City of Sacramento
City Council Report
915 I Street, 1st Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2022-01266 7/19/2022 Consent Item 16.
Title: WaterSMART Grants: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants for Fiscal Year (FY)2022/2023 File ID: 2022-01266
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or City Manager’s designee to:
1) apply for grant funding from the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, WaterSMART:
Water and Energy Efficiency Grants; and, if awarded 2) execute the funding agreement and all documents related to the grant on behalf of the City; and 3) adjust revenue and expenditure budgets in FY 2022/23 DOU Operating Grant Program (G14230100, Fund 6205) for an amount not-to-exceed $700,000.
Contact: William O. Busath, Director, (916) 808-1434, [email protected], Chuong (Ryan) Pham, Business Services Manager, (916) 808-8995, [email protected], Dean Fujimoto, Program Manager, (916) 808-6645, [email protected], Tyler Stratton, Program Specialist, (916) 808-1284, [email protected], Department of Utilities Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description Analysis
2-Resolution
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Department of Utilities (DOU) is requesting authority to apply for the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) WaterSMART Program: Water and Energy Efficiency Grant (WEEG) for an amount not-to-exceed $700,000 in grant funding for the City’s River Friendly Landscape Rebate Program. This grant would fund projects that will result in quantifiable and sustained water savings and support broader water reliability benefits.
The WEEG Program has a match requirement of 50 percent. DOU is working in partnership with the City of Sacramento Page 1 of 3
File ID: 2022-01266 7/19/2022 Consent Item 16.
Department of Public Works’ (PW) Streetscapes section and the Department of Youth, Parks and Community Enrichment (YPCE) to request grant funds to support and implement water efficiency and rebate program projects. There are sufficient funds in the Water Conservation MYOP (I14120400) for Residential and Commercial Landscape Rebates, Public Works Water Fixture Retrofits, and the Parks Water Efficiency Programs for the 50% match.
Policy Considerations: The projects support the City’s Water Conservation Plan adopted by the City of Sacramento in 2013. Council Resolution 2022-0198, Section 11 requires City Council approval to adjust revenue and expenditure budgets for operating grants of more than $250,000.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): The Community Development Department, Environmental Planning Services Division reviewed the proposed action and determined that the activity to apply for grant funds and execute all agreements and documents of compliance related to the grant is not a project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15378(b)(4). The activity is the creation of a government funding mechanisms which do not involve any commitment to any specific project that could result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment and is not subject to CEQA. CEQA Guidelines 15060(c)(3).
Sustainability: The grant application is consistent with the City’s Climate Action Plan goal U2.1.11, to implement programs that increase water use efficiency and goal U 2.1.16, to promote River Friendly Landscaping techniques which include the use of native and climate appropriate plants; sustainable design and maintenance and underground irrigation.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: Per Governor's Executive Order B-40-17, the City will be prohibited from irrigating turf on medians and parkways effective January 1, 2025. But the Executive Order allows the public entity to make changes to the medians by removing turf or planting low-water alternative plants or climate appropriate trees. If awarded, the grant funds will help the City comply with the Governor’s Order in a proactive and timely manner.
Financial Considerations: The grant award from the WEEG Program for FY2022/23 is up to $700,000. If awarded, staff recommends adjusting revenue and expense budgets in the FY2022/23 DOU Operating Grant Program (G14230100, Fund 6205) for a not-to-exceed amount of $700,000.
The WEEG Program has a match requirement of 50%. There are sufficient funds in the Water Conservation MYOP (I14120400) for Residential and Commercial Landscape Rebates, Public Works Water Fixture Retrofits, and the Parks Water Efficiency Programs to cover the match requirement.
City of Sacramento Page 2 of 3
File ID: 2022-01266 7/19/2022 Consent Item 16.
There are no General Funds allocated or planned for this project.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.
City of Sacramento Page 3 of 3
RESOLUTION NO. 2022-
Adopted by the Sacramento City Council
July 19, 2022
Grant Application for The United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants Fiscal Year (FY)2022/23
BACKGROUND
A. The United States (US) Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program provides a framework for Federal Leadership and assistance for using water efficiently, integrating water and energy policies to support the sustainable use of all- natural resources, and coordinating the water conservation activities of various Interior bureaus and offices.
B. Through WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants program (WEEG), the City can fund projects that conserve and use water more efficiently; increase the production of hydropower; mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply reliability.
C. The City’s Department of Utilities (DOU) in partnership with the City’s Public Works Department (PW) and the Department of Youth Parks and Community Enrichment (YPCE) is seeking approval to apply for an amount not-to-exceed amount up to $700,000 in grant funding to support the City’s River Friendly Landscape Rebate Project. The grant funds will follow the guidelines of the River Friendly Landscape Rebate program.
D. If awarded, the WEEG Program has a cost match requirement of 50%. There are sufficient funds in the Water Conservation MYOP (I14120400) for Residential and Commercial Landscape Rebates, Public Works Water Fixture Retrofits, and the Parks Water Efficiency Programs to cover the match requirement.
E. If awarded, staff recommends adjusting revenue and expense budgets in the FY2022/23 DOU Operating Grant Program (G14230100, Fund 6205) for a not-to- exceed amount of $700,000
BASED ON THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE BACKGROUND, THE CITY COUNCIL RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 The City Manager or the City Manager’s designee, is authorized to:
A. Apply for grant funding through the USBR WaterSMART: Water and Energy Efficiency Grants FY2022/23.
B. If awarded, sign the funding agreement, prepare the necessary data, and execute all reporting, payment requests, and documentation of compliance applicable to the grant and completion of the project.
C. If awarded, adjust the revenue and expenditure budgets for the grant award in the FY23 DOU Operating Grant Program (G14230100, Fund 6205), for an amount not-to-exceed $700,000.