FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost is estimated to be $160,000, and shall be funded by stormwater utility fee assessments collected by the Cities/Towns and County, proportional to their respective populations.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa Clean Water Program (the “CCCWP”) consists of Contra Costa County, its 19 incorporated cities/towns, and the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Permittees”). The CCCWP was established in 1991 through a Program Agreement in response to the 1987 amendments to the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), which established a framework for regulating municipal stormwater discharges under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit Program. The United States Environmental Protection Agency published final rules implementing the 1987 CWA amendments in November 1990. The rules mandate that Permittees obtain and implement stormwater permits designed to reduce and eliminate the discharge of pollutants into and from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems they own and operate. Through the CCCWP, Permittees conduct many of the mandated activities collectively (referred to as “Group Activities”), such as water quality monitoring, special studies, and public education. The roles and responsibilities of the CCCWP and Permittees are outlined in the Program Agreement, which was last updated and adopted by all Permittees in June 2010.
A 2003 permit amendment required the CCCWP to prepare a Hydrograph Modification (HM) Management Plan (“Plan”), which the CCCWP developed by 2005. After working with San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (“Water Board”) staff, the Water Board approved the Plan in mid-2006. The Plan included requirements for monitoring of some bioretention facilities, and for calibration and validation of the HM model used to calculate the biorentention sizing factors. The model calibration and validation study was conducted during fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13. The Water Board is now requiring additional HM work to meet the new requirements in the reissued Municipal Regional Permit. These requirements include a technical report due with the 2017 Annual Report.
CCCWP has worked with Tony Dubin on development of the Plan, the HM model calibration and validation study, as well as negotiation efforts with Water Board staff. His work has been excellent thus far. Due to his qualifications and experience, CCCWP wishes to obtain his services for this ongoing work.
CCCWP staff, on behalf of the Permittees, respectfully requests approval of this Contract with Dubin Environmental Consulting through June 30, 2019.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Contract with Dubin Environmental Consulting is not approved, the CCCWP would not be able to fulfill the permit mandates within the budget and permit deadlines, and municipalities could be found in non-compliance with the NPDES permits issued by the Water Board. Fines totaling $10,000 per day and $10 per gallon of stormwater discharge could potentially be imposed.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: