will be 50% of the approved construction bid from the contractor. The payment will be processed no earlier than 90 days before the construction start date.
o Second construction payment will be 40% of the approved construction bid from the contractor. SFPUC will not process this payment until Grantee has submitted to SFPUC paid invoices showing that Grantee has spent 80% of the first payment amount.
o Third construction payment will be 10% of the approved construction bid from the contractor and will be retained until the Grantee has submitted all paid invoices for construction expenditures, received SFPUC Project Completion Notification after construction has been successfully completed and inspected by the SFPUC, and completed the Final Report, which includes construction as-builts, final stormwater performance calculations, a program survey, and a final maintenance checklist.
Requirements for each payment are documented as follows:
Project Phase Payment
Number
Required Documentation
11 Planning and
Design #1
1. Signed Grant Agreement(s)
2. City and County of San Francisco Bidder Number
3. Proof of Grantee or Designer Insurance
4. Completed First Source Hiring Worksheet
5. Completed Request for Funds (Appendix D)
Construction
#2
1. Completed Request for Funds (Appendix D), including
copies of paid invoices for planning and design
expenditures
2. SFPUC Approval Letter of 100% Design
3. Contractor Bid for Construction
4. Construction Schedule
5. Local Business Enterprise Contractor Outreach (if
applicable)
6. Proof of Contractor Insurance and Department of
Industrial Relations registration
7. Two signed and notarized copies of Declaration of Deed Restrictions (by Property Owner)
8. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Determination or Exemption
9. Approved permits for construction and Building Permit Application number
#3
1. Completed Request for Funds (Appendix D), including
copies of paid invoices showing payment of 80% of
previously disbursed construction funds
#4
1. Completed Request for Funds (Appendix D), including
copies of paid invoices for all construction expenditures
2. SFPUC Project Completion Notification
3. Completed Final Report
In order to receive any of the four (4) grant disbursements, the Grantee must submit the following to the SFPUC:
• A completed W-9 IRS tax form from the designated payee. • Insurance documentation described in the Grant Agreement. • A City and County of San Francisco Bidder and Supplier Number. For more information on doing business with the City, please see the San Francisco Office of Contract Administration at www.sfgsa.org.
This Grant Program includes a parallel procedure for funding other City Departments to install Green Infrastructure. City Departments may request SFPUC to disburse funds via an interdepartmental transfer. If the request is granted, SFPUC will execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the applying City Department, and disburse the funds in (3) payments:
• Planning and Design: Upon SFPUC’s receipt of all required documentation set forth in the chart below, the SFPUC will disburse up to 30% of total project costs solely for planning and design (pre-construction) activities. If planning and design funds remain after Notice to Proceed, remaining funds may be used towards construction. • Construction funding will be disbursed in two (2) payments, subject to the documentation requirements set forth below:
12 o First construction payment will be up to 90% of the total available construction funding, and will not exceed the amount of the approved construction bid from the contractor. The payment will be transferred to the City Department within three weeks of submission of required documentation to SFPUC. o Final construction payment will be the remaining balance of the construction costs, including any change orders, up to the maximum available grant funds. The final payment will be retained until the City Department has submitted a final schedule of values for all construction expenditures, received SFPUC Project Completion Notification after construction has been successfully completed and inspected by the SFPUC, and completed the Final Report, which includes construction as-builts, final stormwater performance calculations, a program survey, and a final maintenance checklist.
Requirements for each payment to City Departments are documented as follows:
Project Phase Payment
Number
Required Documentation
Planning and
Design #1 1. Signed MOU(s)
2. Completed Request for Funds (Appendix D)
Construction
#2
1. Completed Request for Funds (Appendix D), including
copies of paid invoices for planning and design
expenditures
2. SFPUC Approval Letter of 100% Design
3. Contractor Bid for Construction
4. Construction Schedule
5. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Determination or Exemption
#3
1. Completed Request for Funds (Appendix D), including
copies of paid invoices for all construction expenditures
2. SFPUC Project Completion Notification
3. Completed Final Report
Taxes and Insurance
A grant counts as income and therefore may be taxable. It is the responsibility of the Grantee to determine whether a tax liability exists. The designated Grantee will receive a 1099-Misc tax form from the City the February after award of the grant. By issuing a 1099-Misc, the City is fulfilling its legal obligation for tax reporting. In order to issue a 1099-Misc, SFPUC will request relevant tax information from a designated Grantee through a W-9 IRS tax form, which must be completed and returned before a grant disbursement will be made.
The City requires evidence of insurance for all funded activities. Prior to beginning work on an activity, the Grantee or their identified subcontractor must produce a Certificate of General Liability as well as proof of Worker’s Compensation Insurance. The Grantee’s insurance policy shall name the City and County of San Francisco, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, its board members
13 and commissions, and all authorized agents and representatives, and members, directors, officers, trustees, agents and employees as additional insureds.
The Green Infrastructure Grant Agreement contains additional requirements related to taxes, insurance, and other matters.
Permits and Environmental Review
All projects must comply with applicable local, state, and federal permit requirements. Funds for construction will not be issued until the project has undergone environmental review in compliance with CEQA and San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 31.
IV. Application Evaluation and Award
Application Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated on the eligibility criteria and documentation requirements identified under Section I Eligibility Criteria. The SFPUC will determine whether the application meets all minimum eligibility requirements. Applications that do not meet the eligibility requirements will not be evaluated further and will not receive grant funding. Applications that meet the eligibility requirements will be evaluated and ranked based on the following evaluation criteria:
• Stormwater Management: Applications will be evaluated based on the size of the project’s Drainage Management Area (DMA) and the total annual volume of stormwater captured by the project.
• Co-Benefits: Applications will be evaluated based on the number and variety of proposed community and environmental benefits, and how well the application narrative articulates the intended co-benefit outcomes and proposed process for delivering the co-benefit outcomes.
• Proposed Concept Design and Budget: Applications will be evaluated based on the whether the application narrative, proposed budget, and concept design demonstrate a complete, accurate, and feasible stormwater management concept using approved green infrastructure BMP types.
• Project Implementation Plan: Applications will be evaluated based on the quality of the proposed project implementation plan, including the quality of the proposed Communications Plan, feasibility of the proposed schedule, completeness of the maintenance plan, and overall project readiness.
Each application solicitation will include a clear statement of the process for submitting applications and for evaluating applications, including the specific evaluation and scoring criteria to be used by the SFPUC to rank applications.
SFPUC may provide partial award of requested grant funds based on review of the project’s proposed concept, budget, and eligible cost items.
Award Letter
Upon selection of an application, the SFPUC will issue the Grantee an Award Letter confirming the amount of grant funds reserved for the project. An Award Letter is provisional and subject to execution of the required Green Infrastructure Grant Agreements and the Grantee’s submission to the SFPUC of the documentation required for funding disbursements.
The Grantee has three (3) months from the date of the Award Letter to execute the required Green Infrastructure Grant Agreements, submit a W-9 tax form, provide a valid copy of insurance
14 documentation, and become an approved Bidder and Supplier with the City and County of San Francisco.
If the Grantee does not complete the above requirements within three months, the SFPUC reserves the right to rescind the grant award. The Grantee may request an extension of the grant reservation.
The SFPUC, in its sole discretion, may grant such a request for an extension. In order to be effective, any extension of a grant reservation by the SFPUC must be made in writing.
Green Infrastructure Grant Agreement
The Green Infrastructure Grant Agreement has a term of twenty (20) years. The grant agreement will require the property owner to maintain the stormwater management function of the project for twenty years, which is considered the typical useful life of green infrastructure assets.
In addition, property owners must sign a Declaration of Deed Restrictions notifying subsequent property owners of the obligation to maintain the project and submit it to the SFPUC to be recorded.
Copies of the Green Infrastructure Grant Agreement templates and the Declaration of Deed Restrictions can be found at www.sfpuc.org/gigrants. These documents are subject to change, and the grantees and property owners must sign the forms of these agreements as they exist at the time of execution to participate in the program.
V. Implementation
Design Submittals
Grantees are required to schedule a pre-design meeting with SFPUC prior to detailed design. The property owner, grant manager, and community stakeholders must be present at the pre-design meeting. Grantees will be expected to present how the results of initial community engagement activities, geotechnical investigation, and engineering survey have further informed or updated the project concept design.
Grantees are required to submit documentation of successful completion of design milestones for review by the SFPUC via e-mail. Designs must be submitted at 35/65/95% completion (equivalent to 100% Design Development, 50% Construction Documents, 90% Construction Documents for architectural drawings) for review to ensure project performance. Design Submittal Checklists can be downloaded from the program website.
Final design documents (100% Construction Documents) must be submitted to the Grant Program Administrator via e-mail. The Grant Program Administrator will then issue final approval of the design to the Grantee. Once the Grant Program Administrator has issued final approval of the design, the Grantee may select a contractor.
Contractor/Bid Selection
The Grantee will be responsible for procuring a licensed contractor to complete the construction of the project. The Grantee shall ensure that all contractors and subcontractors will comply with City insurance and prevailing wage requirements.
15 Construction
During construction the SFPUC reserves the right to enter the construction site and inspect the project at any time. The Grantee must ensure that the SFPUC has access to the site upon reasonable notice. SFPUC will provide Grantee with a summary of critical construction milestones.
The Grantee will be responsible for alerting the Grant Program Administrator of critical construction milestones related to the installation of the specific stormwater management features proposed at the site.
Once construction is complete, the Grant Program Administrator will conduct a final walkthrough of the project to ensure that all stormwater management features were built to the plans and specifications. If the project is determined to be complete, the SFPUC Grant Program Administrator will issue a Project Completion Notification to the Grantee.
Criteria For Grant Amendments
A Grantee may request to have the SFPUC amend its agreement to increase its Grant Award up to the maximum per acre cost Grant Award to account for additional stormwater management performance or pay for unexpected costs that may arise during bid or construction of the project.
The SFPUC would approve or deny requests for such funding at its sole discretion, and any such requests would be subject to the availability of funding.
Criteria for Retroactive Grant Amendments
Grant agreements executed under any prior cost per acre maximum will be allowed to apply for increased grant funding to the currently approved cost per acre maximum subject to approval by the General Manager.
For additional stormwater management performance, Grantees must submit an updated stormwater management plan, performance calculator, and project budget documenting the proposed additional scope to be added to the project.
For additional construction funding, Grantees must submit evidence in writing of (1) construction bid overages and/or (2) change orders related to green infrastructure construction. Criteria for each amendment request is below:
• Co
nstruction Bid Overages
o Grantee must show good faith effort to collect competitive bids, with a minimum of 3 bids, with the lowest bid available above the maximum cost per acre at the time of grant application.
• C hange Orders for eligible costs related to green infrastructure during construction o Amendments may be processed for green infrastructure-related change orders that arise during construction due to compensable, unforeseen site conditions. o Examples of compensable change orders meeting this criteria include: encountering unknown utilities during construction, encountering damaged or inaccurately placed existing utilities during construction, encountering unknown hazardous material, encountering unforeseen soil conditions that require additional drainage infrastructure, encountering unknown subsurface conditions such as old foundations and fill material.
o E
xamples of non -compensable change orders that are not be covered include, without limitation: changes to materials from bid documents due to owner preference, changes to design that are not the result of compensable unforeseen
16 conditions, change orders for any ineligible cost items as outlined in the program guidelines.
o The changed work must specifically involve the green infrastructure and be encompassed within the green infrastructure project limits. o The changed work must also be compensable under the terms of the Grantee’s construction contract with the Contractor.
o Grantee must provide the City with written notice of the unforeseen site condition and allow the City a reasonable opportunity to inspect it at least 14 calendar days before commencing the changed work or otherwise disturbing the condition.
Final Report
Before receiving the final grant disbursement, Grantees will be required to submit a Final Report to the SFPUC documenting all final project information. The final report must include construction as- builts, stormwater performance calculations, final construction costs, and a final maintenance checklist. The Final Report is due within 30 days of the issued Project Completion Notification. The Final Report template can be found on the program website.
VI. Post-Construction
Maintenance
The Property Owner will be responsible for all operations and maintenance of the project for the entirety of the 20-year grant term. The Property Owner will be responsible for submitting annual maintenance reports to the SFPUC for the entire duration of the project.
Inspection
The SFPUC has the right to inspect the project at any time throughout the term of the Green Infrastructure Grant Agreement and the 20-year maintenance obligation. If the stormwater management function of the project is found to be impaired, the SFPUC will issue a notice to perform in writing to the Grantee to complete all required maintenance activities.
Removal of Declaration of Deed Restrictions (Year 20)
Upon satisfaction of the obligation to operate and maintain the Project for twenty (20) years after the Project Completion Date, as defined in the Grant Agreement, the SFPUC will, upon request, record a release of the Declaration of Deed Restrictions in the official records of the City and County of San Francisco’s office of the Assessor-Recorder.