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 used to assess project submissions. An eligible project includes those projects that address and improve water quality in developed areas that do not meet current Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) standards. Funding for projects will cover only the cost of implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) for storm water analysis that exceeds minimum TCEQ permit requirements. Projects must accommodate collection of pre- and post-construction storm water monitoring (SWM) data. Projects may also be research based and should assess major threats to groundwater quality; develop specific BMP long-term performance and life cycle costs; forecast regional impacts of urban development on groundwater quality; and/or evaluate the effectiveness of BMP innovations in preventing pollution of groundwater. SARA’s initial solicitation ran from May through June 2016 and yielded 12 demonstration project submissions. Projects were considered under two categories: New Construction/Retrofit (UTSA) and Research/Data (USGS). Two projects were selected and endorsed for recommendation to City Council by the Conservation Advisory Board on October 26, 2016.
The University of Texas at San Antonio’s (UTSA) demonstration project was selected for the New Construction/Retrofit category. It consists of a low-impact development (LID) test bed implementation plan to monitor the pre- and post-LID BMP’s for storm water runoff on the UTSA main campus. This project will report out on the effectiveness of existing BMPs as well as develop a water sustainability and LID module to be used as an education resource. UTSA faculty and students will also provide tours of the LID projects to low-income K-12 students to help increase awareness of LID.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) demonstration project was selected for the Research/Data category. It will assess and characterize the interaction between storm water runoff to groundwater quality through the use of two surfaces and groundwater monitoring systems. USGS will report out on its scientific investigations and produce a public fact sheet.
ISSUE:
This ordinance authorizes the execution of two funding agreements in amounts not to exceed $1,069,113.00 to UTSA and $432,500.00 to USGS for water quality demonstration projects for the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, a Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Venue funded Project as approved by voters in May 2015.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to authorize the execution of these agreements in lieu of considering future project submissions through SARA’s open solicitation process which allows projects to be submitted year round and reviewed on a quarterly basis. However, this would delay implementation of the initial phase of projects and may result in increased costs for similar projects.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a total fiscal impact of $1,501,613.00 to be used for the implementation of the two aquifer protection projects described herein. Funds for these projects have been appropriated through Proposition 1 of the Edwards Aquifer Protection Sales Tax fund included in the FY 2017-2022 Adopted Annual Capital Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of these two water quality demonstration projects under the Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Venue Project.