Soto Resources
Professional Funding Services
(949) 370-6079
[email protected]
November 5, 2025
Tanya Williams
City Manager
City of Rialto
150 South Palm Avenue
Rialto, CA 92376
[email protected]
S
ubject: Proposal for Grant Assistance Services for the City of Rialto D
ear Tanya:
T
hank you for the invitation to submit this proposal to provide continued grant assistance to the City of Rialto (City). It has been a pleasure working with you and the City of Rialto team to provide grant assistance services for the City’s projects over the past few years. The City is an important client of Soto Resources, and together, we have secured nearly $19 million in grant funding for the City’s projects. We are excited about this opportunity to continue our shared success. Per your request, this proposal is to provide general grant assistance services for the City , including grant funding research & tracking, application preparation and submittal, and funding agreement management and reporting. We take great pride in the level of expertise we offer, based on over 20 years of experience and the positive results that you’ve come to expect from Soto Resources.
T
he following describes the scope of work and fee for Soto Resources grant consulting services.
S
cope of Work
S
oto Resources’ general grant assistance services may include, but are not limited to the following:
T
ask 1. Meetings and Priority Project List
Participate in meetings to discuss priority projects and the funding needed. Soto Resources will continue to maintain a priority project list. The Soto Resources team will attend meetings with City staff, as appropriate, to review and discuss the status of and updates to the City’s priority projects in need of funding. Based on our discussions, Soto Resources’ efforts will focus on identifying funding for the following priority projects:
1. E
mergency Generator Project
2. City Maintenance & Facilities Dept. LIMES Project
Soto Resources
Professional Funding Services
(949) 370-6079
[email protected]
3. Rialto Habitat and Nature Center (RHNC) Project
4. RHNC Wildfire Feasibility Study Project
5. Shamrock and Meridian Septic to Sewer Conversion Project
6. Septic-to-Sewer Disadvantaged Communities Planning Project
7. Septic to Sewer Residential Conversion Program
8. Well City 3A Groundwater Treatment System Project
9. Advanced Metering Implementation (AMI) Project
10. Microgrid/Cogen Project
11. Backup generators for Cactus, Lilac, and Ayala Lift Stations
12. Aged Water Main Replacement Etiwanda from Riverside to Eucalyptus (Pavement Project)
13. Pressure Relief Valves (PRVs) Zone 2 to Zone 3
14. Service line replacements South Alice, South Palm, West Vodden and Alru St.
15. Main and service line replace; Bonnie View between Acacia and Eucalyptus
16. Cedar Reservoir 2, Overhaul, and Dome Preservation
17. 4” South Oakdale and South Marcella between East Rialto Ave and Allen St
18. Mainline Valve Replacements
19. Mainline and Service Line, Hydrant Laterals, and Mainline Replacement Below Etiwanda between Lilac and Sycamore Streets: Cornell and Victoria
20. Service Line Replacement, Hydrant Lateral for Woodcrest, Yucca, Miramonte, Arrowhead, and Althea
21. Service Line Replacement between Cedar and Larch below Etiwanda on Streets Victoria, Cornell, Rosewood, Church, and Folk
22. Service Line Replacement, Hydrant Laterals for Palm, Orange, Olive, Date Between Foothill to Train Tracks (Part 1)
Task 2. Funding Research
Soto Resources will research eligible funding opportunities (grants and loans) for the City’s priority projects. Research efforts may also include the following:
• Contact funding agencies to discuss project eligibility and to achieve updated program information.
• Review grant funding guidelines, proposal solicitation packages (state grants), or funding opportunity announcements (federal grants) to determine project eligibility, maximum funding award amount, timeframe for completing the project, cost/level of effort to prepare the grant proposal, proposal due date, and competitiveness.
• Participate in funding agency meetings and attend workshops for selected opportunities.
The federal, state, and local funding opportunities that may be researched include, but are not limited to, the following:
Soto Resources
Professional Funding Services
(949) 370-6079
[email protected]
Federal Emergency Management Act (FEMA)
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Reduction in Lead Exposure Via Drinking Water
• Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Loans Program
United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
• WaterSMART: Water and Energy Efficiency Grant Program • WaterSMART: Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects
• WaterSMART: Drought Response Program - Drought Resiliency Projects
• WaterSMART: Drought Response Program - Planning and Project Design
• WaterSMART: Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects
• WaterSMART: Environmental Water Resources Projects
• Water Conservation Field Services Program, Lower Colorado River Region
• Bay-Delta Restoration Program: CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grants
California Department of Water Resources (DWR)
• Proposition 4 Projects related to Integrated Regional Water Management to improve climate resilience on a watershed basis • Proposition 4 Groundwater Banking, Groundwater Recharge, or Instream Flow Projects that Support Conjunctive Use of Groundwater and Surface Water Supplies
• Proposition 4 Capital Investments in Brackish Desalination, Contaminant and Salt Removal, and Salinity Management Projects to Improve Water and Drought Resilience
• Proposition 4 Improve Water Data Management and Reactivate Existing Stream Gages and Deploy New Gages
• Proposition 4 Regional Conveyance Projects or Repairs to Existing Conveyances
• Proposition 4 Projects that Increase Water Conservation in Agricultural and Urban Areas
• Proposition 4 Flood Management Projects
• Proposition 4 Dam Safety and Climate Resilience Local Assistance Program
• Proposition 4 Riverine Stewardship Program
• Proposition 4 Urban Streams Restoration Program
Soto Resources
Professional Funding Services
(949) 370-6079
[email protected]
California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
• Watershed Restoration and Delta Water Quality and Ecosystem Restoration Grant Programs
• Environmental Enhancement Fund
California Department of Parks and Recreation
• Recreational Trails Program
• Land and Water Conservation Fund
California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) • Proposition 4 Public financing of clean energy transmission projects
California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA)
• Proposition 4 Projects that improve conditions on wildlife refuges and wetland habitat areas
• Proposition 4 Nature and Climate Education and Research Facilities, Nonprofit Organizations and Public Institutions, Natural History Museums, California Zoos and Aquariums, and Geologic Heritage Sites • Proposition 4 Improve Local Fire Prevention Capacity, Improve Forest Health and Resilience, and Reduce the Risk of Wildfire Spreading into Populated Areas from Wildlands
• Proposition 4 Forest health and watershed improvement projects in forests and other habitats
• Proposition 4 Urban Greening Program
• Proposition 4 Reduction of climate impacts on disadvantaged communities
and vulnerable populations and the creation, protection, and expansion of outdoor recreation opportunities
California Office of Emergency Service/Cal FIRE
• Proposition 4 Wildfire Mitigation Grant Program
• Proposition 4 Forest Health Program for long- term forest health projects.
• Proposition 4 Grants to conduct fuel reduction, structure hardening, create defensible space, reforestation, or targeted acquisitions to improve forest health and fire resilience
• Proposition 4 Urban Forests
• Proposition 4 Community Resilience Centers
California Water Commission
• Proposition 4 Water Storage Investment Program
California Wildlife Conservation Board
• Proposition 4 Stream Flow Enhancement Program
Soto Resources
Professional Funding Services
(949) 370-6079
[email protected]
• Proposition 4 Grant programs to protect and enhance fish and wildlife resources and habitat and achieve the state’s biodiversity, public access, and conservation goals
• Proposition 4 Projects that improve habitat connectivity and establish wildlife crossings and corridors
State Water Resources Control Board
• Drinking Water Grants & Loans (Clean, Safe and Reliable Drinking Water)
• Nonpoint Source Grant Program: U.S. EPA Clean Water Act Section 319
• Proposition 4 Grants and Loans that Improve Water Quality or Help to Provide Clean, Safe, and Reliable Drinking Water
• Proposition 4 Grants and Projects Related to Water Reuse and Recycling
• Proposition 4 Multiple-benefit Urban Stormwater Management • Other Proposition 4 Funded Programs
Task 3. Funding Matrix and Monthly Reporting for Priority Projects Soto Resources will maintain a funding matrix (spreadsheet) summarizing the City ’s priority projects and identifying the potential funding opportunities for each. The funding matrix will provide important funding program information, including program name and agency, funding purpose, funding amounts, key dates/deadlines. The funding matrix will be provided via email as a m onthly report on current funding opportunities for the City’s Projects. As needed, a funding alert email may be submitted to City staff when funding information is timely and needs to be distributed prior to regularly scheduled meetings.
Task 4. Grant Management and Reporting
Upon award of funding, grant management and reporting services will be provided to manage the grant/funding award. Grant management may include assisting the City with negotiation and execution of the Funding Agreement with the funding agency; understanding project implementation reporting and invoicing requirements; establishing grant close- out procedures; and setting up appropriate reporting documents for progres s reports and invoicing. City staff will be responsible for the invoicing portion of the requi red grant/funding agreement reporting. The following projects have funding awards that require ongoing grant management and reporting for the term of the agreement:
Soto Resources
Professional Funding Services
(949) 370-6079
[email protected]
Project Name
Funding
Awarded
Funding
Type Funding Program
Rialto Habitat
Nature Center
(RHNC)
$1,050,000 State
SWRCB: 2022 Community Funded
Projects
$2,149,748 State
DWR/SAWPA: IRWM
Implementation Grants
$2,000,000 Federal
EPA: 2023 Community Funded
Projects
$3,000,000 Federal
USBR: Environmental Water
Resources Projects
Advanced Metering
Infrastructure (AMI)
$2,000,000 Federal
USBR: Water and Energy Efficiency
Grant
$6,000,000 State
DWR: Urban Community Drought
Relief Grant
Well City 3A
Groundwater
Treatment System
$2,000,000 Federal USBR: Drought Resiliency Projects
$611,111 Local
SCAG: REAP 2.0 Regional Utilities
Supporting Housing
Total $18,810,859 Awarded
The following Projects have applications that have been submitted, but are awaiting results of award/no award. If awarded, they will require ongoing grant management reporting.
Project Name
Funding
Requested
Funding
Type Funding Program
Septic-to-Sewer
Pilot Project $315,000 State DWR/SAWPA: IRWM
Implementation Grants
Generator Project $8,279,555 Federal Cal OES/FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
Septic-to-Sewer
Disadvantaged
Communities
Planning Project
$625,000 State SWRCB: Clean Water State
Revolving Fund
Total $9,219,555 Pending
Task 5. Additional services (As Needed)
Soto Resources will perform other required tasks for funding related efforts on an as- needed basis, as requested by the City. Soto Resources and subcontracted staff, as assigned, will work closely with the City to communicate with funding agencies regarding City projects to identify funding opportunities and to determine whether or not to proceed with a grant or loan application (also known as Go/No- Go Process).
Soto Resources
Professional Funding Services
(949) 370-6079
[email protected]
The City will be responsible for providing project information required to complete funding related tasks. When the City decides to pursue a funding opportunity, a separate proposal or task order for completing the grant or loan application will be provided by Soto Resources to the City , upon request. This is because the level of effort for application preparation depends significantly on both the application requirements and the amount of existing project information available.
Fee Schedule
The table below shows the anticipated Soto Resources team member and bill rate required to perform the proposed services. The services will be performed on an hourly basis, for a total cost not to exceed $200,000 through June 30, 2027. Invoices will be submitted on a monthly basis.
Name Title/Position Hourly Bill Rate
Joey Soto, M.S.
Principal/Project Manager/
Senior Grant Researcher/Writer $205
Jennifer Nevius, P.E. Senior Engineer/Grant
Researcher/Writer* $185
Jane Soule, P.E. Engineer/Grant
Researcher/Writer* $175
Notes: *Subconsultant rate shown includes markup. Other direct costs such as copying, reproduction, delivery, postage, mileage (rates allowed by current IRS guidelines), are not included in the fee estimate and will be billed separately if incurred. Soto Resources reserves the right to adjust its hourly rates at the beginning of the calendar year for all ongoing contracts.
Please contact me with any questions. I look forward to working together to acquire more grant funding for the City’s Projects!
Sincerely,
Ms. Joey Soto, M.S.
Principal
Soto Resources
30767 Gateway Place #505
Rancho Mission Viejo, CA 92694
Ph. 949-370-6079
Email [email protected]