COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

DATE:

March 13, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 28, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

SUBJECT:

Amendment to Extend the Agreement with Kleinfelder for the Preparation of the Midcoast Groundwater Study, Phase 2

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution authorizing an Amendment to the Agreement with Kleinfelder to provide services for the preparation of the Midcoast Groundwater Study, Phase 2, to extend the term from January 31, 2006 to June 30, 2006.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitments: Redesign our urban environment to increase vitality, expand variety, and reduce congestion, and preserve and provide access to our natural environment.

Goal(s): (12) Land use decisions consider transportation and other infrastructure needs as well as impacts on the environment and on surrounding communities; (14) Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship.

The Midcoast Groundwater Study, Phase 2, contributes to the 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:

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2004-05
Actual

FY 2005-06
Projected

Percent completion of Groundwater Study to assess condition of Midcoast aquifers

90%

100%

BACKGROUND:

In 2001 the 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, the Board adopted several revisions to the well regulations for the Midcoast. In February 2003, the Board adopted resolution 65815 approving an agreement in the amount of $336,968 with Kleinfelder to complete 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.

On December 14, 2004 the Board extended the term of the Agreement to January 31, 2006 due to a number of unanticipated conditions that caused delays. Specifically, the well data provided by the County as a beginning point in the Study was incomplete, and the digital elevation model (DEM) of the Midcoast was not available as expected. Also, the decision was made to secure permission from individual well owners to test waters in existing wells rather than to drill and measure test wells, and it was a slow process to obtain the cooperation of a sufficient number of Midcoast well owners.

DISCUSSION:

The proposed Amendment would extend the term of the Agreement to June 30, 2006 to allow Kleinfelder sufficient time to complete Phase 2. The products to be completed as part of the Study are not proposed to change, nor will additional costs be incurred. Rather, completion of the Study is simply expected to take longer than originally projected. Kleinfelder is preparing the text for the final report but is encountering delays in receiving the remainder of the analytical results from their hydrogeologists. They now expect to submit the final report by March 9, 2006. After review by staff and the Board of Supervisors Water Subcommittee, there will be a public review process prior to consideration/acceptance of the report by the full Board of Supervisors later this spring. Since the contract includes attendance by Kleinfelder representative(s) at a number of staff level and public meetings, the term needs to be extended to allow time for completion of all work relating to the Agreement.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution and Amendment as to form.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Funding for the Midcoast Groundwater Study has been provided from General Fund Non-Departmental Reserves in the Planning Division budget. The proposed Amendment extending the term of the Agreement with Kleinfelder from January 31, 2006 to June 30, 2006 results in no further General Fund impact, and the cost for Phase 2 remains at $336,968.