Title
Chief Administrative Office, Parks Division, recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign the Participating Agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Eldorado National Forest for the maintenance of a restroom on the Rubicon Trail for a term beginning upon execution and ending June 15, 2025.
FUNDING: Eldorado National Forest Agreement Funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
El Dorado County and the USDA Eldorado National Forest were issued a Clean up 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. The solution the County developed with the help of our partners was to install a restroom at Ellis Creek and ten construction-style restrooms along the trail, which are serviced by El Dorado County Parks staff and equipment.
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), under a requirement of their Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), has installed two additional restrooms along the trail, the maintenance for which have become the responsibility of the Forest Service. The Forest Service does not have the capability to provide routine cleaning and toilet pumping due to the remote location and lack of adequate resources.
County Parks also has intimate knowledge of the Rubicon 4x4 Trail, and has the capability to perform the necessary maintenance on the newly-constructed facilities. The County also possess an easement for the Rubicon 4x4 Trail which grants responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the trail, including the locations for these two new facilities.
The attached Participating Agreement with USDA Eldorado National Forest would provide the County's services to the new restrooms for the period beginning upon full execution of the agreement and ending June 15, 2025. In exchange, the Forest Service will reimburse EDC for the U.S. Forest Service's share of actual expenses incurred to maintain two of the twelve toilets, not to exceed $9,200.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to approve this item, the Forest Service would need to identify another solution in order to service their restroom facilities along the trail.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
20-0243
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/a
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This revenue will offset expenses for seasonal staff that assist with the pumping duties.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain the Chair's signature and return to the Parks Division to obtain final signatures.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Infrastructure
CONTACT
Vickie Sanders, Parks Manager