Title
Community Development Agency, Long Range Planning Division, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Amendment 1 to the grant funded Agreement No.12-53616 with Texas Southern University, which allows the Community Development Agency to be paid for staff time to assist with the research project titled "Evaluation of Alternative Abrasives and Snow Plowing Practices and Road Sweeping/Vacuuming as Source Control BMPs for Load Reduction of Fine Sediment Particles and Particles Associated Phosphorus in Urban Roadway Storm Water". This amendment will extend the term of the Agreement from December 31, 2013 to December 31, 2014 and make other minor modifications.
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
|
Total Grant Funding Awarded to County $39,339.00 |
|
|
|
Budget Spent - Prior FY......................... $24,222.57 |
|
Budget Remaining - Current FY.......... $15,116.43 |
|
Savings
|
|
Other
|
|
Total Grant Funding Available
$39,339.00 |
|
|
|
Change To Net County Cost
|
$0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost
There is no Net County Cost associated with this agenda item. The County was awarded $39,339.00 in grant funding from Texas Southern University (TSU); the Community Development Agency (CDA) programmed this grant funding as part of the Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program section of the Capital Improvement Program. Funds in the amount of $15,116.43 which were not expended in FY 2013/14 will be carried over into FY 2014/15.
Background
On April 9, 2013, the Board approved the original agreement with TSU to fund CDA staff time to assist with the research project titled "Evaluation of Alternative Abrasives and Snow Plowing Practices and Road Sweeping/Vacuuming as Source Control BMPs for Load Reduction of Fine Sediment Particles and Particles Associated Phosphorus in Urban Roadway Storm Water". The Agreement was developed to evaluate alternative road abrasive and snow plowing practices and road sweeping/vacuuming as source control Best Management Practices (BMPs) for load reduction of fine sediment particles and particle associated phosphorus in urban roadway storm water.
Because meteorological conditions did not permit the proper amount of sample and data collection efforts required to meet the intent of the grant, staff is recommending an extension of the Agreement to December 2014 to complete the project.
This Amendment is also necessary to:
· Change the Contract Administrator from Steve Kooyman (who no longer works for the County) to David Defanti, Assistant Director, Long Range Planning Division, Community Development Agency;
· Change the notices recipient from Janel Gifford to Kate Sampson, Assistant Director, Administration and Finance, Community Development Agency; and,
· Change all references from Department of Transportation to Community Development Agency.
Upon approval of this Amendment, the CDA will continue to coordinate and assist with monitoring and field data collection as needed in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and the County will be reimbursed by TSU for its efforts. TSU is responsible for all project deliverables and reporting with regard to the science grant associated with this project, which was funded by the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act Round 10.
Reason for Recommendation
The County is required to comply with the Lake Tahoe Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to incrementally reduce its fine sediment loads as part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit condition requirements. This research is intended to help answer critical questions with regard to the fine sediment loads and load reductions associated with simple management actions, such as changing winter abrasive type (i.e. using "cleaner" road sand) and supplier.
Preliminary research conducted by CDA staff indicates that a large pollutant load reduction benefit may be achieved by the simple and cost effective change to the cleaner road sand which has a smaller percentage of fine sediment particles. This research will help add to the existing body of knowledge on this topic and is anticipated to assist County management in making future determinations of cost effective actions for meeting water quality goals and milestones in the TMDL. The results of this research are intended to inform the County for compliance with NPDES, TMDL and pollutant load reduction strategies.
Action(s) to be taken following Board approval
1. The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on two originals of Amendment 1 to Agreement No.12-53616.
2. The Clerk of the Board will forward one fully executed Agreement to the CDA for transmittal to the consultant.
Contact:
David Defanti, Assistant Director
Community Development Agency
Concurrences:
County Counsel and Risk Management