CITY OF SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCIL

Transcription

1 CITY OF SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCIL Agenda Item #11.2 For Council Meeting of: March 19, 2013 TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT FOR FUNDING SPRING LAKE PARK ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOVERY CENTER OF SONOMA COUNTY BETWEEN THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AND SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS TO SUPPORT STORM WATER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CITYS NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM STORM WATER PERMIT STAFF PRESENTER: RITA MILLER, SUPERVISING ENGINEER AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION ISSUE(S) Should the City adopt a resolution to authorize approval of the Agreement for Funding the Spring Lake Park Environmental Discovery Center (EDC) of Sonoma County between the City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Regional Parks to support storm water education requirements within the City s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Permit? BACKGROUND 1. Based on nationwide studies showing storm water runoff as a major source of pollution to the nation s waterways, the Clean Water Act was amended in 1987 to regulate storm water runoff. This resulted in storm water discharges being regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under its NPDES program. 2. US EPA regulations require municipal separate storm drain systems which serve an area with a population greater than 100,000 to obtain an NPDES Permit for storm water discharges. The population in the Santa Rosa area officially exceeded 100,000 in the 1990 census. The City of Santa Rosa has had a NPDES Storm Water Permit since The City s NPDES Storm Water Permit requires storm water education and outreach to schools and school aged children.

2 APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT FOR FUNDING SPRING LAKE PARK ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOVERY CENTER OF SONOMA COUNTY BETWEEN THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AND SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS TO SUPPORT STORM WATER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CITY S NATIONAL POLLUTANTS DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM STORM WATER PERMIT Page 2 ANALYSIS 1. Sonoma County Regional Parks opened an environmental learning center at Spring Lake Park in April Now the EDC, this center provides environmental education opportunities to school aged children and is also open to the general public. Since 2002, the City has partially funded the EDC each year to help cover program operation costs and support the continued development and implementation of their environmental education programs. 2. The EDC provides significant benefit to the City and the community by providing public education programs related to the natural environment including storm water pollution prevention. These programs help to fulfill the City s NPDES Storm Water Permit outreach requirements. 3. In a typical year, from September through January the EDC hosts Habitat & Home field trips, which introduce 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd graders to ecosystem diversity and the importance of healthy habitats. From February through May, the EDC hosts Down the Drain field trips for 1 st through 6 th graders. The Down the Drain exhibit is specifically geared toward storm water education as it demonstrates a raindrop s journey from cloud to creek and teaches about the water cycle, the local watershed and the need to prevent storm water pollution. Both EDC programs have been very successful, reaching annual visitor totals of approximately 12,000 students, teachers and adults. 4. The City NPDES Storm Water Permit requirements pertaining to educational outreach to schools and school aged children are supported through the City of Santa Rosa Storm Water and Creeks Program support of the EDC. 5. If approved, the Agreement for Funding will allow the Storm Water and Creeks Program to maintain its annual funding contribution to Sonoma County Regional Parks for the ongoing development and operation of the EDC. The agreement will provide EDC $12,000 per year for a period of 5 years, commencing with fiscal year 2012/13 and would replace the existing agreement dated February 11, There is sufficient revenue within the City Storm Water Enterprise Fund for the Storm Water and Creeks Program storm water public education budget to continue funding the EDC and no General Fund money will be used for this purpose.

3 APPROVAL OF THE AGREEMENT FOR FUNDING SPRING LAKE PARK ENVIRONMENTAL DISCOVERY CENTER OF SONOMA COUNTY BETWEEN THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA AND SONOMA COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS TO SUPPORT STORM WATER EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CITY S NATIONAL POLLUTANTS DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM STORM WATER PERMIT Page 3 RECOMMENDATION It is recommended by the Department of Utilities that Council, by resolution, authorize approval of the Agreement for Funding Spring Lake Park Environmental Discovery Center of Sonoma County between the City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County Regional Parks to support storm water education requirements contained within the City s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Storm Water Permit. Author: Heaven Moore Attachments: Agreement for Funding Spring Lake Environmental Discovery Center of Sonoma County (dated July 1, 2012) EDC School Field Trip Programs Flyer

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12 Register Now for School Year! Sonoma County Regional Parks School Field Trip Programs choose a park and a program! Life Science programs at Spring Lake Park in Santa Rosa September 7 - December 17, :30 am - 12:30 pm, Tuesday - Friday Grades 1-3 Only Spring Lake Regional Park Santa Rosa Students will learn about ecosystem diversity, endangered species, and the importance habitat plays in a healthy community. Activities and lessons reinforce grade-specific science standards that include habitats, animal life cycles, and adaptations. February 22 - June 3, 2011 Grades 1-6 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, Tuesday - Friday Spring Lake Regional Park Santa Rosa Introduction to watersheds. Activities reinforce grade-specific science standards that include the water cycle, seasons, weathering, erosion and deposition, the Sonoma County watershed, non-point source pollution, and the effects of water pollution Register now! For information and a registration form sonomacountyparks.org Our programs are made possible with funding from these partners: Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation, Sonoma County Water Agency, City of Santa Rosa Public Works Department, Sonoma County Regional Parks Department, Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation & Open Space District

13 Earth Science in the Parks for Grades 4, 5, 6 September 7 - December 17, 2010 March 1 - June 3, 2011 Reinforces Earth Science Standards! a place-based field trip program, for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades focusing on Earth Science and conservation. Choose from six locations! Helen Putnam Regional Park in Petaluma Foothill Regional Park in Windsor Riverfront Regional Park in Windsor Crane Creek Regional Park in Rohnert Park Ragle Ranch Regional Park in Sebastopol Stillwater Cove Regional Park in Jenner Rockin and Recycling 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Tuesday-Friday The field trip will focus on the properties of the common rocks and minerals in the park and the processes that formed them. Students will also learn the importance of recycling products manufactured from minerals and rocks, like glass and aluminum, as a simple way to conserve natural resources. Weather or Not 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Tuesday-Friday Students will learn the science behind weather and weather patterns. They will learn about some of Sonoma County s many microclimates within the parks, and forecast local weather based on observation and data collection. On your school campus Science To Go! Afternoons Grades 1-6 September 7, June 3, 2011 Many programs to choose from! Our new traveling program will enliven your classroom and engage students through science activities, live marine animals, and hands-on fun without having to provide transportation. We will come to your campus and teach standards-based science lessons.

14 At Tolay Lake Regional Park, Petaluma Cannon Lane at Lakeville Highway, Petaluma NEW! September 7 - December 17, 2010 March 1 - June 3, 2011 Kindergarten 1st - 6th grades 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 9:30 am - 12:30 pm Take a field trip to the farm! This new program combines the best in science education while making the connection between protecting natural resources and growing healthy bodies. Students will learn the benefits of eating healthy foods, take a rigorous hike, tour the farm, and work in the garden. Reinforces grade-level state content standards in life science and health. ahayrides with a Ranger anative American Village afarm Animals anature Hikes aold-fashioned Games anight Creatures Barn agiant pumpkin patch! October 14, 15 & 21, 22, :00 am - 3:30 pm Thursday and Friday sonomacountyparks.org