COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

January 12, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 27, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Approval of an Appropriation Transfer Request for the Agreement with Thomas Reid Associates for the Mitigation Monitoring Program at Guadalupe Valley Quarry

Recommendation
Approve the transfer of $9,236 from unanticipated revenue to Services and Supplies to provide appropriation from which to pay Thomas Reid Associates to carry out a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) for the Guadalupe Valley Quarry.

Background
In September 1995 the Board of Supervisors approved the renewal of the Surface Mining Permit for the Guadalupe Valley Quarry for a period of five years. Concurrently, the Board also approved a Mitigation Monitoring Program to be paid for by the Quarry in order to monitor the implementation of measures which were adopted as permit conditions so as to reduce the potential environmental impacts. After a Request for Proposals was issued, Thomas Reid Associates was selected to perform the program.

Discussion

In conformance with the conditions of approval for the Surface Mining Permit, an application for renewal was submitted prior to the expiration of the permit. As part of the renewal application, the quarry operator has requested a change in the proposed end use for the quarry site. The new proposed end use is a residential subdivision. Development of this end use will require annexation by the City of Brisbane. The City is currently considering a pre-annexation application for this site and proposed end use. The renewal of this Surface Mining Permit is pending, subject to completion of the City of Brisbane's process. However, surface mining operations continue at the quarry, thus requiring continued mitigation monitoring. Pending the completion of both the City's and the County's permitting processes, staff has entered into a new agreement with Thomas Reid Associates to continue with the MMRP for a further year. Staff believes this will provide sufficient time to complete the permitting process. Further mitigation monitoring beyond this time frame will be subject to the results of the permitting process. The contract is not to exceed $9,236, which has been received from the quarry operator. The requested transfer would set up an appropriation from which to pay the consultant.

Vision Alignment

This contract keeps the commitment of preserving and providing people access to our natural environment and goal number 14: important resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship. The contract contributes to this commitment and goal by providing inspection services to monitor compliance with permit conditions that ensure the protection of the environment.

Fiscal Impact
Contract costs will be paid for by the developer. There is no net County cost.