COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Parks

 

DATE:

November 7, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 18, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

N/A

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks

SUBJECT:

Agreement with Jones and Stokes for the Preparation of an Initial Study/Environmental Assessment, and if Determined Appropriate, for the Preparation of a Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment for an Amendment to the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution waiving the requirement for a request for proposal process and authorizing and directing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an agreement with Jones and Stokes to run from the date of execution through February 28, 2010 in an amount not to exceed $118,209 for the preparation of an Initial Study/Environmental Assessment to determine the most appropriate level of CEQA/NEPA environmental review, and if determined appropriate, for the preparation of a Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment for an amendment to the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to the natural environment.

Goal 14: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship.

 

This Agreement contributes to this commitment and goal as the environmental review of the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) amendment and its subsequent approval will include approval of the Master Plan for San Bruno Mountain State and County Park.

 

Performance Measure:

Measure

Projected

Approved CEQA for the HCP Amendment

CEQA/NEPA Approved HCP Amendment

   

BACKGROUND:

Brookfield Homes, with the concurrence of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS), decided in the Fall of 2006 that the Northeast Ridge Area 3 development should be considered independent of the County’s HCP amendment. The City of Brisbane acted as lead agency for the environmental review of the Northeast Ridge 3 development HCP amendment.

 

USFWS had recommended that the environmental review of the Northeast Ridge HCP amendment be completed before the County’s HCP amendment proceeds. They currently are reviewing the Northeast Ridge HCP amendment for approval. In the interim, the Jones and Stokes contract to conduct environmental review for the County’s HCP amendment expired.

 

DISCUSSION:

As the Northeast Ridge 3 development HCP amendment is being handled separately, USFWS and Department of Fish and Game (DFG) staff have concurred that it would make sense to proceed with an Initial Study/Environmental Assessment for the HCP amendment, and if warranted, proceed with a Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment.

 

It is in the County’s interest to waive the requirement for the request for proposal process because Jones and Stokes, the consultant doing the environmental work thus far, is very familiar with the issues associated with the HCP amendment, and were originally hired for environmental review services through a request for proposal process.

 

The cost for these services is not to exceed $118,209. The agreement would run from the date of execution through February 28, 2010 unless extended by the parties in writing.

 

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

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

The cost for Jones and Stokes to prepare an Initial Study/Environmental Assessment, and if warranted, a Mitigated Negative Declaration/Environmental Assessment, for the HCP amendment, is $118,209. The DFG extended their grant agreement to include this work by Jones and Stokes, which will fund $67,474 of the contract amount. The remaining $50,735 will come from funding dedicated by Brookfield Homes for the completion of the County’s HCP amendment. There is no Net County Cost associated with this contract.