Greg Cox, San Diego County Board of Supervisors - Identification of Alternative Funding Sources for the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program

DATE: May 11, 2010
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Identification of Alternative Funding Sources for the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program

SUMMARY:
Overview
The Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program in San Diego County is currently funded by a two-year $600,620 grant from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) using Proposition 13 funds through June 30, 2010.

The SWRCB is using $123,200 of stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to continue beach water monitoring through December 2010, with no other funding source currently secured for services beyond January 1, 2011.

Recognizing that beach water quality monitoring is important in protecting the public health at local beaches, and that the public has come to rely on County government to monitor critical data and issue public health advisories when conditions are unhealthy, it is imperative we work with local environmental advocacy organizations and state and local agencies to find an alternative funding source that will prevent termination of this valuable program. Today’s Board action would initiate the identification of possible alternative funding sources for the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program, by requesting the assistance of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board in procuring appropriate funding.

RECOMMENDATIONS
SUPERVISOR GREG COX:
Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to identify alternative funding sources for the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program to extend the program beyond January 1, 2011, by requesting the assistance of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board for appropriate funding opportunities, and report back to the Board of Supervisors.

Fiscal Impact:
The monitoring program has historically been funded by the State through the Beach Safety Act (AB411), but when the Governor vetoed that line item in September of 2008, Supervisor Cox successfully led a coalition of local supporters to lobby the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to fund two additional years of water testing using Proposition 13 funds. That two-year contract ends June 30, 2010 and the SWRCB is using ARRA stimulus funds to extend the program through December of 2010. Today’s action directs the CAO to identify possible alternative funding sources to extend monitoring services beyond January 1, 2011 and requires no costs and no additional staff years at this time.

BACKGROUND:
Since 1999, the Department of Environmental Health (DEH) contracted with the California Department of Public Health to use funds from the Beach Safety Act (AB411) to perform beach water quality sampling and public health notifications. Currently, the Department monitors 44 beach locations on a weekly basis during peak usage from April through October, and at 15 high risk locations each week from November through March.

DEH uses the sample data to evaluate beach water quality and identify possible risks to public health. All samples are analyzed and compared to State standards for total coliform, fecal coliform and enterococci bacteria.

In September of 2008 the Governor line item vetoed the annual funding ($302,000) from the State Budget and the Department of Environmental Health was unable to continue to provide the services without an alternative funding source. The County is mandated to implement the Beach Safety Act (AB411) only when the State has the funds to pay for the program.

In November of 2008 Supervisor Greg Cox led a coalition to approach the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) with a request to continue the funding and testified in Sacramento, carrying letters of support from Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and from every coastal city mayor in San Diego County. As a result, on November 4, 2008, the SWRCB approved a grant of up to $1.9 million from Proposition 13 funds to the State Department of Public Health to fund the Beach Safety Program for Fiscal Year 2008-09, with an option to extend the funding an additional year.

However, on December 17, 2008 the Pooled Money Investment Board (PMIB) voted to cut off billions in funding for infrastructure projects, and on December 18, 2008 the State Department of Finance directed all State granting agencies to freeze and/or suspend all new General Obligation (GO) bond invoices and commitments. In January 2009, the State notified the County that it would freeze the Proposition 13 money and funding was once again stymied by the State’s fiscal crisis. On March 24, 2009 (9), at the request of Supervisor Cox, the Board directed the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to implement the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program at a reduced level until such time that funding from the State arrived. On May 12, 2009 (17) the Board established appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008-09 ($75,000) to implement the program at a reduced level.

The State bond freeze was lifted, and DEH received a two-year agreement to provide beach water quality monitoring funded at $300,310 annually for Fiscal Years 2008-09 and 2009-10. The revenue for this contract is from existing unused Proposition 13 bond funds managed by the SWRCB, and expires June 30, 2010.

Recognizing that beach water quality monitoring is important in protecting the public health at local beaches, and that the public has come to rely on County government to monitor critical data and issue public health advisories when conditions are unhealthy, it is imperative we work with local environmental advocacy organizations and state and local agencies to find an alternative funding source that will prevent termination of this valuable program. Today’s action will direct the CAO to identify possible alternative funding sources for the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program, by requesting the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board to assist the County’s efforts through an appropriate funding source.

Respectfully submitted,

GREG COX
Supervisor, First District