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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02062001 - C.106 tt BOARD OF SUPERVISORS d W/ �ontra FROM: DENNIS BARRY, AICP A s Costa COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR = County DATE: February 6, 2001 SUBJECT: REPORT REQUESTING BOARD AUTHORIZATION FOR STAFF TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON DC WITH THE CALIFORNIA MARINE NAVIGATION CONFERENCE (CMANC) SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS AUTHORIZE Water Agency staff travel to Washington D.C. with the California Marine Navigation Conference (CMANC), to obtain funding for ship channel dredging and disposal projects, to explore funding opportunities and cost share options for beneficial reuse of dredged materials, and discuss a revision of Corps policy allowing the beneficial reuse of dredged material to be calculated as part of the cost/benefit of a Corps navigation project.. FISCAL IMPACT Water Agency funds are available for this purpose, having been earmarked in the FY 2000/01 Water Agency budget. Total cost of this trip is`estimated to be under $3,000. Costs associated with obtaining funds and activities related to Suisun Channel and New York Slough Channel maintenance dredging and upland disposal (beneficial reuse)will be paid through the San Francisco to Stockton Maintenance Assessment District 1999-1. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS The reasons for continued travel to Washington are threefold; to obtain funding for ship channel dredging and disposal projects (and perhaps County Flood Control creek projects), to explore funding opportunities and cost share options for beneficial reuse of dredged materials, and to discuss potential for a revision of Corps policy allowing beneficial reuse of dredged material to be calculated as part of the cost/benefit of a Corps navigation project. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: x YES SIGNATOR RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMEr46AfiON OF BOARD 6dwITTEE APPROVE OTHER r SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOA ON €ebnmry 6, 2001 APPROVED AS, RECOMMENDED xx OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS (ABSENT _ _ _ _ ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Roberta Goulart (925/335-1226) cc: Community Development (CDD) ATTESTED February 6. 2001 County Administrator Office PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF Auditor Controller THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Public Works-Flood Control AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BYA DEPUTY AArgtrip2001-3.bo.doc 0 REPORT ON CLIFORNIA MARINE NAVIGATION CONFRENCE (CMANC) FebTUa'ry 6,2001 ''"age 2 BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS (CONTINUED) Contra Costa County will request four million dollars in federal funding to cover costs for dredging and transport'of sediments from Suisun and New York Slough for upland disposal in the year 2002, and support funding already in the budget for the year 2001. Supportfor projects is critical, as projects are routinely cut from the budget when direct sponsorship advocacy is not forthcoming. Other projects for which the Board of Supervisors may elect to support funding are mentioned below. The Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee will discuss and provide to the full Board recommendations for any additional projects for which federal funding may be requested prior to staff travel to Washington. These projects are summarized below. In the year 2000, the Board requested funding for maintenance dredging of the Suisun Bay Channel and New York Slough Channels in the FY 2001 Federal Budget, and the Corps of Engineers was authorized to spend up to 3.2 million for dredging and transport of dredged materials (about $500,000 has been used for emergency dredging; the regular dredge episode will commence in July 2001). In addition, the County requested $500,000 to be allocated to the Corps to allow evaluation of a vessel turning basin at Avon, at the request of Tosco, and the Bar Pilots. The County was successful in obtaining $250,000 for this purpose. And finally, Chevron Corp. requested that the County put forward a $100,000 request of federal funds to reevaluate a downsized Southampton Shoal deepening project. We were unsuccessful in obtaining funds for this reevaluation at that time. Continued funding for the Avon Turning Basin Project and a renewed attempt to obtain funding for the downsized Southampton project are candidates for Board consideration. The Public Works Department may request Board support of federal funding for restoration of the lower Walnut Creek Channel and other creek projects, and will provide documentation for Board consideration. Should the Board support a funding request, Water Agency Staff (if necessary), can present written testimony from the Board to the appropriate congressional appropriations committee, provide legislators and agencies with information and relate the importance of the project to maximize potential for some level of funding (as a congressional add) in the FY 2002 federal budget. Finally, while in Washington D.C., staff will meet with Army Corps Headquarters staff on a number of issues, among them the need for a policy change so that benefits associated with upland disposal may be included in the cost/benefit analysis of a Corps navigation project (allowing more flexibility in the Corps determination of cost benefit in accordance with recent regulation requiring upland disposal), and preliminary content of a draft cost- sharing agreement for upland disposal projects under Section 201 of the 1996 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The County has actively supported federal cost- sharing, due to the high cost of upland disposal, which in most cases, has been paid entirely by the local sponsor. Full federal funding for other upland disposal projects will also be addressed relative to the County, in accordance with state/federal policies promulgated through the Long Term Management Strategy for Dredging, and CALFED. The California Marine Navigation Conference, as a whole, meets with dredging and disposal-related projects. In past years, the County's direct involvement with agencies and relevant parties in Washington D.C. has been beneficial, resulting in several millions of dollars in federal funds being made available for the Baldwin Ship Channel and Southampton Shoal Deepening Projects, as well as funds for maintenance of Suisun and New York Slough Channels. Contra Costa County has a voice and maintains contacts in many agencies as a result of these yearly meetings, which helps to expedite solutions to problems encountered at other times during the year. It is,imperative to attend and make a case for a project if funding is requested. In the early 1990's the County did representatives from the Office of Management and Budget, Fish and Wildlife Service, EPA, and other agencies involved in either the funding or permitting aspects of California's not attend, and a request for $250,000 for a reconnaissance study to begin the Southampton Project was struck from the federal Budget due to lack of representation. It took two years to get that appropriation back in the Budget, and get started on the project. REPORT ON CLIFORNIA MARINE NAVIGATION CONFRENCE (CMANC) FebrwaN 6,2001 *Nge 3 The California Marine Navigation Conference, comprised of the California ports and harbors, travels to Washington several times every year to make known the requests for funding for ship channel deepening and disposal projects, and related issues. In spring, the entire contingent of ports and harbors attend, to make funding requests known to all relevant parties, introduce or remind those relevant persons about our proposed projects, and to discuss mutual problems and possible solutions.