Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors, Acting as the County of San Mateo and the Governing Board of the Scenic Heights County Sanitation District and the Emerald Lake Heights Sewer Maintenance District
From: Ann M. Stillman, Director of Public Works
Subject: Sewer Service for 83 El Vanada Road in the Unincorporated Area of San Carlos - Lands of DiPetrillo and Cady (APN 051-440-080)
RECOMMENDATION:
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Recommendation to:
A) Acting as the County of San Mateo and the Governing Board of the Scenic Heights County Sanitation District and the Emerald Lake Heights Sewer Maintenance District, adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an amendment to the Agreement between the County of San Mateo, Scenic Heights County Sanitation District, Emerald Lake Heights Sewer Maintenance District, and the City of San Carlos concerning Transport, Maintenance and Treatment of Sewage for 83 El Vanada Road; and
B) Acting as the Governing Board of the Scenic Heights County Sanitation District, adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board to execute an agreement with Christen G. DiPetrillo and Kyle C. Cady (Owners) for the Provision of Sanitary Sewer Service for their developed property at 83 El Vanada Road in the unincorporated area of San Mateo County near San Carlos.
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BACKGROUND:
The Hassler Sewer Line (Hassler Line) was originally constructed by the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF) as an outfall sewer through the City of San Carlos (City) to the San Francisco Bay from the Hassler Health Home Facilities owned and operated by CCSF that were located near the intersection of Edmonds Road and Crestview Drive. The County entered into an agreement with CCSF in July 1958 for the use of the Hassler Line by the original Emerald Lake Heights Sewer Maintenance District (Emerald Heights) and for the County facilities located at the Cordilleras Center. The Scenic Heights County Sanitation District (Scenic Heights) became responsible for the Hassler Line as a condition of being allowed to connect to the line to provide sewer service to the properties that are within the Scenic Heights.
In September 1985 a new agreement was entered into by the County, Scenic Heights, Emerald Heights, and the City concerning transport, maintenance and treatment of sewage (1985 Agreement). The 1985 Agreement was in response to the establishment of the South Bayside System Authority (SBSA and currently known as the Silicon Valley Clean Water or SVCW), a joint powers authority with member agencies consisting of the cities of Belmont, Redwood City, San Carlos and the West Bay Sanitary District to provide sanitary sewerage transmission and disposal services to the member agencies. The Scenic Heights, portion of Emerald Heights, and the County’s Cordilleras Center facilities all contribute sewage to the SVCW through the transmission lines of the City. The 1985 Agreement set forth the sewage treatment capacity rights of the Emerald Heights, Scenic Heights, and the County that are part of the City’s capacity rights at the SVCW. Subsequent amendments to the 1985 Agreement provided for areas of the City to have its sewage transported through the Hassler Line and also identified the current area served by the Hassler Line with sewage treatment provided by the City.
DISCUSSION:
The San Mateo County Environmental Health Services Division has determined that the septic system on the Owners’ property at 83 El Vanada Road (Property) is failing and determined the system cannot be improved to meet current standards.
The Property is not contiguous to the corporate limits of the City and therefore cannot be annexed to the City for the direct provision of City sewer service at this time.
The San Mateo County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) held the necessary hearing on July 19, 2023 and has approved of the City providing outside City sewer service to the Property. However, the City does not wish to maintain the sewer collection facilities that are currently outside of its corporate limits.
The City adopted Resolution No. 2023-084 on June 26, 2023 authorizing the application by the City to the LAFCo requesting approval for extension of sewer service outside the City’s jurisdictional boundaries and authorizing the City Manager to execute the outside sewer service agreement with the Owners for the Property. The City has received LAFCo approval to provide sewage treatment capacity to the Owners' Property. However, it is necessary to transport the sewage from the Property through the Hassler Line and therefore the 1985 Agreement between the City, the County, the Emerald Heights, and the Scenic Heights needs to be amended to identify this property as being served by the Hassler Line.
The sewer facilities, which will be constructed by the Owners, are not within the City nor are they within Scenic Heights. The Owners will own and maintain all sewer facilities necessary to convey sewage from the Property to the Hassler Line until such time as the Property is annexed to the City and maintenance is assumed by the City. The proposed agreement between the Scenic Heights and Owners provides for said maintenance by Owners and payment of the sewer service fees.
County Attorney has reviewed and approved the resolutions as to form. The Owners have signed the agreement and the City has signed the amendment to the 1985 Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Scenic Heights has set up a reimbursable account with the Owners to cover all expenses incurred by Scenic Heights in developing agreements, investigating alternatives, reviewing and checking proposed engineering plans, and providing construction inspection of new sewer facilities and pavement restoration in the County’s road right-of-way. The costs will be based on actual staff time charged.
There is no direct impact to the General Fund.