COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

Date:

January 21, 2003

Board Meeting Date:

February 4, 2003

To:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

From:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

Subject:

Agreement with Kleinfelder for Preparation of Midcoast Groundwater Study

RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with Kleinfelder to provide services for the preparation of the Midcoast Groundwater Study, Phase 2.

BACKGROUND

Individual groundwater wells have come into increasing use as a source of domestic water supply in the urban Midcoast over the past several years, primarily due to the unavailability of public water supplies. Wells have been controversial due to their potential unreliability as a long-term source of domestic water in an urban setting and their potential to impact coastal resources. County policy identifies public water systems as the preferred means of water supply in urban areas such as the Midcoast, but wells are allowed in these areas by County regulations, provided they meet established standards.

In 2001 your Board appropriated funds for and directed staff to undertake a Midcoast Groundwater Study in two phases. Phase 1, completed by Balance Hydrologics in 2002, was a literature and data review summarizing all known information about groundwater in the urban Midcoast area of San Mateo County. Following completion of Phase 1, your Board adopted several revisions to the well regulations for the Midcoast. We are now proceeding with Phase 2 of the groundwater study, a technical effort to gather missing data necessary to determine safe yield of Midcoast aquifers and their ability to support further development. Once the safe yield analysis is complete, we will evaluate the need for further work, such as analyzing the environmental impacts of development relying on safe yield.

DISCUSSION
Staff prepared and circulated to over a dozen consulting firms a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Phase 2 of the study. We received three proposals in return from Balance Hydrologics, Kleinfelder, and Sigma Prime Geosciences. Those were evaluated and the consultants were interviewed by a staff panel consisting of Terry Burnes, Planning Administrator; Dean Peterson, Director of Environmental Health; Greg Smith, Environmental Health Groundwater Protection Program; Jean Demouthe, County Geologist; and Mary Raftery, Deputy County Counsel.

Selection criteria developed by that team were: (1) general experience and qualifications; (2) similar work in the past; (3) responsiveness to the RFP and County needs; (4) methodology, work plan, timeframe; (5) project management and coordination; (6) cost; and (7) ability to comply with contract requirements. After reviewing the proposals and interviewing each consultant team, the panel concluded that Kleinfelder and its proposal best met these criteria. Kleinfelder has extensive experience in the evaluation of groundwater resources, including prior work in San Mateo County and is well qualified to complete this project.

Kleinfelder has prepared a detailed scope of work and project cost detail. County Counsel has worked with Kleinfelder to draft the attached agreement, which meets all County requirements. The duration of the agreement is 36 months.

VISION ALIGNMENT
The Midcoast Groundwater Study, Phase 2, will serve the following County commitments and goals by providing a detailed analysis of groundwater resources in the Midcoast to facilitate establishing a proper balance between use of those resources to support new development and protection of coastal resources dependent on adequate groundwater supplies: (1) Commitment - Redesign our urban environment to increase vitality, expand variety, and reduce congestion; Goal--Land use decisions consider transportation and other infrastructure needs as well as impacts on the environment and on surrounding communities; (2) Commitment - Preserve and provide access to our natural environment; Goal - Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship; and (3) Commitment - Responsive, effective, and collaborative government; Goal - Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

REVIEW BY OTHERS

The resolution and agreement have been reviewed by County Counsel.

FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the Midcoast Groundwater Study has been provided from General Fund Non-Departmental Reserves in the Planning Division budget. There is no further General Fund impact. The total appropriation for the Groundwater Study is $500,000. Phase 1 cost $22,275. The cost for Phase 2 will be $336,968. That will leave $140,757 for subsequent work, including possible analysis of the environmental impacts of development relying, on the safe yield determined in Phase 2.