Title
Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the acceptance of the following donations with gratitude: a donation in the amount of $5,000 from BF Goodrich, a donation of winches from Warn Winch valued at $4,300, and a HAM Radio from Rugged Radio valued at $423, for the purpose of customizing a truck capable of pumping, hauling, and disposing of human waste on the Rubicon Trail; and
2) Authorize the Parks Manager of the Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division, or successor, to accept future donations for the purpose of building the pumper truck for the Rubicon Trail.
FUNDING: Donation.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Rubicon Trail is located in the watershed of the Upper American River Project (UARP) area. El Dorado County has continually worked to address environmental issues on the trail. On April 23, 2009, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) issued a Cleanup and Abatement Order on the Rubicon Trail. This order had several issues that needed to be addressed: sanitation, sediment, education, maintenance and overall responsibility.
The County, in conjunction with the Forest Service, installed a vault restroom at Ellis Creek. Behind that unit the County also installed a 2,000 gallon septic tank to hold waste from future units placed along the trail. The Rubicon Trail Foundation (RTF) built a Unimog Pumper truck to service units placed along the trail. With the help of volunteers, ten construction-style restrooms with a wooden structure around them have been installed along the trail. Currently, the restrooms on the Rubicon Trail are being serviced under contract with the RTF. With this sanitation plan and the other issues identified in the Cleanup and Abatement Order, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board lifted the order in 2014.
The Parks Division is currently working with a vendor, WFO, to build a custom built septic pumper trailer to secure a backup plan for septic maintenance on the Rubicon Trail. However, the County currently does not have the equipment to provide regular, as-needed service to the restrooms. The trailer is designed to be a back-up vehicle in case of a breakdown but will not be capable of handling all of the regular maintenance and service to the restrooms on the trail.
Recently, the County was approached by several generous members of the community who have indicated they would like to donate funds to the County specifically for the purpose of building a custom pumper truck to maintain and provide more frequent service of the restrooms on the Rubicon Trail. Parks recently acquired a County surplus vehicle from another department to be used as the base for the pumper truck. The donation from BF Goodrich, in the amount of $5,000 dollars will be utilized for the customization. In addition, Warn Winch donated winches for the truck valued at $4,300 and Rugged Radios donated a radio valued at $423. Government code section 25355 states that “The board may accept or reject any gift, bequest, or devise made to or in favor of the county, or to or in favor of the board in trust for any public purpose. The board may delegate to any county officer or employee the power to accept any gift, bequest, or devise made to or in favor of the county. The officer or employee shall file with the board each quarter a report that describes the source and value of each gift valued in excess of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or any other amount as determined by the board. The board may hold and dispose of the property and the income and increase thereof for those lawful uses and purposes as are prescribed in the terms of the gift, bequest, or devise. In accounting for or inventorying gifts, bequests, or devises, the officer or employee shall follow the appropriate procedures contained in the State Controller’s manual entitled “Accounting Standards and Procedures for Counties.” The Parks Division anticipates many other donations being received for this purpose and asks the Board to authorize Vickie Sanders, Parks Manager, of the Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division, or successor, to accept any future donations for the purpose of building the pumper truck for the Rubicon Trail in accordance with Government Code section 25355.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve this item.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Auditor-Controller Office
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact as this is donation based. Any County expenses related to the donations, or plan to service the restrooms, will come back to the Board for consideration and approval.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Vickie Sanders, Parks Manager
Creighton Avila, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer