Board Releases $1.75M for Critical Sewer Overhaul as Governance Clash Erupts

The Montara Water and Sanitary District board moved swiftly to advance a $16.5 million sewer force main replacement — the district's biggest infrastructure project in decades — while a sharp dispute over a dormant strategic planning committee revealed deepening tensions between board members and staff. With four of five directors present (Director Leah Champion absent), the Aug. 20 meeting featured a lengthy project briefing, three unanimous votes, and an exchange heated enough that General Manager Clemens Heldmaier briefly left the room.

• Board releases $1.751 million to SAM for 13,400-foot sewer force main replacement, locking in a $16.5M guaranteed maximum price and avoiding $4M in cost overruns

• Strategic plan committee dispute escalates after president confronts board member for critiquing a presentation he never watched; GM Heldmaier says he felt "intimidated" and leaves the room

• Director Slater-Carter to be sworn in as LAFCO special district representative, vowing to push back on unfunded state mandates she calls a "reverse tax"

• El Niño readiness confirmed by SAM leadership, though concerns persist about Half Moon Bay's lack of wet weather storage

The board unanimously adopted a resolution releasing $1.751 million to the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside for the Montara sewer force main replacement — a progressive design-build project to rip out and replace roughly 13,400 feet of aging ductile iron pipe that has been in continuous service for about 40 years.