PRESENTER: Presenter
Mark Enders, Watershed Program Manager
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SUBJECT: Title
Approval of an amendment to an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the City and New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) for the for the payment of funds to NBU for a temporary, part-time Watershed Educator position at the Headwaters at the Comal.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
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COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: N/A
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City and its project partners are currently implementing the Watershed Protection Plan for the Dry Comal Creek and Comal River (WPP) to address bacteria loading to the Dry Comal Creek and Comal River. Education and outreach are a key component of the WPP and the WPP identifies a Watershed Educator at the Headwaters at the Comal as an education and outreach measure. The City has an existing contract with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to receive grant funding from the TCEQ for measures included in the WPP. Specifically, $25,000 is available through the City’s grant to fund wages for a temporary, part-time Watershed Educator as well as costs for education and outreach materials.
The Watershed Educator has been hired by the Headwaters at the Comal. The City wishes to reimburse NBU for wages disbursed to the Watershed Educator and for the cost of educational materials, not to exceed the amount of $25,000 to be invoiced to the City and paid to NBU. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been executed to allow for the payment of funds to NBU to cover wages of the Watershed Educator and costs of educational materials. Per the MOU, NBU will submit monthly invoices to the City along with back-up documentation outlining work hours and efforts. The City will submit payment to NBU for these expenses. The City will submit invoices and back-up documentation to the TCEQ on a quarterly basis for reimbursement under the grant.
A MOU between the City and NBU was entered into on August 10, 2020. The amendment is to extend the terms of the MOU to from August 31, 2021 to August 31, 2022 to coincide with the extension of the City/ TCEQ grant contract through which the funds are available to reimburse NBU for the Watershed Educator.
ISSUE:
There is a need to amend the existing MOU to extend the terms of the MOU to from August 31, 2021 to August 31, 2022 to coincide with the extension of the City/ TCEQ grant contract through which the funds are available to reimburse NBU for the Watershed Educator.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding is available through August 31, 2022 through a TCEQ grant to support all costs associated with the Watershed Educator position. All payments and reimbursements are tracked in the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan/ WPP Fund.
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the amended Memorandum of Understanding between the City and New Braunfels Utilities (NBU) for the for the payment of funds to NBU for a temporary, part-time Watershed Educator position at the Headwaters at the Comal.