COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

December 21, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

January 4, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Neil R. Cullen, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Agreement for the Use of Property for the Construction and Maintenance of Habitat Mitigation Areas and for an Abutment of a Pedestrian Bridge - San Mateo County Flood Control District and the City of South San Francisco - Colma Creek Area

Recommendation

Acting as the governing board of the San Mateo County Flood Control District (District), adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement with the City of South San Francisco (City) which:

a)

permits the District to construct and maintain on property controlled by the City, habitat mitigation improvements that were a condition of receiving permits to construct the Colma Creek Channel Improvement Project between Spruce and San Mateo Avenues; and

b)

provides an easement over District property for a bridge abutment constructed by the City.

Vision Alignment

Commitment: responsive, effective and collaborative government

Goal 22: County and local governments effectively communicate, collaborate and develop strategic approaches to issues affecting their jurisdictions.

Your Board authorizing execution of the agreement will enable both the District and the City to fulfill the requirements of various regulatory agency permits.

Background

Previous Board Action

1.

Approved the construction of the Colma Creek Channel Improvement Project between Spruce and San Mateo Avenues in Colma Creek.

2.

Authorized the Director of Public Works to use County forces to construct the required Habitat Mitigation Project as no bids were received for this work.

History

The District is required to replace 0.50 acres of Clean Water Act wetlands that have been impacted as a result of implementing the Colma Creek Channel Improvement Project, by creating 1.5 acres of salt marsh wetlands with higher habitat values for sensitive and endangered species.

We developed the Mitigation Project to provide the 1.5 acres of salt marsh wetlands and a portion of the Mitigation Project is required to be constructed on State lands controlled by the City.

Concurrently, the City was required to construct a bridge to provide pedestrian access to the San Francisco Bay shoreline and one of the bridge abutments is located on adjacent District owned land.

Discussion

The proposed agreement provides that the District will grant an easement to the City for the northeasterly abutment of the pedestrian bridge over Colma Creek that is located on District property, and the City will grant the District access to State property under their control for the construction and maintenance of the mitigation improvements. The agreement also provides that the District will be responsible for all maintenance and repair of the mitigation improvements after completion and acceptance of the work during a 5-year monitoring period as required by the regulatory agency permits.

County Counsel has approved a resolution and agreement as to form and the City has executed the agreement.

Fiscal Impact

The estimated cost of the Mitigation Project is $350,000 and is proposed to be financed with funds from the Colma Creek Flood Control Zone. The City is responsible for the cost of maintaining the pedestrian bridge. There is no impact to the General Fund.