City of San Antonio - File #: 17-1644

• File #: 17-1644
• Type: Miscellaneous Item
• In control: City Council A Session
• On agenda: 3/2/2017
• Posting Language: An Ordinance authorizing two funding agreements: one with the University of Texas San Antonio in an amount not to exceed $1,069,113.00, and one with the United States Geological Survey in an amount not to exceed $432,500.00, for water quality demonstration projects under the Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Program for a period of three years; and the execution of necessary documents by the Director of Parks and Recreation. [María Villagómez, Assistant City Manager; Xavier Urrutia, Director, Parks and Recreation]

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
3/2/2017	1	City Council A Session	adopted	Pass

DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation


DEPARTMENT HEAD: Xavier D. Urrutia


COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide


SUBJECT:

Edwards Aquifer Protection Program - Demonstration Projects


SUMMARY:

This ordinance authorizes two (2) funding agreements with UTSA in an amount not to exceed $1,069,113.00, and the USGS in an amount not to exceed $432,500.00, for water quality demonstration projects under the Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Program for a period of three (3) years. This ordinance also authorizes the execution of necessary documents by the Director of Parks and Recreation.


BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

In May 2015, voters renewed for the third time the Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, funded through a portion of a 1/8-cent sales tax in the amount of $100 million. Previous elections set the initiative at $90 million and included Edwards Aquifer protection efforts beyond Bexar County. The current voter-approved Proposition 1 tax includes $10 million dedicated for aquifer protection projects within urbanized areas of Bexar County's recharge and contributing zones to help improve aquifer water quality. This was designed to serve as a targeted new water quality initiative and no similar water protection effort exists across the state. These projects have come to be known as "demonstration projects" for which the City is establishing the market.

In April 2016, the City entered into an interlocal agreement (ILA) with the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) to serve as project manager for the $10 million "demonstration project" component of the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. As project manager SARA convened stakeholder meetings to assess demonstration project needs and define its scope. Through this process SARA created a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), comprised of key industry experts, City staff, and representatives from both the development and conservation communities. Once convened, the TAC created the scoring tool...