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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07292014 - C.131RECOMMENDATION(S): AUTHORIZE the Chief Engineer to conduct polling for the Flood Control and Water Conservation District. FISCAL IMPACT: The cost to conduct polling countywide for the Flood Control District is estimated to be no more than $40,000, which will be funded with Flood Control District revenue. (100% Flood Control District). BACKGROUND: The Flood Control District recommends polling of the communities it serves in order to better implement the plans and policies adopted by the Board of Supervisors and provide optimal service to the residents of Contra Costa County. The Flood Control District desires to provide the most effective and meaningful services to the public but needs to better understand the public’s expectations and general understanding of Flood Control District services. In March 2009, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Flood Control District’s 50 Year Plan. This policy document is a concept level approach to replace the Flood Control District’s infrastructure with natural creek systems. This APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 07/29/2014 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Mike Carlson 925-313-2321 I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown. ATTESTED: July 29, 2014 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: Mike Carlson, Mitch Avalon, Steve Kowalewski C.131 To:Board of Supervisors From:Julia R. Bueren, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer Date:July 29, 2014 Contra Costa County Subject:AUTHORIZE the Chief Engineer to conduct polling for the Flood Control and Water Conservation District BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) approach relies heavily on community based planning processes with the cities to determine the best project with the greatest local support and allow the redesign of their community around a reengineered creek channel. The focus is on processes with maximum inclusivity and transparency. In November 2013, the Flood Control District provided the Board of Supervisors with the first status report on Flood Control District infrastructure. The report identified several key findings, a major one being that 40% of the District's infrastructure will be 50 years old by the end of this decade. The Flood Control District’s infrastructure system of 79 miles of flood protection channels and 29 detention basins represent $1 billion in asset value that protects $25 billion in assessed property value throughout the County. Over the next several years the District will be conducting an assessment of our flood protection system and begin prioritizing the replacement of system components as they begin to age and need replacing. Polling provides an opportunity for the District to obtain beneficial information so that project planning processes are more meaningful and better reflect the desires and expectations of the public. The Flood Control District has recently embarked on several new initiatives to gain a better understanding of the interests and needs of the general public with respect to flood protection services. For example, the Flood Control District has increased participation in and funding for local creek groups and has conducted volunteer plantings in the Clayton Valley Drain and Sand Creek Detention Basin. The feed-back from these initiatives has been instructive, however, the District needs a more comprehensive and countywide approach to understanding the public’s expectations and general understanding of its services by reaching out to a scientific, random sample of local residents who may not otherwise communicate with the District. The information gained from polling the public would provide the following benefits to the Flood Control District: - Provide a better understanding of the interests and expectations of the public. - Allow the District to better plan for its infrastructure replacement projects. - Provide better and more targeted customer service. - Allow benchmarking of progress towards improving services. - Ability to interact with the public and communities in a more meaningful way. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: The Flood Control District would not be authorized to conduct countywide polling to gauge the public's understanding and expectation of District services in an effort to plan for the future. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: Not applicable.