Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jasneet W. Sharma, Director, Sustainability Department
Subject: Agreement with San Mateo Resource Conservation District for the San Mateo County Compost for Climate Solutions Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement with San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) to implement compost delivery, application, and related field and record keeping activities under the San Mateo County Compost for Climate Solutions Program, for the term of February 10, 2026 through December 31, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000, and approving a waiver of the competitive solicitation process.
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BACKGROUND:
In 2016, Senate Bill (SB) 1383 established statewide emissions reduction targets for short-lived climate pollutants, such as methane, which results from the disposal of organic waste at landfills. SB 1383 requires the State to reduce the amount of organic waste disposed of in landfills by 75 percent from 2014 levels by 2025. One strategy identified by the State to meet this target, is through the conversion of disposed organic waste into recovered organic waste products such as compost, mulch, and renewable natural gas each year.
Given that SB 1383 includes statewide targets, the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) proposed regulations that require local jurisdictions to implement specific strategies for diverting organic materials from the landfill. One requirement is that local jurisdictions annually procure a certain targeted amount of recovered organic waste products produced from organic waste diverted from the landfill. Each jurisdiction in CA, including the County of San Mateo (County) and 20 cities in San Mateo County have been given an annual recovered organic waste product procurement target. The County’s annual procurement target is equal to 2,810 tons of compost.
The San Mateo County Compost for Climate Solutions Program (CCSP) was developed to help jurisdictions meet these requirements through a countywide partnership among all the cities and towns of San Mateo County, San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD), and the County. The Sustainability Department (Department) launched the program through an agreement with the RCD in 2021 (Agreement No. 40000-21-D023) for $106,293. Individual agreements between all 20 jurisdictions and RCD were subsequently established to implement the program as a countywide partnership. Amendments in 2022 and 2024 (Resolution No. 080447) increased the agreement amount to $212,091 and extended the term through June 2026, with $83,556 of the agreement funded through state-issued grant funds.
The program provides compost to farms and ranches at reduced costs and assigns the resulting procurement credit to jurisdictions. Since 2021, CCSP has delivered 30,000 tons of compost to 45 farms and ranches supporting more than $1,200,000 in soil amendment costs for local farmers, to improve soil health and food production.
DISCUSSION:
Administering separate agreements for each jurisdiction resulted in duplicative processes and increased administrative burden for all parties as the program expanded. Beginning in 2026, the Department is proposing to serve as the program administrator and enter into a single agreement with the RCD on behalf of all participating jurisdictions. Jurisdictions in San Mateo County will enter a memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with the Department and provide annual financial contributions for the program, including a two to four percent administrative fee for Department staff time to manage and coordinate this program. These funds will support centralized coordination, bulk compost procurement, field activities, and required SB 1383 recordkeeping.
Under this agreement, the RCD will carry out all field and operational components of the program, which are necessary for jurisdictions to meet SB 1383 procurement requirements. This includes providing technical assistance to farmers and ranchers, coordinating compost procurement and delivery, applying compost, and preparing the documentation required for state reporting.
Program Roles
• Jurisdictions: Provide annual financial contributions, including an administrative fee to the Department; receive procurement credit; and are responsible for submitting individual, state-required reporting.
• Department: Administer the program; manage pooled contributions and contract; coordinate participation; assign credits; track records.
• RCD: Conduct all field activities; work with farms and ranches; purchase and deliver compost; oversee application; and prepare documentation.
• Farm and Ranch Participants: Receive cost-subsidized compost for soil health and climate resilience practices.
In accordance with County procurement policy, the Procurement Director or designee has recommended that this Board approve the waiver of the competitive process for this agreement because the RCD is a public agency acting within its statutory authority and possesses specialized agricultural and conservation expertise necessary to implement the CCSP.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2025-26 |
FY 2026-27 |
FY 2027-28 |
|
Tons of compost procured |
19,607 tons |
19,607 tons |
19,607 tons |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The agreement is expected to increase access to high-quality, cost-subsidized compost for farms and ranches across the region, including smaller operations. Additionally, compost application is a soil health and carbon sequestration strategy identified in the Working Lands sector of the County’s Community Climate Action Plan. Expanding access to compost improves soil health and enhances the land’s ability to store carbon, which in turn helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen climate-resilient agriculture countywide.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the agreement is February 10, 2026 through December 31, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000. Annual program funding and expenditures is determined by the contribution amounts received from participating jurisdictions through their MOUs with the County. Funding in the amount of $400,000 has been included in the Department’s FY 2025-26 Approved Budget and $400,000 is planned for the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget. The County’s contribution to this program is anticipated to be supported through a combination of program revenues and existing departmental resources. Final allocation of funding amount and sources for the County’s portion will be confirmed during implementation. There is no new Net County Cost associated with this agreement.