Agenda

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TRANSPORTATION, WATER & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	02/11/2016
Subject: UPDATE on recently issued Municipal Regional Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.
Submitted For:	Julia R. Bueren
Department:	Public Works
Referral No.:	5
Referral Name:	REVIEW issues associated with the health of the San Francisco Bay and Delta, including but not limited to Delta levees, flood control, dredging, drought planning, habitat conservation, and water quality, supply, and reliability.
Presenter:	Cece Sellgren, Department of Public Works	Contact:	Cece Sellgren (925)313-2296

Information

Referral History:

The County Watershed Program last brought the issue of the new National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit to the TWI Committee on July 11, 2015. At that time, the proposed permit was in an initial draft form.

Referral Update:

Subsequent to the last TWI Committee meeting, Watershed Program staff attended numerous meetings with staff from San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) to negotiate elements of the proposed permit. The County and the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District provided written comments on the draft permit, and Watershed Program staff and elected officials provided testimony at the November 18, 2015, meeting of the Water Board. The NPDES Permit was adopted on November 19, 2015.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

The Public Works Department has initiated the development of a strategic plan for stormwater management. This plan will assess the level of effort needed to successfully comply with the new NPDES permit. It will estimate staff, consultant, and contractor resources required. Evaluation of funding options and opportunities, in order to fully comply with the permit, is an integral component of the plan. The Public Works Department recommends initiating compliance with the new permit, while exploring additional funding sources to ensure the County fully complies with the NPDES permit.

Fiscal Impact (if any):

The County Watershed Program’s activities have been historically funded by a Stormwater Utility Fee. These funds have been adequate to fund NPDES compliance, as well as other related water quality activities. Expenditures exceeded revenues for the first time in FY 14/15. This was largely due to expenditures to achieve the 40% trash reduction mandate. Expenditures are anticipated to exceed revenues again in FY 15/16. The Stormwater Management Strategic Plan will address funding needs and evaluate potential sources to close the funding gap.

Attachments
MRP-NPDES Implementation Schedule