COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

September 8, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 28, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Shelterbelt Associates in the Amount of $294,000 to Eradicate Gorse and Restore Habitat on San Bruno Mountain State Park Lands

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement with Shelterbelt Builders Inc. to provide services to eradicate gorse and restore habitat on San Bruno Mountain State Park Lands and authorizing the Director of Environmental Services or her designee to execute amendments and minor modifications for the term of the agreement.

BACKGROUND:

Since 1979 the County of San Mateo has had an operating agreement to operate and maintain 400 acres of State Park lands on San Bruno Mountain State and County Park. Under Proposition 12, a park bond passed several years ago, the County became eligible to receive funding as a local agency that manages State Park lands. County Park staff worked closely with both State Park staff and Thomas Reid Associates, who serve as the Habitat Managers for the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan, to identify two projects of large-scale habitat restoration on San Bruno Mountain State Park lands for which grant application could be made. Grant applications for the two projects were successful and the State awarded $140,000 for the Colma Creek restoration project and $335,000 for the gorse eradication project. Resolution No. 66090 was adopted by your Board on June 24, 2003 and authorized acceptance of those grant funds.

Work could not begin on the two subject grants until the renewal of the Operating Agreement between the County and California State Parks which renewal was approved by your Board on February 24, 2004.

A Request for Proposals was distributed to 39 consulting firms and two consultant marketing firms to eradicate 35 acres of gorse. Only one firm submitted a proposal due to other consultants expressed concerns about the County’s expectation that gorse would be completely successfully eradicated. Subsequently the County’s expectations were clarified in a second Request for Proposals, which was redistributed to the same number of firms, to identify 100% eradication as a goal, but requesting the consultants clarify what they thought to be feasible. A site visit was held May 26, 2004, which was attended by 10 consultants, and eventually five proposals were received for consideration from the following consultants: (1) Go Native, (2) Rana Creek, (3) Schaff and Wheeler, (4) Pacific Open Space, and (5) Shelterbelt Builders. A Review Committee that included representatives from State Parks, Thomas Reid Associates, California Native Plant Society and Friends of San Bruno Mountain selected Shelterbelt Builders, Inc. by consensus as the consultant for the project based on their capability to comprehensively successfully complete the project based on the available budget. The amount of acreage treated had to be reduced from the desired 35 acres to 31 acres due to the consultant’s need to provide required insurance.

DISCUSSION:

While the project attempts to facilitate on-the-ground invasive weed removal activities there are direct ancillary benefits of the project. Callippe silverspot and Mission blue butterflies are Endangered species subject to protection and restoration efforts on San Bruno Mountain associated with the Habitat Conservation Plan. The grassland habitats of these species, which are located on the eastern side of the project site and are currently under threat by the invasive gorse population, will be protected and enhanced by this project. The project will also take necessary steps to abate the fire hazard posed by the existing gorse to homes located along Alta Vista in Daly City. Upon completion of the project, the consultant will assist County Parks in locating additional resources to continue a long-term stewardship program.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

The contract with Shelterbelt Builders, Inc. keeps the commitment of preserving and providing people access to our natural environment and goal number 4: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship. The contract contributes to this goal by the effort to establish a long term stewardship project to eradicate at least 31 acres of gorse, enhance the native habitat of the Federally listed Endangered species of Callippe silverspot and Mission blue butterflies, and abate an existing fire hazard located above existing residences.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Funding for this project is coming from Local Assistance Grant Program under the Safe Neighborhood Parks, Clean Water, Clean Air, and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2000 (Proposition 12) in the amount of $335,000. The award of this contract is for $294,000. County Parks will be utilizing 10% of the grant to cover staff administration in the amount of $33,500. The remaining $7,500 will be used as contingency funds to cover any unanticipated costs for this project over the next three years. There are no additional costs to the County General Fund to implement this project.