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RESOLUTION NO. 2015-047 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA APPROVING A JOINT GRANT SUBMITTAL WITH THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION TO THE NATIONAL PARTNERS FOR PLACES GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WATER REUSE FRAMEWORK
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
Partners for Places is a national grant program that aims to improve communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability leaders and place-based foundations. As such, the San Diego Foundation asked the City of Chula Vista to collaborate on a joint proposal to the grant program. If funded, the proposal would allow Chula Vista to further explore short and long-term water reuse opportunities related to storm water, wastewater, and graywater and develop a formal "Water Reuse Framework" for future City Council consideration. Water reuse has been supported previously by City Council and was most recently accepted as one of the Climate Change Working Group's recommendations.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines, because the activity consists of an administrative action involving the submittal of a grant application which will not result in a direct or indirect adverse physical impact to the environment. Therefore, pursuant to Section 15378(b)(5) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
Staff updated the Resource Conservation Commission at their February 9th meeting on the City's collaboration with the San Diego Foundation on a "Water Reuse Framework" proposal submittal to the national Partners for Places grant program.
DISCUSSION
Partners for Places is a national grant program that aims to improve U.S. and Canadian communities by building partnerships between local government sustainability leaders and place-based foundations. Through the program, national funders invest in local projects to promote a healthy environment, a strong economy, and well-being of all residents, while creating long-term relationships between organizations that make urban areas more prosperous, livable, and vibrant. The Partners for Places program provides 50% of project funding, while the local place-based foundation matches it by covering the remaining 50%.
In January, the San Diego Foundation asked the City of Chula Vista to collaborate on a proposal in response to the Partners for Places' sixth funding round. After a meeting to discuss the City and San Diego Foundation's current sustainability initiatives, both organizations identified that a proposal focusing on improving the community's resilience to long-term drought conditions was a shared priority. In particular, the organizations identified the development of a "Water Reuse Framework" as a potential project. Due to a short grant submittal timeframe (less than 3 weeks), staff was unable to seek City Council support on the joint proposal with the San Diego Foundation prior to submittal, but is now requesting after-the-fact approval. Water reuse has been previously supported by City Council and was most recently accepted as one of the Climate Change Working Group's recommendations:
#3 Water Reuse Plan & System Installations
(a) Develop a Water Reuse Master Plan to maximize the use of storm water, recycled water (such as indoor commercial use), and onsite water reclamation;
(b) Promote graywater through a Laundry-to-Landscape installation program and by simplifying complex systems' permit review.
The proposal seeks to help the City of Chula Vista identify and assess short and long-term reuse opportunities for storm water, wastewater, and graywater. If funded, the project would conduct a cost-benefit analysis for prioritized water reuse strategies, host community meetings to engage and educate the public, and draft a formal "Water Reuse Framework" for future consideration by the City Council. In addition, funding would allow the City to develop initial water reuse ordinances and/or site-specific project designs making Chula Vista well positioned to pursue future federal and state grant funding for implementation.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations section 18705.2(a)(11), is not applicable to this decision. Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any City Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City's Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The grant proposal supports the Healthy Community goal as it seeks to improve the community's resilience to long-term drought conditions by reducing demand for imported water supplies.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
If funded, the proposed project would have no net fiscal impact to the General Fund: one-time project expenditures would be offset by one-time grant revenues. In addition, the City's $4,600 in-kind match (staff time) would be covered through existing departmental budgets.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
If funded, the proposed project would be a one-time activity, so there would be no ongoing fiscal impact associated with it.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - San Diego Foundation & City of Chula Vista Partners for Places Proposal
Staff Contact: Brendan Reed