COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

November 25, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 9, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James C. Porter, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Authorization of a $750,000 Agreement between City/County Association of Governments and the County of San Mateo for Management and Staffing of San Mateo County Energy Watch.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute a $750,000 agreement between City/County Association of Governments (C/CAG) and the County of San Mateo for management and staffing of San Mateo County Energy Watch, a Local Government Partnership (LGP) with Pacific Gas and Electric Company between October 9, 2008 and March 31, 2011.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Responsive, Effective and Collaborative Government.

Goal (20): Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

Goal (22): County and local governments effectively communicate and collaborate in order to develop strategic approaches on issues affecting the entire County.

This action furthers these commitments through support of a program for cities and the County to reduce energy use, save money, and reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

BACKGROUND:

Under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) offers a Local Government Partnership (LGP) program that uses Public Goods Funds collected from ratepayers on utility bills to fund energy efficiency projects in the PG&E service area of the local government’s jurisdiction. The LGP is one of the only ways that Public Goods Funds collected from ratepayers in San Mateo County can be used back in San Mateo County for energy efficiency efforts.

In January 2008, Staff from Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson’s’ office organized a meeting with PG&E which County of San Mateo Public Works, Waste Management and Environmental Services section (RecycleWorks) staff attended. In this meeting PG&E expressed interest in partnering with County government for the 2009-2011 LGP cycle.

DISCUSSION:

In March 2008, RecycleWorks staff prepared a program abstract for a countywide Local Government Partnership, on behalf of City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG). The County and C/CAG received a positive response to the abstract in April 2008 in which PG&E expressed their desire to have the County further develop a Program Implementation Plan to fund the proposed new program called “San Mateo County Energy Watch.”

From December 2008 through March 2011, San Mateo County Energy Watch intends to provide $3.5 million to support energy-efficiency projects at municipal facilities, and private businesses and residences, countywide. The program intends to save throughout San Mateo County 9,500,000 kWh of electricity and 22,000 Therms of natural gas annually by the end of the program cycle. In addition, the program intends to reduce peak kW demands in San Mateo County by 2000 kW.

This agreement authorizes RecycleWorks staff to provide management for C/CAG and to serve as primary staff for the San Mateo County Energy Watch LGP.

The County Manager’s Office has approved the required waiver for the over three- year term of this agreement.

The agreement is predated because it had to undergo a negotiation process with C/CAG and PG&E and then it required adoption by the C/CAG Board of Directors.

A resolution and agreement have been approved as to form by County Counsel.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There will be no fiscal impact to the County for this program agreement. Any additional work, outside of the General Conditions, Specific Conditions and Scope of Work reviewed by the County and agreed upon by C/CAG and PG&E would be performed under a separate agreement between C/CAG and the County.