Agenda Item #13.4
For Council Meeting of: August 18, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CHRISTA SIEGENTHALER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING SERVICES, TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: APPROPRIATION OF EXPEDITED DRINKING WATER GRANT FUNDING FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR THE SANTA ROSA WATER CONSOLIDATION PROJECT AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
The Board of Public Utilities recommends that the Council, by resolution, approve an appropriation of Expedited Drinking Water Grant (EDWG) funding from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in the amount of $22,534,460 for the Santa Rosa Water Consolidation Project, Contract Number C02269. This action requests appropriation of one-time grant funding.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Funding Agreement Number D2502068 (“Agreement”) between the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) and the City of Santa Rosa (“City”) provides funding for the Santa Rosa Water Consolidation Project (“Project”), which will connect nine community water systems to the City's public water system and provide upgraded fire-protection infrastructure within each service area. 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 and Goal #4 - Foster a Safe, Healthy, and Inclusive Community by providing clean drinking water to all residents within the project area.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
The objective of this project is to connect nine community water systems to the City's public water system and to provide upgraded fire-protection infrastructure within each service area. The following nine independent public water systems provide service to small communities in and around the City of Santa Rosa (City):
Delores Lane Water System (Delores Lane)
Plaza Mobile Home and RV Park (Plaza MHP)
Western Mobile Home Park (Western MHP)
El Crystal Mobile Home Park (El Crystal MHP)
El Portal Mobile Estates (El Portal ME)
Mountain View Mobile Estates (Mountain View ME)
Wayside Gardens Mobile Home Park (Wayside Gardens MHP)
James Court Water System (James Court)
Roseland Mobile Home Park (Roseland MHP)
These nine small water systems comprise approximately 611 service connections, supplying approximately 1,377 residents with an estimated 21 million gallons of well water annually. Each water system generally consists of one or more groundwater supply wells, storage tanks, and distribution systems. Located within City limits and unincorporated Sonoma County, all systems are regulated by the SWRCB. Additionally, the mobile estates and mobile home parks fall under the jurisdiction of the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
The SWRCB has identified water quality issues across all nine water systems due to contaminants of concern, such as bacteria, inorganic chemicals, volatile organic chemicals, and synthetic organic chemicals. Some contaminants have exceeded applicable maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). While some of these water systems manage their treatment systems independently, those with multiple supply wells frequently achieve regulatory compliance by decommissioning noncompliant wells and relying on alternative potable water sources. However, this strategy ultimately compromises the reliability of some systems that rely on a single active water-supply well with no backup.
These communities also lack the technical, managerial, or financial capacity to properly operate or maintain the treatment systems necessary to mitigate the identified water quality issues.
In March 2018, SWRCB awarded Proposition 1 (Assembly Bill 1471, Rendon) planning grants to Western MHP, El Portal MHP, and Plaza MHP. Subsequently, in January 2019, El Crystal MHP, Mountain View ME, Roseland MHP, Wayside Gardens MHP, James Court, and Delores Lane began receiving Proposition 1 technical assistance through California State University, Sacramento – Office of Water Programs.
Proposition 1, administered by the SWRCB, authorized $7.545 billion in general obligation bonds to fund statewide water infrastructure projects. Funding priorities include surface and groundwater storage, ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration, and drinking water safety. To address localized water quality deficiencies under this program, the SWRCB contracted NV5 Consultants, Inc. (NV5) to provide professional engineering design services, planning, and system expertise.
The proposed project will connect all nine independent water systems to the City’s public water infrastructure. Connection points to existing water mains will be established along Santa Rosa Avenue, Dutton Avenue, and Sebastopol Road. Potable water meters will be installed to connect each multi-family residence within the Delores Lane and James Court water systems. For the remaining water systems, infrastructure improvements will consist of installing a master water meter, a backflow prevention device, and the necessary valves and distribution piping appurtenances at each location. Additionally, dedicated fire protection services will be integrated across all nine systems, incorporating new hydrants, backflow prevention devices, valves, and piping appurtenances. Upon completion of the project, the existing water supply wells and redundant distribution infrastructure will be either removed or permanently abandoned in place.
Project implementation requires coordination, review, and permitting from the City of Santa Rosa Fire Department, the Sonoma County Fire Department, Sonoma Public Infrastructure, Permit Sonoma, and the HCD.
The total estimated cost of the project is $22.5 million, which will be fully funded through the SWRCB EDWG program. The funding is allocated under Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006. Proposition 84 authorized the California Legislature to appropriate $1 billion in Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) funding to assist local agencies in securing long-term regional water resilience, including the delivery of safe drinking water and the protection of water quality and the environment.
ANALYSIS
Santa Rosa Water has secured SWRCB grant funding through the EDWG program to transition nine vulnerable communities to municipal water infrastructure. The primary objective of this project is to provide safe potable water to seven (7) mobile home parks and 27 duplex units that lack connections to the City’s public water system. These specific properties currently rely on localized groundwater sources that exhibit arsenic concentrations and other contaminants that exceed the State's MCLs. Transitioning these communities to municipal water will eliminate reliance on contaminated wells and ensure long-term compliance with state public health standards.
Agreement No. D2502068 was fully executed on May 1, 2026, pursuant to the authority granted by BPU Resolution No. 1296. The recommended action is limited to appropriating the funding so that eligible Project costs may be expended and reimbursed in accordance with the Agreement.
The 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 water distribution system improvement costs for the Project through the EDWG program. All costs for the Project will be reimbursed from the SWRCB via the funding agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
All costs for the Project will be reimbursed from the SWRCB via the funding agreement. This action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
On October 27, 2022, the City determined that the Santa Rosa Consolidation Project was categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303(d) because the Project consists primarily of water-main extensions to serve existing residences and installation of fire-water lines. A Notice of Exemption was filed with the Sonoma County Clerk on December 12, 2022, as Document No. 49-12122022-481. The recommended action appropriates funding for the same Project and does not modify the previously reviewed physical scope or add new project locations. Accordingly, the prior CEQA determination remains applicable, and no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
On June 16, 2022, the Board of Public Utilities approved a Resolution Authorizing Santa Rosa Water to Enter into a Funding Agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board and Authorizing and Designating Representatives for the Assistance Request (AR) 5705 Santa Rosa – Prop 1 Consolidation Project.
On April 2, 2026, the Board of Public Utilities approved, by motion, a sole source Project Work Order (PWO) in the amount of $859,746 with NV5 Consultants, Inc. of Sacramento, California, for professional engineering design services associated with the Santa Rosa Water Consolidation Project.
On July 16, 2026, the Board of Public Utilities approved, by motion, a recommendation for the funding appropriation for the EDWG for the Santa Rosa Water Consolidation Project.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Project Location Map
Resolution / Exhibit A (Agreement No. D2502068)
PRESENTER
Chris Balanesi, Associate Civil Engineer
APPROPRIATION OF EXPEDITED DRINKING WATER GRANT FUNDING FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD FOR THE SANTA ROSA WATER CONSOLIDATION PROJECT PAGE 3 OF 3