City of San Antonio - File #: 21-3985

• File #: 21-3985
• Type: Miscellaneous Item
• In control: City Council A Session
• On agenda: 6/17/2021
• Posting Language: Ordinance approving a Funding Agreement for a water quality demonstration project under the Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Program with University of Texas at San Antonio in an amount not to exceed $619,656.00 for a three year term. Funding for this project is available from the 2015 Sales Tax Venue Fund included in the adopted FY 2021 – 2026 Capital Improvement Program. [David W. McCary, CPM, Assistant City Manager; Homer Garcia III, Director, Parks and Recreation]

DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation


DEPARTMENT HEAD: Homer Garcia III


COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide


SUBJECT:

Edwards Aquifer Protection Program - Demonstration Project


SUMMARY:

This ordinance authorizes a Funding Agreement for a water quality demonstration project under the Proposition 1 Edwards Aquifer Protection Program with University of Texas at San Antonio in an amount not to exceed $619,656.00 for a three (3) year term. Funding for this project is available from the 2015 Sales Tax Venue Fund included in the adopted FY 2021 - 2026 Capital Improvement Program.

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 program includes $10 million dedicated for aquifer water quality projects within urbanized areas of Bexar County over the Recharge and Contributing Zones of the Edwards Aquifer. These projects have come to be known as "demonstration projects" which the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) serves as project manager. SARA created a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), comprised of key industry experts, City staff, and representatives from both the development and conservation communities, for the purpose of evaluating and scoring project submittals. 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. To date, ten (10) projects have been approved by City Council and funded. A solicitation ran from September through December 2020 and yielded six (6) demonstration project submissions. One proj...