Montara Board Eyes $22M, Federally Backed Flood Shield for Sewer Plant
Board of Directors • Montara Water and Sanitary DistrictOctober 15, 2026
Locunity is an independent informational service and is not an official government page for this commission. All information is sourced from public footage and an analysis of official agendas with the aid of responsible, fact-checked AI. to report an error or omission.
The Montara Water and Sanitary District Board of Directors spent the biggest share of its Oct. 15, 2026, meeting on a threat that is not on any vote sheet yet: flooding at the coast's shared sewer plant. Directors heard that a partnership with One Shoreline and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could lead to a $22M protection project, 65% federally funded. The board also closed out a multiyear sewer project 5-0 and took a first look at a new state law aimed at artificial intelligence (AI) in public proceedings.
- $22M flood protection project, 65% federal share, emerges for the shared sewer plant
- The plant came "within 2 or 3 inches" of losing its electrical system in the last storm
- New state law SB 1159 says AI agents are not "persons" in government proceedings
- Directors trade ideas for handling AI-generated public records requests
- 2022-23 sewer improvement project closed out 5-0, starting the 5% retention clock
Flood Risk at the Sewer Plant Draws Federal Interest
Why it matters: A flooded plant would halt wastewater service for the entire Coastside. Outside funding would keep that protection from falling on local ratepayers.
The basics: The plant is run by the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM), a joint agency that includes Montara. One Shoreline is San Mateo County's countywide flood and sea level rise district.
Where things stand: Directors described a special meeting featuring One Shoreline. A prospective project with the Army Corps could pay for berm work, relocate electrical equipment and defend other plant infrastructure. The project is pegged at $22M, with 65% federal funding, and would run over several years.
The urgency is not hypothetical. "In the last storm, it was within 2 or 3 inches of losing the entire electrical system for the plant," said President Pro Tem Kathryn Slater-Carter.
Board President Scott Boyd stressed that the district is not locked in. "At any point, if we decide that there's a better way to spend our time and money, we can just stop that," he said.
The other side: Slater-Carter also raised concerns about loans tied to the effort. She pointed to Kelvin waves, which are ocean-driven surges in sea level, and to creek water backing up near the plant as risks that need attention.
Director Bill Softky pushed for better modeling of flood risk. "I would love to vote for spending a couple thousand dollars on somebody," he said, proposing a forecaster.
General Manager Clemens Heldmaier doubted any model could settle the question. He said "we will never be able to predict exactly what happens" at the beach in front of the plant.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The board took no action. Coastside ratepayers stand to benefit most if federal dollars cover the bulk of the cost. SAM's member agencies would share any local match. The opt-out gives directors leverage, but the multiyear timeline means the plant stays exposed in the meantime.
What's next: District counsel separately reported that the governor's preemptive El Niño emergency proclamation directs state agencies, including the California Coastal Commission, to speed up permits for storm mitigation. That could shape how fast plant protections move. Staff will watch for openings.
State Law Takes Aim at AI in Public Proceedings
Why it matters: AI-generated public records requests are costly for small districts like Montara. A new state law gives agencies firmer legal footing to push back.
Where things stand: District counsel briefed directors on SB 1159, signed Sept. 30. The law amends four pillars of California public-agency law: the Brown Act, the California Public Records Act, the California Environmental Quality Act and the Coastal Act. Counsel said the law "clarifies that artificial intelligence systems and agents are not considered persons entitled to participate in governmental proceedings or exercise rights."
The briefing hit close to home. Slater-Carter reported that SAM had discussed a new, unidentified meeting attendee who might be gathering data. Boyd placed that in a statewide pattern. "We're seeing agencies that are being inundated with PRAs that are AI-generated," he said, referring to Public Records Act requests.
The other side: Directors floated low-tech defenses rather than a formal policy. "Maybe what we need to do is put at the bottom of when they file a PRA, acknowledge you are human," Slater-Carter said. Softky suggested staff call filers to follow up.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The board took no action. The tension is real: records laws exist to keep government open to residents, journalists and watchdogs. Any screening step will need to filter out automated requests without discouraging legitimate human ones.
What's next: No policy item was scheduled. Any formal records-request rule would need to come back on a future agenda.
Sewer Project Formally Closes Out 5-0
Why it matters: The vote ends a multiyear capital project. It also confirms that the district, not developers, absorbs the cost of the extra repairs.
Where things stand: The resolution authorizes a notice of completion for the 2022-23 sewer improvement project and spot repairs. "And so now our sewer engineer recommends to file a notice of completion with the county recorder," Heldmaier said. Filing starts a 35-day lien period. After it ends, the district releases the 5% retention it held back from the contractor.
Director Cid Young asked about change-order repairs on 3rd Street and near Seton and 600 Marine. Heldmaier said a sewer line near a pressure reduction vault on 3rd Street had failed. "The sewer line was failing below a water station," he said. He added that the district absorbs the listed costs and that the work served the district only, not any development.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Slater-Carter moved the resolution, and Director Leah Champion seconded it. The vote was For: 5 (Boyd, Slater-Carter, Young, Champion, Softky), Against: 0, Absent: 0. The contractor gets paid in full once the lien window closes. Ratepayers cover the change-order repairs.
What's next: Staff files with the county recorder. The retention is released after the 35-day lien period.
Strategic Plan Idea Parked Until It Is Agendized
Where things stand: An ad hoc group has met once on a possible strategic planning process. "I'm not really sure why we didn't hire Martin Rauch," Young said, referring to a strategic planning approach the group had considered. Other directors noted the topic was not on the agenda.
What's next: Boyd and counsel said the topic should come back as a formal item so labor and conflict-of-interest questions can be reviewed. "Let's just get it an item on the agenda, and then all these questions can be vetted," counsel said.
Minor Items
- Pension valuation accepted: Foster and Foster reported the district's net pension asset grew from about $57,000 to almost $225,000. A net pension asset means the plan is overfunded, which is rare among public agencies.
- ACWA voting designee: Softky was named by acclamation to cast online votes for the Association of California Water Agencies, including a pending vote on restated bylaws. He said "I disapprove of the remote voting thing as a matter of principle" but agreed to serve.
- Consent agenda: Approved 4-0 on a motion by Slater-Carter, seconded by Champion, with Softky not yet in the room.
- PG&E outages: Boyd said PG&E traced recent Coastside outages to corroded tree-contact sensors and that power has been stable since Wednesday. "We may be a small community, but speaking up seems to make a difference," he said.
- Highway 1 at Moss Beach: Young reported that the Caltrans project remains in environmental review and "it's not going to be done before Cypress Point is occupied with all those cars."
Looking Ahead
The board recessed to closed session to discuss real property negotiations on 771 Rivera Road and anticipated litigation. Any reportable action will come later. The ACWA designation can still be changed before the association's nomination deadline, and the strategic plan is expected to return as a formal agenda item.