To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: APPROVE a Contract Amendment with Suzanne Bontempo d/b/a Plant Harmony, to conduct an Integrated Pest Management Store Partnership Program.
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Chief Engineer, Flood Control and Water Conservation District, or designee, to execute, on behalf of the Contra Costa Clean Water Program, a contract amendment with Suzanne Bontempo d/b/a Plant Harmony effective August 1, 2021 to increase the payment limit by $200,000, to a new payment limit of $400,000 and to extend the contract termination date from June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2026 to conduct an Integrated Pest Management Store Partnership Program necessary to comply with federal and state stormwater permit requirements issued under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit, Countywide. (100% Stormwater Utility Assessment Funds)
FISCAL IMPACT:
All costs associated with this contract will not exceed $400,000 and will be funded by stormwater utility fee assessments collected by the Cities/Towns and County, proportional to their respective populations.
BACKGROUND:
The Contra Costa Clean Water Program (the “CCCWP”) consists of Contra Costa County, its 19 incorporated cities/towns and the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (hereinafter referred to collectively as “Permittees”). The CCCWP was established in 1991 through a Program Agreement in response to the 1987 amendments to the federal Clean Water Act (the “CWA”), which established a framework for regulating municipal stormwater discharges under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“NPDES”) Permit Program. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “USEPA”) published final rules implementing the 1987 CWA amendments in November 1990. The rules mandate that Permittees obtain and implement stormwater permits designed to reduce and eliminate the discharge of pollutants into and from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (the “MS4s”) they own and operate. Through the CCCWP, Permittees conduct many of the mandated activities collectively (referred to as “Group Activities”), such as water quality monitoring, special studies, and public education. The roles and responsibilities of the CCCWP and Permittees are outlined in the Contra Costa Clean Water Program Agreement, which was last updated and adopted by all Permittees in June 2010. The current San Francisco Bay Region Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES Permit No. CAS612008, Order R2-2015-0049 (“Permit”), was issued in November of 2015.
The CCCWP Permittees request to retain Suzanne Bontempo d/b/a Plant Harmony, to recruit, establish and maintain partnerships with sellers of IPM products in Contra Costa County to meet NPDES requirements for education and outreach. Suzanne Bontempo d/b/a Plant Harmony, will assist the program by maintaining relationships with sellers to encourage the use of IPM products and allow the sale of such products to be promoted using outreach and education initiatives (the “OWOW Program”). The OWOW program is designed to educate the public about organic gardening and less toxic pest control products.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without the approval of the Board of Supervisors, the CCCWP, 19 Cities and Towns, Contra Costa County, and the Flood Control District will be unable to meet the outreach requirements set forth by the San Francisco Bay Region Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES Permit No. CAS612008, Order R2-2015-0049.