Agenda Item #13.5
For Council Meeting of: July 28, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: DAN HENNESSEY, DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: APPROPRIATION OF EXPEDITED DRINKING WATER GRANT FUNDING FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR THE ROBIN WAY WATER SYSTEM CONSOLIDATION PROJECT AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
The Board of Public Utilities recommends that Council, by resolution, approve an appropriation of Expedited Drinking Water Grant funding in an amount of $4,442,100 from the State Water Resources Control Board for the Robin Way Water System Consolidation Project. This item has no impact on current fiscal year budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Funding Agreement No. D2502054 (“Agreement”) between the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) and the City of Santa Rosa (“City”) provides funding for the Robin Way Water System Consolidation Project (“Project”), which will provide potable water to 5 multi-family residential parcels with a combined 20 units on Robin Way. There are 24 additional multi-family residential parcels west of Moorland Avenue, on Barbara Drive, Eddy Drive, and Bellevue Avenue, that will have the option to connect to City Water under the same Project and Agreement. The funding appropriation will allow Santa Rosa Engineering Services to carry out the Project and be reimbursed by the Water Board consistent with the terms of the Agreement.
GOAL
This item relates to Council Goal #2 - Invest in the Development and Maintenance of the City's Infrastructure.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
The Water Board monitors the water quality of private water systems throughout the State of California, including those adjacent to Santa Rosa Water’s service area. Some of those private water systems have existing groundwater sources that exceed the State maximum contaminant levels for nitrates, arsenic, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The Robin Way Water System (Water System) serves five parcels with a combined 20 units with domestic water. The Water System has reported water quality samples exceeding the maximum contaminant level for nitrates by 50 percent, and a compliance order has been issued mandating them to consolidate with the City of Santa Rosa’s water distribution system. The Water Board is also allowing an additional 24 multi-family residential parcels with a combined 98 units to connect to City Water through the same Project and Agreement. Attachment 1 shows the project location.
Since the consolidation is required by the Water Board, planning and construction costs to connect to City Water will be reimbursed by the Water Board through the Expedited Drinking Water Grant Program (EDWG). The Agreement through EDWG has been fully executed between the City and Water Board and funds need to be appropriated to carry out the Project.
The scope of the project also includes improvements to the sewer collection system on Robin Way, Eddy Drive, and Barbara Drive. This part of the sewer collection system is within the boundaries of the South Park County Sanitation District (SPCSD). The costs associated with the replacement of the sewer asset, including cost-sharing for trenching, paving, and ADA improvements, are being reimbursed to the City by the District under a separate agreement.
ANALYSIS
The Agreement (Attachment 4) was executed on April 28, 2026. The City will be reimbursed for costs related to water distribution system improvements to provide potable water for up to 29 parcels, with a combined 118 units, that are not currently connected to City Water.
Board of Public Utilities (BPU) recommends that the Council approve the Resolution authorizing the funding appropriation for the Agreement, under which the Water Board will reimburse all water distribution system improvement costs for the Project through the EDWG program.
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no fiscal impacts to Santa Rosa Water or the General Fund. Costs for the water distribution system improvements Project will be reimbursed from the Water Board via the funding agreement in the amount of $4,442,100. Additional project costs for sewer collection system improvements on Robin Way, Eddy Drive, and Barbara Drive will be reimbursed to the City by SPCSD through a Reimbursement Agreement (Attachment 5) in the amount of $1,619,000.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the proposed funding agreement is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed action may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
On October 8, 2024, the City Council, by Ordinance No. ORD-2024-011 (Attachment 2), approved pre-zoning the properties situated on Barbara Drive, Robin Way, Eddy Drive, Moorland Avenue, and Bellevue Avenue to R-1-6 (single-family residential) and R-2 (multi-family residential) zoning districts, consistent with the low- and medium-density residential general plan land use designations.
On August 7, 2025, BPU, by Resolution RES 2025-009 (Attachment 3), approved the funding agreement and authorized the Director of Santa Rosa Water to provide all assurance, certifications, and commitments in connection with the funding agreement, to sign and approve any agreements, amendments, invoices, and requests for reimbursement.
On June 18, 2026, BPU, by Motion, recommended the funding appropriation for the EDWG for the Robin Way Water System Consolidation Project.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Project Location Map
Attachment 2 – ORD-2024-011, October 8, 2024
Attachment 3 – RES-2025-009, August 7, 2025
Attachment 4 – Funding Agreement No. D2502054
Attachment 5 – Reimbursement Agreement with SPCSD
Resolution
PRESENTER(S)
Danny Chen, Assistant Engineer
APPROPRIATION OF EXPEDITED DRINKING WATER GRAND FUNDING FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR THE ROBIN WAY WATER SYSTEM CONSOLIDATION PROJECT PAGE 3 OF 3