Title Parks, a division of the Chief Administrative Office, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign Participating Agreement 26-PA-11050300-007 (County Agreement 10319) with the United States Forest Service, Eldorado National Forest, for restroom maintenance on the Rubicon Trail for a term beginning upon execution and ending on January 14, 2031; and
2) Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute any necessary amendments relating to Agreement 10319, excluding term extensions and increases to the total compensation amount, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Revenue Generating Agreement.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
El Dorado County (County) and Eldorado National Forest (ENF) were issued a Cleanup and Abatement Order in April 2009 for the Rubicon Trail. The order listed several issues, including sanitation issues, that needed to be addressed to protect water quality of the surrounding watershed. To address the sanitation issues, the County and partners developed a solution to install ten toilet facilities along the trail which are serviced by County Parks and Trails Division staff, equipment, and a pumper truck custom-built for navigating the trail to extract the waste from the toilet facilities and transport to a waste recovery facility.
In addition, Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), under a requirement of their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), installed two restroom facilities with vault toilets along the County’s portion of Rubicon Trail on ENF land in the Buck Island Lake dispersed camping area. ENF is responsible for the maintenance, however, they do not have the capability to provide routine cleaning and toilet pumping due to the remote location and lack of adequate resources.
On November 10, 2020, the Board of Supervisors approved and authorized the Chief Administrative Officer to sign a five-year Participating Agreement with the United States Forest Service, Eldorado National Forest, with a term end date of June 15, 2025 (Legistar file 20-1357), for restroom maintenance of Forest Service-owned toilet facilities on the Rubicon Trail. The Participating Agreement reimbursed the County for actual expenses incurred to maintain the two toilet facilities, with a total annual amount not to exceed $9,200.
At the time of renewal for the five-year term in 2025, the Forest Service was not able to negotiate terms for a new agreement, and instead an amendment was approved to extend the term. On June 10, 2025 (Legistar file 25-1024), the Board approved Amendment I to the agreement extending the term for one additional trail season to January 3, 2026, with revisions to the Scope of Work to clarify duties, sick leave requirements, and contacts.
Negotiations for a new five-year agreement resumed in late 2025. The new five-year Participating Agreement will require the County to provide services, including staff, equipment, and a pumper truck to service ENF’s two restroom facilities for the period beginning upon full execution of the agreement and ending on January 14, 2031. In exchange, ENF will reimburse the County $248 per toilet per service to cover ENF’s share of expenses incurred to maintain two of the twelve toilet facilities, with ENF’s cash contribution not to exceed $10,912 annually.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to approve this item, the Eldorado National Forest Service would need to identify another solution in order to service their two toilet facilities along the Rubicon Trail.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
June 10, 2025 - Legistar file 25-1024 - Rubicon Trail Restroom Facility Servicing Agreement Amendment I
November 10, 2020 - Legistar file 20-1357 - Rubicon Trail Restroom Facility Servicing 5-Year Agreement
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Central Fiscal
County Counsel
United States Forest Service, Eldorado National Forest
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This revenue will offset up to $10,912 of the Division’s annual expenses for staff costs, materials and supplies, and equipment use for Rubicon Trail toilet maintenance.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
CONTACT
Zachary Perras, Parks Manager