DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Razi Hosseini, P.E., R.P.L.S.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Interlocal Agreement with San Antonio River Authority (SARA) for Services Implementing Green Storm Water Infrastructure Measures
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the execution of an Interlocal Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) for the implementation of green storm water infrastructure measures for select 2017 Bond Program projects.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City of San Antonio (City) and San Antonio River Authority (SARA) have worked with other local governmental entities since 2004 as part of an Interlocal Agreement which formed the regional management program known as the Bexar Regional Watershed Management Program (BRWM) to deliver regional flood control, drainage, storm water and water quality projects and services to more effectively address associated public safety and resource management issues.
Over the past 10 years, the BRWM collectively, as well as each governmental entity individually, has worked to apply resources to reduce flooding risks and address threats to water quality effectively through the use of watershed master plans integrating capital projects, operations, land use, Low Impact Development (LID), and Green Infrastructure (GI) methods for maximum results and community benefits. LID and GI are cornerstone concepts of land sustainability in the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability section of the City of San Antonio’s 2020 Vision.
Recent studies by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) have shown storm water pollution is the leading cause of water quality contaminants in the nation. Currently, there are various river segments in Bexar County listed in Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act with an impairment for bacteria. These river segments are along the Salado Creek, Walzem Creek, and the upper San Antonio River. The City and SARA, through the BRWM, have worked collaboratively to address threats to storm water quality by the following:
• Identification and implementation of project-specific best management practices
• Joint development of technical manuals for LID and other GI methods
• Natural Channel Design (NCD)
• Creation of regional master plans for each watershed addressing flood mitigation, water quality, and stream degradation issues
• Establishment of water quality monitoring programs and modeling tools to target sources of contaminants
The City and SARA seek to expand the application of sustainable practices such as LID, GI and NCD along with conservation subdivision development in land use and development practices. These efforts are in response to the trends within Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits suggesting federal water quality requirements will continue to become more stringent and further improvements to water quality in Bexar County streams will be necessary.
Targeting the technical and operational resources of each entity will better equip the City to improve storm water quality while minimizing the fiscal and operational impact of future MS4 trends. Furthermore, collaboration of expertise, resources, and projects has the potential to reduce duplication in the utilization of public resources and the development of more effective and efficient tools and programs to meet the current requirements of the MS4 permit as well as prepare the City for future measures to reduce pollutants.
This Interlocal Agreement was considered by the City Council Community Health & Equity Committee on March 28, 2019 and received support from its members.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the execution of an Interlocal Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) for the implementation of green storm water infrastructure measures for select 2017 Bond Program Projects.
This agreement between the City and SARA will establish and promote cooperative and collaborative development, management and operation of storm water related programs, projects, and activities promoting the use of sustainable storm water management practices. Additionally, it will leverage current program funding, improve the management of public funding sources and ensure coordination of governmental resources and functions. The agreement will also describe roles and responsibilities between the City and SARA to ensure cooperation and coordination on implementation of programs, projects and activities and establish procedures to allocate specific funding for programs, projects and activities identified to support sustainable storm water practices.
The scope of work outlined in this agreement will focus on the following select 2017 Bond Projects:
• Broadway Street Corridor
• South Alamo Street
• District 9 Senior Center
• World Heritage Center
• Woodlawn Multi-Generational Center
• Fire Station #24
Additional projects can be added by mutual consent of the City and SARA in form of an amendment through subsequent Council action.
Approval of this ordinance will authorize the City of San Antonio to issue task orders pursuant to this agreement and establish procedures to allocate specific funding to support programs, projects and activities identified to incorporate green storm water infrastructure measures into the 2017 Capital Improvement Bond Program.
ALTERNATIVES:
As an alternative, City Council could choose not to approve the Interlocal Agreement. However, the City would lose the opportunity to leverage program funding, improve the management of public funding sources and ensure coordination of governmental resources and functions to support sustainable land use and storm water programs and practices.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the authorization of this ordinance.
Approval of this ordinance will authorize the City of San Antonio to issue task orders pursuant to this agreement and establish procedures to allocate specific funding to support programs, projects and activities identified to support green storm water infrastructure measures into the 2017 Capital Improvement Bond Program.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the execution of an Interlocal Agreement between the City of San Antonio and the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) for the implementation of green storm water infrastructure measures for select 2017 Bond Program projects.