Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Nicholas J. Calderon, Parks Director
Subject: Agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District for Management Services to Conduct Critical Access Repairs and Sediment Reduction Along Old Haul Road in Pescadero Creek County Park
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) The President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) for project management, engineering, and construction management services to conduct critical access repairs and sediment reduction projects along Old Haul Road in Pescadero Creek County Park, for the term of June 10, 2025 through November 30, 2026, in an amount not-to-exceed $650,000; and
B) The waiving of the County’s formal competitive procurement process for this agreement; and
C) The Parks Director, or the Parks Director’s designee, to execute amendments to the agreement to modify the County’s maximum fiscal obligation by no more than $25,000, and/or to modify the Agreement’s terms and/or services, so long as the modified term(s) and/or services is/are within the current or revised fiscal provisions.
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BACKGROUND:
The San Mateo Resource Conservation District (“RCD”) is a non-regulatory, special district that provides technical support to landowners and land managers during the planning and implementation of restoration projects that achieve watershed protection goals. Due to the RCD’s ability to navigate complex environmental regulatory processes and secure grant funding to supplement project budgets, the Parks Department (“Department”) regularly collaborates with the RCD to implement sediment reduction and stream crossing repairs, water infrastructure improvements, and various wildfire resiliency projects.
As a result of prior successes conducting critical access repairs and sediment reduction projects in Pescadero Creek County Park, the Department desires to contract with the RCD for project management, engineering, and construction management services to repair two failing stream crossings on Old Haul Road in Pescadero Creek County Park (“Project”).
The Schenly Creek crossing has severely deteriorated and is at risk of failure. The outer edge of the road is eroding, the culvert has corroded, and water is flowing under the culvert destabilizing the embankment. The project engineer determined that due to accelerating degradation of the culvert, the crossing has a high risk of failure and should be prioritized for repair. Moreover, the current condition of the crossing does not permit heavy equipment to safely pass along the road impeding fire engines, Department vehicles, and equipment used to conduct planned forest health and fuel reduction projects from accessing the interior of the park.
The Rhododendron Creek crossing, located on Old Haul Road approximately 2.6 miles east of Schenly Creek, is also in need of repair and has a significant potential for failure. At this crossing, water frequently overtops Old Haul Road during storms depositing fine sediment into the creek. An active gully has also formed as a result, which is undermining the downslope embankment of the road.
Repair of both stream crossings will prevent an estimated 555 tons of sediment from entering Pescadero Creek, which provides critical habitat for federally protected coho salmon and steelhead trout. The Pescadero Creek watershed has a total maximum daily load requirement for sediment reduction established by the California State Water Resource Control Board, which the County is required to meet.
As was experienced during the CZU Lightning Complex Fires, Old Haul Road is a critical access route for firefighting in the Santa Cruz Mountains and is considered by CAL FIRE to be a priority resource in the region. The road is also essential for park operations and maintenance activities including fire fuel reduction and forest health activities.
DISCUSSION:
In accordance with the terms and provisions of the proposed agreement (“Agreement”), the RCD will provide various services including administration support, project management, engineering design services, and construction oversight. The RCD will also be responsible for selecting licensed contractor(s) through a competitive solicitation and entering into contracts with the selected contractor(s) to perform the above-described work. In accordance with the terms of the Agreement, the Department will reimburse RCD for up to $650,000 in Project-related costs. The RCD is contributing $255,000 in previously secured grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The total Project cost is $905,000.
The Department recommends that the Board waive the formal competitive procurement process for this agreement pursuant to Section IV(B)(2) of County Administrative Memorandum B-1 (May 9, 2022), which states that the competitive solicitation requirement may be waived for “agreements with other public entities, including governments, universities, schools, or other organizations acting as governmental agencies.” The RCD is a special district, a form of local government created and established under California law to be locally governed with independent board of directors that are accountable to local communities. In addition, the RCD is a division of the California state government under Division 9 of the Public Resources Code.
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolution and Agreement as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Repairs to this fire road are necessary to maintain critical access for first responders to access Pescadero Creek County Park and conduct wildfire containment and suppression efforts. Extreme wildfire can adversely impact communities through poor air quality and related health conditions, and threaten livelihoods dependent on agriculture, forestry, and tourism.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total not-to-exceed amount of the Agreement is $650,000. The Department has secured $307,500 from the California State Water Resource Control Board Nonpoint Source 319(h) grant program. This is a reimbursement-based grant. Sufficient Measure K appropriations for the remaining $342,500 of the Project are included in the Parks Department’s FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget. Measure K appropriations will be included in the Parks Department’s FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget and future budgets to fully fund the Project through its completion.