Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jasneet W. Sharma, Director, Sustainability Department
Subject: Agreement with Raimi + Associates for a Project to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Existing Buildings
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution:
A) Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Raimi + Associates to develop a strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings in unincorporated communities in San Mateo County, for the term of February 16, 2026 to June 30, 2028, in an amount not to exceed $250,000; and
B) Authorizing the Director of the Sustainability Department, or designee(s), to execute the agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
On October 18, 2022, the Board of Supervisors (Board) adopted the Community Climate Action Plan (CCAP), which outlined a path to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated in unincorporated areas of San Mateo County and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 (Resolution No. 079264). Buildings are one of the largest contributors to GHG emissions in unincorporated areas of the county. These emissions come primarily from the use of methane gas in buildings, such as gas water heaters and furnaces. Because San Mateo County residents get clean electricity from Peninsula Clean Energy, transitioning away from methane gas appliances to electric appliances helps meet GHG reduction goals and offers significant health benefits primarily by improving indoor and outdoor air quality. The CCAP has a goal to transition 16% of existing buildings from methane-based appliances to electric appliances by 2030 and 100% by 2040.
DISCUSSION:
The Sustainability Department seeks a contractor to develop an Existing Building Decarbonization Roadmap (Roadmap) for Unincorporated San Mateo County and identify a set of prioritized actions the County can implement within the next five years to help meet CCAP GHG reduction goals for unincorporated county.
The Sustainability Department conducted a competitive, formal solicitation to identify a consultant with expertise in technical analysis, building energy policy, project management and community engagement for this project. The Sustainability Department released a Request for Proposals (RFP) on OpenGov on September 3, 2025. The RFP was posted for four weeks and 12 proposals were received by October 3, 2025. None of the responses were disqualified. Following the RFP evaluation, the selection committee determined that the firm Raimi + Associates was the most qualified to complete this project. Raimi + Associates was then acquired by the company Alta Planning + Design (Alta) and the County intends to approve an assignment of the contract to Alta. The terms of the contract and personnel will remain the same.
The proposed agreement for the Roadmap project has four main components:
• Complete a building and community analysis to develop profiles of unincorporated neighborhoods, their buildings, and the people who live and work in them.
• Assess policies and programs that help reduce GHG emissions from buildings and improve resiliency.
• Support the community engagement strategy to be led by community-based organizations, including El Concilio in North Fair Oaks and Arriba South Coast in Pescadero and neighboring areas. Additional community partners will be brought in for strategic engagement in other unincorporated areas as needed, depending on the results of the initial project analysis.
• Develop recommendations for reducing GHG emissions from existing buildings for different unincorporated or community service areas, including recommendations tailored to energy-burdened and resource-constrained residents.
The contractor may also assist with implementation or other analyses as needed, such as a grid readiness assessment and energy resilience.
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY2025-26 |
FY2026-27 |
|
Provide summary analysis of all building types in unincorporated County to be included in recommendations |
100% |
0% |
|
Provide final report with recommendations for GHG reductions in all building types in unincorporated County |
0% |
100% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
This project will identify actions the County can take to support all San Mateo County unincorporated communities in the transition from gas to electric buildings while bringing other community benefits such as reduced air pollution, improved resilience and health outcomes, and targeted resources for energy-burdened and resource-constrained residents. The recommendations will be driven by a community engagement process which will include meetings and workshops with community members, led by community-based organization partners.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total cost for this contract is $250,000. Funding in the amount of $83,000 has been included in the Sustainability Department’s FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget and $167,000 is planned for the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget. There is no new Net County Cost associated with this agreement.