Projects
Consero Solutions strives to empower local agencies to enrich communities and protect the environment.
Yolo County Office of Education Roadmap to the Future
Consero Solutions provides project management services to the Yolo County Office of Education for the Roadmap to the Future, a long-term plan to help coordinate the services, supports, and opportunities children, youth, and families in Yolo County need to thrive, as well as establish a shared framework to ensure their healthy development. As the project manager, Consero Solutions is responsible for maintaining the overall project timeline, coordinating internal and external meetings, following up on action items, reviewing deliverables, and coordinating work of multiple consultants.
North San Joaquin Water Conservation District
Consero Solutions helped the the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District, a special district responsible for delivering surface water to growers and helping achieve groundwater sustainability in the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin, with development of a strategic plan and passage of a district-wide groundwater charge. Consero has also helped the District secure over $11 million in grants for surface water system improvements and supports all of the District's community engagement efforts, including town hall meetings and newsletters.
Yolo Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan
The Yolo Habitat Conservancy hired Consero Solutions in 2012 to turn around a struggling agency and complete the Yolo Habitat Conservation Plan and Natural Community Conservation Plan (Yolo HCP/NCCP). In addition to leading the Conservancy's efforts to complete plan and managing all aspects of the agency's finances, Consero Solutions helped secure $10 million in state and federal grants between 2012 and 2019 for both planning and implementation. The final plan and associated Endangered Species Act permits will result in a new program in Yolo County that streamlines permitting of infrastructure and other development for all four cities and the County, as well as permanently protects 32,000 acres of habitat for 12 endangered or threatened species. The HCP/NCCP received the 2020 Award of Merit for Innovation in Green Community Planning from the American Planning Association California Chapter, as well as the Sacramento Valley APA Section Award of Excellence in the same category.
City of Davis City Hall Campus Improvement Projects
Consero Solutions worked with City of Davis staff to develop the Russell Boulevard Green Street Demonstration Project, providing assistance with a successful $300,283 grant application to the California Natural Resource Agency’s Urban Rivers Program. The Project incorporates numerous sustainable, low-impact development improvements intended to preserve watershed processes and provide multiple urban watershed benefits on the City Hall campus.
Grasslands Regional Park Burrowing Owl Reserve Management
Consero Solutions worked with the Yolo County General Services Department to resolve issues with local stakeholders regarding the management of a 60-acre reserve for burrowing owls on Grasslands Regional Park. Consero brought together representatives from the Burrowing Owl Preservation Society, the Yolo County Resource Conservation District, the University of California at Davis, the City of Davis, and Yolo County to develop management recommendations that were acceptable to all parties to improve existing management.
Visit Yolo Organizational Evaluation
Consero Solutions helped Visit Yolo evaluate existing operations and identify opportunities to improve governance and management as part of its transition to a Tourism Business Improvement District. In addition to completing a memo outlining opportunities to improve operations, Consero assisted an attorney with the development of new bylaws, worked with staff to complete a new financial policies and procedures manual, helped implement internal controls, and developed a new governance structure for the Board of Directors. Consero also provided Executive Director support services, assisted with the development of annual budgets and financial reports, and drafted Board meeting materials as needed.
North San Joaquin Water Conservation District Organizational Improvements
Consero Solutions is helping build the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District from a small, special district with limited resources to a leader in local efforts to achieve groundwater sustainability in the Eastern San Joaquin Subbasin. In this role, Consero recommended and guided the development of the District's inaugural strategic plan and first-ever Board of Directors Policy Manual. Consero also supported the District as they initiated recruitment for their first District Manager.
Putah Creek Council Governance Improvements
Consero Solutions helped the Putah Creek Council, a nonprofit organization that works to enhance and restore the Putah Creek watershed, improve governance and operations. Consero Solutions completed a thorough review of financial policies, Board of Directors procedures, the employee handbook, the budget, and other organizational materials, as well as conducted interviews with Board members and staff. The evaluation resulted in a memo outlining 30 opportunities to improve management of the Council in the three categories of finances, human resources, and governance. The Board of Directors adopted and implemented all 30 recommendations.
Davis Interactive Water Feature & Park Improvements
Consero Solutions worked with the City of Davis to apply for a grant to renovate Central Park and create an interactive water-play feature. In 2021, the City was awarded $2.784 million from the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Grant Program for the project, which will include new water-efficient irrigation, a solar-powered ultraviolet disinfection system, biofiltration basins, multiple trees and a pollinator garden, public art, educational signs, and additional benches, shade structures, and gathering spaces. The new splash pad area will be named "Natalie's Corner" in honor of Natalie Corona, a Davis Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2019.
Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Grant Application Development
Consero Solutions assisted the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency with the development of project descriptions, prioritization of projects, and applying for a $13.2 million grant. Consero helped the Agency solicit projects from member agencies, develop prioritization criteria, select priority projects, and work with member agencies to refine projects to maximize competitiveness for the California Department of Water Resources’ Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Implementation Round 2 grant. Consero facilitated meetings with the grant manager at the Department of Water Resources to clarify the application process and helped the Agency draft the application.
I-80 Richards Boulevard Multi-Modal Interchange Improvement Project
Consero Solutions assisted the City of Davis with preparing a successful application for over $5 million dollars to the 2018 Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) Regional Grant Program for the I-80 Richards Boulevard Multi-Modal Interchange Improvement Project. Work included convening key stakeholders, preparing and disseminating all meeting materials, securing letters of support from community partners, and reviewing and editing the application.
City of Davis Urban Forest Management Plan and Tree Planting Project
Consero Solutions assisted the City of Davis Parks & Community Services Department with preparing a successful $514,116 application to the CAL FIRE Urban Forestry program, funded by Proposition 68. Consero oversaw the entire application process by developing a timeline, convening regular meetings of the project team, preparing and disseminating all meeting materials, writing the proposal narrative, assisting with the development of a project budget, and compiling and editing all application components. With the grant the City will develop a new, 40-year City urban forest management plan and plant 1000 trees with the assistance of key project partner, Tree Davis.
Knights Landing Boat Launch
Consero Solutions assisted Yolo County Parks with the management of a $1.4 million Wildlife Conservation Board grant to improve the Knights Landing Boat Launch, resulting in the 2020 construction of a new, expanded boat ramp, a bathroom, interpretative signage, and drought-tolerant landscaping. Consero helped Yolo County Parks secure the initial grant and provided assistance with permitting, project management, and public outreach. Located on the Sacramento River in Yolo County, the site is a launch-point for the Delta, attracting as many as 28,000 visitors annually from Yolo County as well as Solano, Napa, and Sacramento Counties.
Yolo Bypass Westside Tributaries Flow Monitoring Project
On behalf of Yolo County and the University of California, Davis Center for Watershed Sciences, Consero Solutions completed a full proposal to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for Proposition 1 funding, resulting in a $331,148 award to Yolo County. Consero will assist Yolo County with management of the project over the three-year grant period. The grant will result in the collection and analysis of previously uncollected data on four westside tributaries to the Yolo Bypass: Putah Creek, Cache Creek, Knights Landing Ridge Cut Canal, and Willow Slough Bypass. This data and the modeling it supports will be used to inform management decisions in the Yolo Bypass Project.
Grasslands Regional Park Vernal Pool Education
Consero Solutions helped Yolo County Parks, in partnership with the Yolo Basin Foundation, secure a $65,200 California State Parks Department grant to support a new docent-led vernal pool education program at Grasslands Regional Park. The program will provide hands-on, inquiry-based science education to over 7,000 urban and suburban residents over the four-year grant period. Consero facilitated the partnership between Yolo County Parks and the Yolo Basin Foundation, assisted with the grant application, and secured support from additional partners.
Grasslands Regional Park Trail System
In coordination with Yolo County staff, Consero Solutions prepared a successful $107,083 request to the California State Parks and Recreation’s Habitat Conservation Fund for the development of a new trail system and dog park in Grasslands Regional Park. Consero Solutions drafted the proposal, collaborated with local stakeholders to obtain input on the proposed trail, and consulted with State Parks to ensure project consistency with program priorities. This trail system is the first trail at the 600-acre park and provides the public unique access to view and experience one of the last remaining undisturbed remnants of California prairie that historically characterized the region.
Solano County Affordable Housing
Consero Solutions assisted Solano County with identifying options to construct affordable housing for at-risk communities, such as veterans, aging-out foster youth, low-income working families, and people who are unhoused and living with mental illness, substance abuse, or physical disabilities. Consero identified funding opportunities, analyzed the 2019-20 state budget and housing trailer bills, interviewed County staff to assess the current status of affordable housing in Solano, consulted affordable housing and homelessness experts, interviewed other counties about their affordable housing efforts, and incorporated findings into a memorandum to the County Board of Supervisors outlining options for next steps. This resulted in the hiring of a Solano County "housing czar" and investment in the development of a countywide plan to address affordable housing needs.
Yolo County Rural Initiative Program
Consero Solutions worked with Yolo County staff to develop the Yolo County Rural Initiative Program, including evaluation of applications for funding from rural communities, collaboration with local applicants, and identification of state and federal funding opportunities to leverage General Fund resources. Consero Solutions helped Yolo County staff prioritize projects and develop recommendations for Board of Supervisor approval in 2016. As a result of this work, the Board of Supervisors approved $171,290 for eight important projects in the rural communities of Esparto, Dunnigan, Clarksburg, Knights Landing, and Madison.
North San Joaquin Water Conservation District Communication Projects
Consero Solutions supports the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District with communications and public outreach. Since the District aims to consistently provide information to local landowners about activities to help achieve groundwater sustainability in the critically over-drafted groundwater basin in which they are located, Consero works to develop bi-annual newsletters to mail to residents and facilitates periodic public outreach meetings and stakeholder communication opportunities to share information and and invite community feedback.
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Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Habitat and Drainage Improvement Project
In addition to helping to secure $3.7 million in grant funding, Consero Solutions created and implemented a stakeholder outreach strategy to promote the multi-agency partnership that resulted in the construction of the Yolo Wildlife Area Habitat and Drainage Improvement Project in 2020. Consero developed the communications plan and public outreach materials, including a social media campaign.
Yolo Habitat Conservancy State Advocacy Program
On behalf of the Yolo Habitat Conservancy, Consero Solutions worked with the California Habitat Conservation Planning Coalition to secure $52 million in Proposition 68 funding for implementation of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) and Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs). The Conservancy and the Coalition are also working to secure state funding through the annual budget process. The funding would assist with the implementation of HCPs and NCCPs throughout California. Consero Solutions continues to help the Coalition advocate for statewide conservation priorities.
City of Davis Legislative Platform
Consero Solutions assisted the City of Davis with developing and implementing a state legislative platform and advocacy policy in 2019 and 2020. Over the course of eight months, Consero worked closely with City staff and the Legislative Subcommittee to solicit and review draft legislative proposals from department heads, prioritize the proposals, develop them into a legislative platform, and help the City implement its platform by preparing fact sheets, convening meetings with legislators and legislative staffers to discuss proposals and pending legislation, and engaging in community outreach to enlist supporters. The platform resulted in the ability to increase fees for a downtown parking structure, changes to grant guidelines to improve eligibility, and an increase in the cap on regional planning grants.
City of Davis Climate Action Grant Strategy
On April 18, 2023, the Davis City Council adopted the 2020-2040 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) to help guide the City toward their goal of attaining carbon neutrality by 2040. Based on the CAAP, Consero Solutions worked with City staff to develop priority projects and match them with upcoming and projected regional, state, and federal funding opportunities. The Climate Action Grant Strategy allows the City to 1) carefully choose climate action priorities; 2) ensure the City has resources to implement selected priorities; 3) take advantage of unprecedented state and federal funding for climate action; 4) plan ahead for funding opportunities, including starting the process of developing a competitive project well in advance of funding deadlines; and 5) robustly address diversity, equity, and inclusion in its climate actions.
City of Davis Comprehensive Funding Plan
Consero Solutions completed four Comprehensive Funding Plans for the City of Davis, in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022, which have resulted in over $25 million in secured funding. Consero helped the City develop project priorities, matched the priorities to grant opportunities, and worked with Department heads and the City Manager to finalize the funding plans for Council approval. The plans have included projects proposed by the City Manager's Office and the Community Development, Open Space, Parks & Community Services, Fire, and Public Works departments. Consero has supported City staff to implement the plans, including working with the City Manager to decide whether to apply for upcoming opportunities.
Yolo County 2022-2025 Climate Early Action Grant Strategy
In July 2022, Consero completed the Yolo County 2022–2025 Climate Early Action Grant Strategy, which identified grant opportunities for five early action projects focused on sequestering carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in unincorporated Yolo County to help Yolo County achieve a just economic recovery and transition to a countywide carbon negative footprint by 2030. Consero worked with the Yolo County Climate Action Commission to solicit climate-focused projects from the public, develop the projects, and match projects to grant opportunities. The Yolo County Climate Action Commission reviewed the strategy and recommended it to the Board of Supervisors for approval. After the Board approved the strategy, Consero began assisting Yolo County staff with grant applications for projects included as early actions in the grant strategy.
Paradise Cut
Due to a staffing shortage, Consero Solutions was hired to work with the San Joaquin County Resource Conservation District to manage over $2 million for the initial phase of a multi-benefit floodplain restoration project adjacent to the San Joaquin River. In partnership with American Rivers, the Resource Conservation District secured state funding for the Paradise Cut Conservation and Flood Management Plan and the Paradise Cut Flood and Easement Acquisition project. Staff support included assisting with contracts and budget, maintaining task completion timelines, and coordinating with subcontractors and project stakeholders.
Truckee Library Project
Consero Solutions worked with representatives from the Friends of the Truckee Library, the Town of Truckee, and Nevada County to identify points of agreement and outstanding issues related to construction of a modern 20,000 square foot library. This work resulted in the foundation for a Joint Powers Agency to raise funds, design, and construct the library, including facilitating group meetings, helping the core partners reach agreement on key items, and authoring a final memo for adoption by the Friends of the Library Board of Directors, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors, and the Town of Truckee Council.
Yolo COVID-19 Nonprofit Relief Initiative
Consero Solutions partnered with the Yolo Community Foundation and Yolo County to develop a new emergency grant program on an expedited four-week schedule. The program resulted in the distribution of over $400,000 to local nonprofits affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Program development included creation of a detailed Action Plan approved by local agency staff and elected officials, design of new website pages, development of a social media outreach toolkit, formation of a governance structure, and creation of a fundraising strategy.
Cache Creek Nature Preserve Visitor Center Project
Consero Solutions worked with Yolo County to provide project management services for the Cache Creek Nature Preserve Visitor Center project, a proposed new visitor center at the Cache Creek Nature Preserve to enhance experiential learning opportunities for local students and the public. The project will also extend existing trails along Cache Creek. Consero’s role included overseeing project development, managing the process to complete 100% design drawings, drafting a state grant application, and leading a robust public engagement process to ensure the design reflects community values.