RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION (1) AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO EXECUTE GRANT AGREEMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS ACT FUNDING; (2) AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE DESIGN, ENGINEERING, AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE SOLAR GENESIS PROJECT, AND (3) DIRECTING PUBLIC WORKS STAFF TO FILE A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION FOR A CEQA CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION FOR THE SOLAR GENESIS PROJECT AND (4) TO SIGN A LETTER OF INTENT TO PROCEED WITH THE ACQUISITION AND INSTALLATION OF THE PHOTOVOLTAIC EQUIPMENT ATOP THE COUNTY PARKING GARAGE, TO ALLOW K2 SOLAR, THE COUNTY'S SOLAR ENERGY CONTRACTOR, TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAVORABLE PRICING

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, in October 2007, the County of San Mateo adopted the Cool Counties Declaration committing the County to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; and

WHEREAS, the Solar Genesis project is the County’s commitment to reduce the carbon footprint of County facilities, and will involve a contract with K2 Solar to furnish and install an approximately 330kw-DC (280kw-AC) photovoltaic array atop the County Parking Garage, with a proposed total cost of $3.3 million dollars; and

WHEREAS, through the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, the County has been allocated $1,427,250 for the Solar Genesis project; and

WHEREAS, K2 Solar has advised the Department of Public Works that the County of San Mateo will benefit from current favorable pricing for solar equipment if the County signs a letter of intent to proceed with the acquisition and installation of the equipment; and

WHEREAS, because the federal funding remains outstanding and the timeline for performance is short, this Board wishes to authorize the Director of Public Works to sign a letter of intent to proceed with the acquisition and installation of the photovoltaic equipment atop the County Parking Garage in order to allow K2 Solar, the County's solar energy contractor, to take advantage of current opportunities for favorable pricing on the photovoltaic array atop the County Parking Garage; and

WHEREAS, Public Works staff has determined that this project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 of the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED as follows:

1. The Director of Public Works is authorized and directed to negotiate and execute the grant agreements with the federal government necessary for the receipt of the Omnibus Appropriations Act funding for the Solar Genesis Project.

2. The Director of Public Works is authorized and directed to negotiate and execute the agreements necessary for the design, engineering, and construction of the Solar Genesis project to install photovoltaic solar panels atop the County Center parking structure.

3. The Public Works Director is further directed to file a Notice of Exemption, for a CEQA Categorical Exemption with the County Clerk Recorder

4. The Director of Public Works is directed to sign a letter of intent to proceed with the acquisition and installation of the photovoltaic equipment atop the County Parking Garage allow K2 Solar, the County's solar energy contractor, to take advantage of current opportunities for favorable pricing for the photovoltaic array atop the County Parking Garage.

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