COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

May 7, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

May 25, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James C. Porter, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Crystal Springs Dam Bridge Replacement Project, (Federal Aid Project No. BRLO-5935 (052) (Project No. R1103))

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1.

Approving the Crystal Springs Dam Bridge Replacement Project and making findings under the California Environmental Quality Act; and

2.

Authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an agreement with Swaim Biological, Inc., for an amount not to exceed $221,000 for Biological Services associated with construction mitigation related to the Demolition of the Crystal Springs Dam Bridge Project, from the date of execution, May 25, 2010, through December 31, 2012.

BACKGROUND:

On December 1, 2009, your Board adopted Resolution No. 070543, certifying the mitigated negative declaration for the Crystal Springs Dam Bridge Replacement Project.

Under CEQA, the Board of Supervisors is required to review and adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Crystal Springs Dam Bridge Replacement Project (Project), review and adopt the Mitigation and Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP), and approve the Project. The Department did not request that this Board approve the Project because the County had not yet, at that time, received confirmation that funds had been set aside at the State and Federal level to pay for the Project. Since that time, the County has received this confirmation and the Department now requests that this Board approve the Project, subject to the requirement to bring to this Board any contracts for the Project that require Board approval.

DISCUSSION:

The Project involves demolishing (Bridge Project) and replacing the bridge. After the bridge is demolished, which is estimated to take six months, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) will begin constructing the Lower Crystal Springs Dam Improvements Project (LCSDI Project). The LCSDI Project involves constructing a parapet well to increase reservoir capacity and improving the spillway, and is anticipated to take fourteen months to complete. The replacement phase of the Bridge Project will occur after completion of the LCSDI Project and is anticipated to take approximately twelve months to complete.

The County and the Department of Public Works (Department) do not have in-house expertise to perform the required biological monitoring for the Bridge Project. Therefore, the Department conducted a Request for Proposal to select a biological consultant to perform the required biological monitoring work for the bridge demolition phase, perform predator control for the California Red-Legged Frog (CRLF) on SFPUC property, and provide annual reports through the year 2012 regarding the effectiveness of the MMRP.

Swaim Biological, Inc. (Swaim) was selected for their overall experience and their effectiveness working with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Game staff, which is required for the Bridge Project. The work required is highly specialized, and Swaim is one of the few experts permitted by USFWS to handle CRLFs and the San Francisco Garter Snake. Swaim’s work and familiarity with both the County’s and SFPUC’s projects and environmental requirements will significantly and positively contribute to the success of this Bridge Project.

The Department has worked with Swaim to revise a Biological Opinion previously issued from the USFWS and updated for the Bridge Project, evaluate a mitigation plan for the threatened and endangered species, and consult with regulatory agencies associated with the Project. Swaim is also working with the SFPUC on their LCSDI Project.

Swaim submitted the negotiated proposal in the amount of $200,885 based on the amount of work to be done.

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

Adoption of this action contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of an Environmentally Conscious Community by allowing the Department to replace the bridge through the implementation of mitigation measures that will reduce potential adverse effects to less-than-significant levels.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Agreement specifies a “Not to Exceed” amount of $221,000 for all specified tasks, which includes a ten percent (10%) contingency ($20,088). Bridge Project costs will be reimbursable at 88.53% by the Federal Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program. Sufficient Road Funds have been budgeted to finance the local match portion of the Bridge Project.

The Agreement is proposed to be financed as follows:

Federal Funding

$195,650

Road Fund

$25,350

Agreement Not to Exceed Amount

$221,000

There is no impact to the General Fund