Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors, Acting as the Governing Board of the Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District
From: Ann M. Stillman, Director of Public Works
Subject: Certification of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District Sanitary Sewer Trunk Line Replacement Project
[County Project No. SF028; County Project File No. E5071]
RECOMMENDATION:
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Acting as the Governing Board of the Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District, adopt a resolution certifying the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, dated August 2024, for the Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District Sanitary Sewer Trunk Line Replacement Project.
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BACKGROUND:
On August 5, 2014, this Board adopted Resolution No. 073304, re-certifying the Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) for the ten County Sewer Maintenance and Sanitation Districts. This Board also directed the Director of Public Works to implement and periodically update the revised SSMP as necessary to comply with current regulatory requirements and best practices.
On February 9, 2016, this Board adopted Resolution No. 074349 authorizing the President of this Board to execute an agreement with Coastline Water Resources, Inc. for the completion of the Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District Closed Circuit Television Pipeline and Manhole Inspection Project.
DISCUSSION:
The Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District (District), managed by the Department of Public Works (Department), provides wastewater collection services for approximately 7,200 customers in North Fair Oaks, Sequoia Tract, the Town of Atherton, the Town of Woodside, and parts of the City of Redwood City (Redwood City). The collection system includes sewer pipelines that range in size between 4 to 33 inches in diameter. Much of the infrastructure, including 30 to 33-inch trunk lines (the largest diameter collector pipes), having been constructed in the early to mid-1900s, are nearing the end of their useful life.
The District’s 33-inch diameter concrete trunk line near Hwy 101 and Woodside Road consist of the largest diameter sewer pipes in the District. This pipe serves a critical role in collecting and conveying large volumes of wastewater which is discharged to Redwood City’s sewer system for conveyance to the Silicon Valley Clean Water Treatment Plant for treatment and disposal.
In 2016, the District’s contractor performed closed circuit television inspections of the District’s major trunk lines to assess conditions. Assessment of the 33-inch pipes concluded that, based on the pipe conditions, age, debris, and flow capabilities, replacement of specific pipe segments was warranted. As a result, the Department proposes to replace six 33-inch pipe segments with 36-inch Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes. The Department has retained Michael Baker International, Inc. (MBI) to develop plans and specifications and prepare the necessary environmental clearance documents for the construction of the Fair Oaks Sewer Maintenance District Sanitary Sewer Trunk Line Replacement Project (Project).
The Project consists of the replacing approximately 1,420 linear feet of existing 33-inch diameter reinforced concrete pipes with new 36-inch diameter polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes. The replacement will occur along the US 101 underpass near the Woodside Road and Seaport Boulevard interchange, extending through State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) right-of-way, between the US 101-Seaport Boulevard on-ramp and a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) substation, ending in Redwood City’s East Bayshore Road right-of-way. The Project segment through the US 101 underpass is also along an existing Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) spur track. The installation will use open trench and micro tunneling methods to minimize conflicts with nearby infrastructure, including UPRR tracks, PG&E lines, and water lines. Micro tunneling will include a 48-inch steel casing to house the new 36-inch PVC pipe, in compliance with Caltrans requirements.
The Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the Project has been completed and identified certain potential adverse effects during construction. Those effects will be reduced to less-than-significant levels through the implementation of specific mitigation measures as identified in the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP) pursuant to Section 21081.6 of the California Public Resources Code. A 30-day review period was completed in compliance with the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), comments were received, and responses to all comments have been prepared.
The certification of the IS/MND and the adoption of the MMRP as conditions of project approval will ensure compliance with all CEQA requirements. The IS/MND is available for review in the Department office and online:
https://www.smcgov.org/publicworks/fosmd-sanitary-sewer-trunk-line-replacement-project-phase-1
The responses to the comments received on the IS/MND and the MMRP are attached to the Resolution as Exhibit “A” and Exhibit “B,” respectively.
Approval of this action will allow the Department to proceed with the encroachment permitting process with Caltrans and finalizing the plans and specifications.
County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with certifying the IS/MND. The Project is proposed to be financed by District funds that have been allocated for this work.
There is no impact to the General Fund.