ZONE 2A ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES January 25, 2018

ATTENDEES:

John FitzGerald (JF)- Member Jason Beatty (JB)- City of Chase Takajo (CT)- SCWA Petaluma Ted Cabral (TC)- Member Jon Niehaus (JN)- SCWA Curt Bates (CB)- City of Bob Martin (BM)- Member Kara Kelly (KK)- SCWA Petaluma Andy Rodgers (AR)- Member Rick Savel (RS)- Public Susan Haydon (SH)- SCWA Teresa Barrett (TB)- Member Paul Efron (PE)- Public Kent Gylfe (KG)- SCWA Chris Cheek (CC)- Public

1. OPENING/INTRODUCTIONS: Meeting called to order by John FitzGerald, Vice Chairman, at 2:05pm. Susan Haydon (SH) acknowledged the public noticing of the meeting in two newspapers, Press Democrat and Argus Courier, SCWA website, and offices of SCWA, City of Petaluma, and Sonoma County Clerk. Chairman, Ted Cabral, joined meeting a few minutes late and resumed leading the meeting. 2. PUBLIC COMMENT: Rick Savel, Penngrove resident, noted the updated community separator designation and policy issues for area south of Valley House Drive. 90 acres of the 170 acre area have been approved to date for incorporation into the community separator. Future consideration of additional acres to be designated as community separator is dependent on subsequent land use policy changes and is related to future voter consideration of renewal of the City of Rohnert Park’s urban growth boundary. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the December 8, 2016 meeting were approved as submitted with motion by AR, second by BM. The minutes for the meeting of July 20, 2017 were approved as submitted by motion by JF and second by TB. 4. FLOOD MANAGEMENT DESIGN MANUAL (FMDM): SH provided an overview of the FMDM being revised by the Agency and its consultants, ESA and Horizon. The Manual was formerly titled “Flood Control Design Criteria’ and was last updated in 1983. This manual serves as the adopted criteria used to design flood protection facilities and infrastructure. Water Agency engineer, Phil Wadsworth, is lead staff on updating the manual. The Manual takes a different approach to design criteria and in the new document, the criteria will now be more performance based and provide a series of recommended actions or Best Management Practices rather than being prescriptive. The updated manual will incorporate updated NOAA precipitation data. The draft FMDM will be available for public review and comment with target date in March 2018. A series of workshops are planned for late spring to outreach to the public, the Cities, and engineering community for review and input. The anticipated timeframe for Water Agency Board of Directors/Supervisors review and approval is late July/early August. SH will notify committee members when the FMDM is available for review. Committee discussion was held with questions regarding whether tidal changes in sea level rise and additional silt in the river are addressed in the manual. 5. WATER AGENCY’S LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (LHMP): Kent Gylfe, water agency engineer, provided an overview of the LHMP planning process, purpose and content. An initial LHMP was prepared by SCWA in 2008 to evaluate hazard risks and their potential impacts to the Agency’s water transmission, sanitation and flood control infrastructure throughout the county. Agencies are required to develop and maintain such plans in order to qualify for and obtain Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding. SCWA will prepare the public draft LHMP for review and comment with target for release by early March. The City of Petaluma is concurrently working on updating an LHMP that covers City infrastructure. The committee will be notified when the Draft LHMP is available for public review. (handout attached) 6. CURRENT PROJECTS AND REPORTS: a. STREAM MAINTENANCE PROGRAM: Chase Takajo gave an overview of the Water Agency’s Stream Maintenance Program (SMP) 2017 season. Vegetation management work was completed on Adobe, East Fork McDowell, Corona, East Washington, Lichau, Lynch, and Washington Creeks and the . Over 1,600 lbs. of garbage and debris was removed. Sediment management work took place on Corona, East Fork McDowell and Lichau Creeks. Foothill yellow legged frog was recently listed by the state as a candidate species and is granted all protections of an endangered species. As such, SMP crews could not complete work planned on the Adobe Creek sediment basin. SMP staff are currently in the process of amending permits to include considerations for these frogs. The Water Agency is partnering with Casa Grande High School’s United Anglers program to assist with outreach and field visits for proposed vegetation management work in stream channel areas (as part of the Agency’s natural channels work). The focus areas are along stream reaches in rural areas not currently addressed through existing permits. JF thanked Water Agency for the good work. b. UPPER COPELAND CREEK TOUR: The Multi-Agency Assessment Team hosted a tour of the upper Copeland Creek watershed in December, 2017 to provide neighbors, Zone members, and other stakeholders an opportunity for discussion of flood related issues. Tour was well attended and stops included the Fairfield Osborne Preserve, Upper Copeland Creek avulsion site on Lichau Rd./Cold Springs, and site east of Petaluma Hill Rd. (owned by City of Rohnert Park) being studied for a potential stormwater basin project. A variety of next step actions were discussed and recommended including: formation of an emergency notification system, additional studies needed to understand dynamics of flooding and sedimentation, installation of stream gages and improved storm forecasting. Several advisory committee members from both Flood Zones 1A & 2A and meeting participants attended the tour. Compliments were given to the Water Agency on content and format of the tour. c. UPPER PETALUMA FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT: First and second tier of survey work has been performed and data has been delivered to consultant. SCWA is expecting results soon and will be convening a meeting to review preliminary model results and screening. SCWA will present results to the committee at a future meeting. d. LICHAU CREEK MODELING AND FEASIBILITY STUDY: Survey work is being conducted on 2.5 miles of Lichau Creek to develop accurate topography to integrate with LiDAR. Based on this foundational information, consultant will develop an approach to future modeling and 3 alternatives for flood reduction in this sub-watershed. This study and the Upper Petaluma project are aligned in surveying methods and will integrate modeling. e. STORM WATER RESOURCE PLAN: In 2016 SCWA entered into a contact with the State Water Resources Control Board to receive $485,000 in grant funds for the development of a regional SWRP for and Petaluma River watersheds. SCWA has since formed a Technical Advisory Committee, including the City of Petaluma, held four TAC meetings and a public meeting, and has received 60 multi benefit stormwater projects from the TAC and other stakeholders. A public draft of the SWRP will be available for public comment in July, 2018. f. CITY PROJECTS AND REPORTS: Jason Beatty provided an overview and status update of City projects including: 1) Denman Reach Flood Terracing Phases 3 and 4, 2) Capri Creek Flood Capacity and Habitat Enhancement, 3) Petaluma River dredging, 4) ALERT 2 stream gauge upgrades, and 5) Feasibility studies on Washington, Kelly and Corona Creeks. TC noted potential funding opportunities for commercial dredging through CA Dept. of Boating and Waterways for recreational boating facilities. TC requests that the Zone committee address the need for and funding for dredging. The topic of dredging should be added to future agenda item. (handout attached) 7. FY 2018/19 BUDGET: SH presented an overview of the proposed FY 18/19 budget. Budget priorities include: a) emphasis on stream maintenance activities, including future expanded maintenance activities associated with new programmatic permits for Natural and Modified channels (limited activities in rural areas), b) pursuit of multi-benefit projects and associated outside funding (grants) that can leverage local flood zone tax for greater public benefit, and c) preservation of a prudent reserve for emergency response to major storm/flood events. TC noted he would like to see a breakdown and explanation for the expenditures in the building and equipment budget category in future. Water Agency is recommending $250,000 for assessment work attributed to Upper Copeland & Lichau Creeks with same budget level being recommended and contributed through Zone 1A funds. Water Agency is also recommending $50,000 to cover additional staff time towards the management and completion the state grant funded project (DWR, Proposition 1E) in partnership with the City. These project elements include: a) Phase 4 flood capacity improvement work on Denman Reach and sediment removal under Corona Road bridge. Committee discussion held. The FY18-19 recommended budget was approved as presented with motion by Teresa Barrett and second by John FitzGerald. Motion carried. 8. PUBLIC COMMENT: Paul Efron, Penngrove resident, presented an overview of the seasonal flooding issues affecting his property off of Railroad Ave. PE is interested in learning more about flooding issues, how to address them and seeking guidance on how best to contact the County regarding the culvert on his property. PE expressed his appreciation for the public process and committee meeting, stating his interest in staying involved in flood related issues. PE also noted that he was pleased to see the budget item proposed for the Multi-Assessement team to study issues regarding flooding and sedimentation in the Upper Copeland/Lichau Creek area. KG noted that Mr. Efron’s property is located within the study area of the Lichau Creek modeling and feasibility study. TC notes that he is no longer serving as Chairman for State Park’s Off Highway Vehicle Committee. He will now be able to participate more fully in the Zone 2A committee and remains very interested and committed to addressing the issues ahead.

9. NEXT MEETING: March 2018. Date to be announced.

City of Petaluma Project Update January 25, 2018 SCWA Zone 2A Meeting

SCWA FUNDED CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS RECENTLY COMPLETED

Denman Reach Flood Terrace Phase 3

Estimated Total Project Cost: $1,586,875 (State: $993,375, Zone 2A: $512,500, City: $81,000)

Construction activities began in mid-August 2016 and were completed in January 2017. Team Ghilotti, Inc. removed approximately 30,000 cubic yards of soil in completing the flood terracing in the Denman Reach area. The Conservation Corps planted new trees to restore the riparian habitat after the flood terracing. A new trail was constructed as part of the project. The storms in January and March damaged some sections of the trail, and a new contract was just completed, repairing the sections in the floodway.

SCWA FUNDED PROECTS IN PROGRESS

Capri Creek Flood Capacity and Habitat Enhancement

Estimated Total Project Cost: $1.1 Million (State: $825,000, Zone 2A: $217,000, City: $58,000)

Construction activities began in May 2017, following the rainy season, with 6,700 cubic yards of soil removed through terracing and improvements to the low flow channel. Some re-planting remains, as specified trees are on backorder following the Sonoma County fires.

ALERT2 Stream Gauge Upgrade

Estimated Total Project Cost: $151,180 (State: $85,180, Zone 2A: $53,000 City: $13,000)

This project is 90% complete, providing two ALERT2 Base Stations and upgrades to all 26 existing gauges to provide communication capabilities to the new stations. The updating of all 26 gauges included replacement of receivers and decoders, solar panels and 18 hour cell batteries. The project is funded, in part, through State Department of Water Resources grant, applied through the North Bay Watershed Association. The City of Petaluma was awarded $85,180 towards the project. All stations but one were upgraded and parts are on order to complete this final station. An update to the flood alert plan using a template from the State is also being completed as part of this project.

OTHER CITY OF PETALUMA SCWA FUNDED PROJECTS

Petaluma River Flood Management Denman Reach Phase 4

Estimated Total Project Cost: $2,688,000 (State: $1,890,822 Zone 2A: $768,802, City: $29,165)

In May 2017, the State Department of Water Resources approved an amendment to an existing Prop 1E grant to allow the SCWA to complete a flood management project in Denman Reach in lieu of a previously approved project in Sonoma Valley. The project will acquire a 5.47acre vacant parcel on Industrial Ave, create additional flood storage through terracing or a detention basin, and remove a sediment plug in the Petaluma River at the Corona Road Bridge. The project would also protect river front open space, create additional river access trails, and increase riparian habitat in the Denman Reach area. The acquisition of the vacant parcel was originally intended to be included in the Denman Reach Phase 3 project, but was not executed because of funding limitations at the time. The City and SCWA funding agreement goes before the County Board of Supervisors for approval on February 6, 2018. Initial planning and permitting efforts are underway with construction projected for the dry season in 2019.

Washington Creek Repair and Enhancement

The City expected to begin a feasibility study on this project in 2018, following finalization of the funding agreement with SCWA.

Corona Reach Linear Overflow Channel Feasibility Analysis

The City expects to begin feasibility study on this project in 2018, following finalization of the funding agreement with SCWA.

Kelly Creek Preliminary Design Work

The City expects to begin feasibility study on this project in 2018, following finalization of the funding agreement with SCWA.

OTHER PETALUMA STORM WATER PROJECTS

Citywide Creek Maintenance

In April 2017, the City adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Citywide Creeks Maintenance Project, which established a process for routing and ongoing management of the creeks the City is responsible for maintaining.

Petaluma River Dredging

The Army Corp of Engineers completed a preliminary assessment for identifying future dredging needs and capacities of the Petaluma River, and subsequently identified $600,000 in funding in their FY2017 workplan for planning and permitting of the dredging of the Petaluma River. While, insufficient federal funding is the largest impediment to channel maintenance, the City continues to work with Congressman Huffman’s office and other local/regional stakeholders through workshops on strategizing a public – private agreement (PPA) that would help support and offset Federal costs. A PPA proposal was sent to USACE on behalf of 5 agencies, City of Petaluma, City of San Rafael, Napa County Flood and Water Conservation District, County of Marin, and SWCA, for a Project Partnership Agreement to help finance and execute dredging of the shallow draft Federal channels of . This is on-hold until USACE establishes a national policy for awarding PPA projects. The City completed a hydrographic survey of the marina, continued maintenance activities on the Shollenberger dredge disposal site, and submitted a Measure AA Grant application for funding for beneficial re-use of dredge material.

Caltrans Off-site Mitigation Caltrans and the Sonoma County Transit Authority requested that the City assist in providing off-site mitigation for a portion of the US 101 widening project. The intent of the project would be to create bio- retention basin within the upland terrace of Denman Reach just north of Corona Road in order to improve water quality from direct US 101 runoff during a 2-year storm event. The project is still in the planning and permitting stages. City Council authorized the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Caltrans on Nov 2016.