TO: Members of the City Council
FROM: Mayor Angela Birney
DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR CONTACT(S):
|
Public Works |
Dave Juarez |
425-556-2733 |
DEPARTMENT STAFF:
|
Public Works |
Andy Rheaume |
Interim EUSD Manager |
|
Public Works |
Tom Hardy |
Stream and Habitat Planner |
TITLE:
title
Approval of the 2021-22 Agreement with the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), in the Amount of $193,520, between the City of Redmond and the Washington State Department of Ecology
OVERVIEW STATEMENT:
recommendation
The Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) maintains stream and habitat restoration sites throughout the City of Redmond. Maintenance is typically required by permit approvals for the first 5-10 years after project completion and ongoing maintenance is necessary for long-term project success. The WCC crew is subsidized by AmeriCorps for 2021-22.
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☒ Additional Background Information/Description of Proposal Attached
REQUESTED ACTION:
☐ Receive Information ☐ Provide Direction ☒ Approve
REQUEST RATIONALE:
• Relevant Plans/Policies:
Comprehensive Plan, Community Strategic Plan
• Required:
Contract over $50,000
• Council Request:
N/A
• Other Key Facts:
WCC Agreement begins October 1, 2021
OUTCOMES:
Maintenance is a crucial activity to the success of restoration and mitigation associated with capital improvement projects; approximately 100-acres are distributed around the city that require ongoing maintenance. See Attachment A for a map of currently maintained sites.
The value of site maintenance goes far beyond permit compliance in that it protects and improves the public investment in these habitat enhancements by promoting healthy and attractive restoration areas. Maintenance of restoration sites involves control of invasive weeds, litter patrol, replacement planting, and other activities important to overall project success. This regular site maintenance enhances already completed projects, building on the initial investment, as well as improving the aesthetics of sites.
A one-year AmeriCorps-subsidized crew for Redmond will cost $193,520 (41-weeks throughout the 2021-22 season). WCC members are typically college-age students learning restoration techniques and gaining job skills. A crew consists of six staff that work a 40-hour work week, primarily managing invasive plants at city capital improvement project sites. Installation of replacement plantings also occupies a significant portion of the crew’s time. In addition, the crew helps with volunteer events, new native tree planting, habitat assessment, small stream maintenance projects, site monitoring, and de-fishing on stream projects. The contract with the Washington State Department of Ecology is included in Attachment B.
Although this agreement reflects a reduction in level of service from pre-pandemic levels staff has assembled funding to allow the core WCC contract to proceed, through five different fund sources, as noted below.
COMMUNITY/STAKEHOLDER OUTREACH AND INVOLVEMENT:
• Timeline (previous or planned):
N/A
• Outreach Methods and Results:
N/A
• Feedback Summary:
N/A
BUDGET IMPACT:
Total Cost:
$193,520
Approved in current biennial budget: ☒ Yes ☐ No ☐ N/A
Budget Offer Number:
Stormwater Operations $42,180
Ecology Fund $25,540
Tree Canopy Fund $53,850
Smith Woods Pond Rehab $13,275
Monticello CIP $58,675
Budget Priority:
Clean & Green
Other budget impacts or additional costs: ☐ Yes ☒ No ☐ N/A
If yes, explain:
N/A
Funding source(s):
Stormwater Operations, Ecology Fund, CIP, Tree Canopy Fund
Budget/Funding Constraints:
N/A
☐ Additional budget details attached
COUNCIL REVIEW:
Previous Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
9/14/2021 |
Committee of the Whole - Planning and Public Works |
Approve |
Proposed Upcoming Contact(s)
|
Date |
Meeting |
Requested Action |
|
N/A |
None proposed at this time |
N/A |
Time Constraints:
Agreement is for work between October 1, 2021 - September 30, 2022
ANTICIPATED RESULT IF NOT APPROVED:
The City would not meet its maintenance obligations for CIP projects. In addition, this maintenance would continue to accrue and conducting this maintenance in the future would be more expensive.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: WCC 2021-22 Restoration and Maintenance Map
Attachment B: WCC 2021-22 Agreement