Title
Adopt a Resolution to Approve and Authorize the City Manager to Execute a $30,000 Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE-24) Grant Agreement Between the City of San Leandro and the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways for Abatement of Surrendered and Abandoned Watercraft at the San Leandro Marina and San Leandro Shoreline
Staffreport
COUNCIL PRIORITY
• Infrastructure
• Sustainability & Resiliency
SUMMARY
The City of San Leandro Public Works Department applied for and was awarded $30,000 in grant funds under the SAVE-24 grant program for the removal and disposal of abandoned and surrendered vessels at the San Leandro Marina and San Leandro Shoreline.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution approving and authorizing the City Manager to execute a $30,000 SAVE-24 grant agreement between City of San Leandro and the State of California, Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways for the removal and disposal of abandoned and surrendered vessels.
BACKGROUND
The California Legislature developed two initiatives aimed at keeping abandoned vessels out of local waters: Senate Bill 172 and Assembly Bill 166. Senate Bill 172 (Rainey, 1997) established the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund (AWAF) administered by the Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) to address the problem of abandoned watercrafts. The purpose of the program is to provide funds to local public agencies to remove, store, and dispose of abandoned, wrecked, or dismantled vessels or any other partially submerged objects that pose a substantial hazard to maritime navigation.
The Vessel Turn-In (VTIP) Program was established by Assembly Bill 166 (Lieu, 2010) as a solution to prevent abandoned vessels before they happen. By providing an easy and free alternative for boat owners to surrender an unwanted vessel to a participating agency in lieu of abandonment, this program eliminates the expensive and difficult removal process that abandoned vessels often require. More importantly, VTIP also works to prevent the risk of harmful water hazards and provides for the protection of the environment by preventing discharges of toxic pollutants that may leak from an abandoned vessel. In 2015, DBW merged the AWAF and VTIP grant programs to form the Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) grant as part of an effort to streamline grant applications and disbursements.
While the San Leandro Marina is closed and there are no boats within the Marina, there are a few boats in the waters of San Leandro that may be eligible for this program and from time to time abandoned boats wash up on the City’s shoreline.
Analysis
In the last three fiscal years, the City received a total of $340,225 from the SAVE grant program. Using the SAVE-21, SAVE-22, and SAVE-23 grant awards, Public Works removed a total of 27 vessels. Staff applied for the SAVE-24 grant for FY 2024-2025 based on anticipated need. On September 6, 2024, the State awarded $30,000 in grant funds and issued the grant agreement - certificate of funding.
Pursuant to California Harbors and Navigation Code §525(c), a 10% local matching contribution is required for the SAVE grant. The contribution may be rendered in cash, or through in-kind contributions that must be verified and approved, at the discretion of the Department of Boating and Waterways. The local matching contribution could include, but is not limited to, administrative costs, personnel hours, and removal costs.
If the grant agreement is not authorized, the General Fund or Shoreline Fund may be used to pay for removal of abandoned vessels.
Financial Impacts
This grant will require Council appropriation of $33,000 for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 from the Shoreline Fund Balance into Account 597-57-177-5165. There will be $30,000 in State grant reimbursement funds to offset this expense, while the $3,000 in matching funds will be absorbed by the account.
This Council action was not budgeted and will require an appropriation of $33,000 for this grant program that will temporarily draw down the Shoreline Fund’s undesignated fund balance by $30,000, and permanently by $3,000.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Reso SAVE-24 Grant
Attachment B: SAVE-24 Grant Agreement
PREPARED BY: Dana Turner, Management Analyst I, Public Works Department