Public Works Agency
www.santa-ana.org/public-works
Item # 14
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
April 16, 2024
TOPIC: Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Projects
AGENDA TITLE
Appropriation Adjustments and Capital Improvement Project Amendments for the Santa Ana Zoo Stormwater Capture and Diversion Project (Project No. 24-6604) and the New Washington Well Project (Project No. 19-6423) (Non-General Fund)
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve an appropriation adjustment to recognize $2,603,525 in Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) grant funds from the California Department of Water Resources into the Miscellaneous Revenue, State Grants- Indirect Revenue Account and appropriate the same amount into the Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Program, Improvements Other than Buildings expenditure account. (Requires five affirmative votes)
2. Approve an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program to include $2,603,525 of funding from the Department of Water Resources Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Program for the Santa Ana Zoo Stormwater Capture and Diversion Project.
3. Approve an appropriation adjustment to recognize $3,394,743 in Prop 1 IRWM Grant Funds from the California Department of Water Resources into the Miscellaneous Revenue, State Grants-Indirect Revenue Account and appropriate the same amount into the Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Program, Improvements Other than Buildings expenditure account. (Requires five affirmative votes)
4. Approve an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program to include $3,394,743 of funding from the Department of Water Resources Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Program for the New Washington Well Project.
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: No
Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Projects April 16, 2024
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DISCUSSION
In November 2014, California voters passed Proposition 1, the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014. Proposition 1 authorized $7.545 billion in general obligation bonds to fund, in part, water resource projects identified as regional priorities through local Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Plans. In April 2023, City staff was notified of funding awards for two projects from Round 2 of the Proposition 1 IRWM program (Exhibit 1).
Washington Well Project
The majority of the City of Santa Ana’s potable water comes from the Orange County Groundwater Basin (OC Basin) and is pumped through 21 existing City wells. Due to a variety of issues, including the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in routine well monitoring, several wells in the City have been taken offline. Given the limited water supplies in the region, and recent recurring drought conditions, removing wells from the City’s potable water distribution system will reduce its reliability.
Rehabilitating existing wells or constructing new wells will reduce the burden on other City water production facilities and the reliance on imported water sources.
The Water Resources Division is currently in the initial phase of drilling for the Washington Well Project, which will ultimately construct a new well that will address low-pressure deficiencies in the distribution system and will add approximately 4,000 acre-feet per year to the City’s pumping capacity. The current Proposition 1, Round 2 IRWM grant funding will provide up to $3,394,743 in grant funds for the construction of the well. The City has already received grant funding in the amount of $100,000 from the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority for the design of the project, and $750,000 from the United States Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation for construction.
The total construction cost for drilling the well is $3,432,274, with an anticipated equipping cost of $4,500,000.
The well drilling phase of construction is anticipated to have a completion date in August 2024. Equipping and commissioning of the well should be completed by winter of 2026.
Santa Ana Zoo Stormwater Capture and Diversion Project
The Santa Ana Zoo Stormwater Capture and Diversion (SAZSCAD) Project features the construction of subsurface stormwater infiltration systems at the Santa Ana Zoo. The project is designed to capture and infiltrate approximately 67 acre-feet per year (AFY) of stormwater and dry-weather runoff to help improve water quality in the Newport Bay watershed, increase local water supplies, and reduce flooding downstream. The project will also include a new urban green space, bioswales, pervious pavement, seating, drought tolerant landscaping and shade trees, and interpretive signage promoting watershed and water quality education to Zoo visitors. The Public Works Agency has collaborated with Santa Ana Zoo staff on the project and Caltrans is a project partner.
The project has received letters of support from the Regional Water Board, Orange County Water District, and a local environmental nonprofit.
Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Grant Projects April 16, 2024
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The final design phase of the project will start upon approval of the Proposition 1 IRWM grant funding and take approximately 1-year to complete. Construction is anticipated to start in fall 2025.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There is no environmental impact associated with this action. The project design consultant will assess the environmental impact of this project in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the requested appropriation adjustments will accept Proposition 1 IRWM grant funding of $5,998,268 from the California Department of Water Resources into the PWA Enterprise Capital Grants, Miscellaneous Revenue, State Grants-Indirect Revenue Account (No. 16417002-52027) and appropriate the same amount into the Proposition 1 IRWM Program, Improvements Other than Buildings (No. 16417643- 66220). With the approval of the amendments to the FY 2023-24 Capital Improvement Program, funds will be budgeted and available for expenditure in FY 2023-24 (Exhibits 2 & 3). The remaining balance not expended at the end of the fiscal year will be presented to the City Council for approval of carryovers to FY 2024-25.
The following table summarizes the funds budgeted and available for expenditure to deliver this project.
Fiscal Year
Accounting Unit -
Account No.
(Project No.)
Fund
Description
Accounting Unit,
Account No. Description Amount
Appropriation Adjustments
2023-24 16417643-66220
(24-6604)
PWA
Enterprise
Capital Grants
Prop 1 IRWM Program,
Improvements Other Than
Buildings
$2,603,525
2023-24 16417643-66220
(19-6423)
PWA
Enterprise
Capital Grants
Prop 1 IRWM Program,
Improvements Other Than
Buildings
$3,394,743
Total $5,998,268
EXHIBIT(S)
1. Prop 1 IRWM Round 2 Funding Award List
2. SAZCAD Project FY 2023-24 CIP Sheet
3. New Washington Well Project FY 2023-24 CIP Sheet
Submitted By: Nabil Saba, P.E., Executive Director – Public Works Agency Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, Acting City Manager