Board Authorizes $200K Design for Coastal Utility Relocation as Erosion Threatens Pipes

The Montara Water and Sanitary District board tackled aging infrastructure, federal grant strategy, and a simmering governance dispute at its July 9 meeting — all under the shadow of an upcoming review that could challenge the district's independence. The board approved design funding for a long-delayed sewer and water relocation project along the eroding coastline, heard pitches for three federal grants, and aired sharp disagreements over whether the district's 11-year-old strategic plan still cuts it.

• Board approves $200,000 for Valmar utility relocation design to move sewer and water pipes away from eroding coastal bluffs — a problem first identified in the mid-1990s

• Three Water Smart grants submitted to Bureau of Reclamation for a hydrologic database, groundwater age-dating study, and SCADA modernization — all on a 50/50+ cost share

• Strategic plan debate erupts as staff declares the 2015 plan still adequate; Director Young demands update ahead of LAFCO's municipal services review

• Board president issues six-week ultimatum for strategic plan committee to meet or face reassignment

• SAM solar project canceled but yields a critical easement agreement with Half Moon Bay, signaling thawing inter-agency relations

• Mid Coast permit cap controversy surfaces after county issued 71 building allocations in one year — nearly double the 40-unit annual cap

Decades-Old Erosion Risk Gets Design Dollars

The board unanimously authorized General Manager Clemens Heldmaier to pursue up to $200,000 in funding for design of the Valmar Street sewer and water relocation project, a collaboration with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District.

The basics: The project addresses a constellation of infrastructure vulnerabilities along the Strand — a paper street along the coast where the original trunk sewer has been compromised by decades of erosion. Portions have already fallen into the ocean. The scope includes relocating sewer pipes from the Strand, separating water and sewer lines that no longer meet code separation standards, moving the primary water crossing under Highway 1 from Sierra to Etheldore, revitalizing an unused force main to improve sewage flow, and encasing a vulnerable pipe crossing at Dean Creek. A smaller section at the north end of Ellendale in Moss Beach is also included.

Why it matters: Getting designs shovel-ready now positions the district to capture time-limited grant funding. Without relocation, the district faces continued emergency repairs on infrastructure that sewer engineer Pippin Cavagnaro acknowledged could take years to fully address.

Where things stand: Even with full funding, construction would span three to four seasons to minimize disruption to residents. "If we got all the money tomorrow, somehow it would still probably take three construction seasons to adequately complete the project and not really disrupt the local community too much," said Cavagnaro. Without full grant funding, a phased plan B would stretch the timeline significantly: "The plan B would be just to take it one little piece at a time and it would take definitely a number of more years to get through the project that way."

Board Director Kathryn Slater-Carter noted the problem has been known for decades. "This is the same problem that Ed Newt was struggling with in the mid-'90s that we're talking about," she said. "Thank goodness for new technology and deepest thanks to Telus and RCD for coordinating and helping us get the funding on this."

Board Director Cid Young asked about coordinating with the Caltrans Moss Beach corridor plan, expected around 2030–2032.

Decisions: Approved 4-0 (For: Champion, Young, Boyd, Slater-Carter; Absent: Softky).

What's next: Staff will pursue additional grant funding and extend a collaborative design agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District for project management and reimbursement.

District Pursues Three Federal Grants for Water Monitoring

Maya Montalvo of Balance Hydrologics presented three Water Smart grant applications submitted to the Bureau of Reclamation, each targeting a different gap in the district's water management infrastructure.

The basics: The first application funds a hydrologic data management and decision support database that would centralize streamflow, groundwater pumping, and water quality data with six telemetry stations. The second is a groundwater age-dating study using isotope hydrology, in collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Cal State East Bay, to understand whether groundwater recharge is sustainable over the long term. The third funds SCADA and distribution monitoring modernization through Calcon Systems — new flow meters, pressure sensors, and a booster pump at six stations.

Why it matters: The district has already slashed non-revenue water — water lost to leaks and measurement error — from 21% to 7%, one of the lowest rates in the state. "21% is three times more than industry average, which where you now at 7%," confirmed District Engineer Tanya Yurovsky. These grants would push that further with automated leak detection and better data.

All three grants require a minimum 50/50 cost share. Montalvo explained the district requested 45% federal funding to improve competitiveness: "That is at 45% because this can really increase the chances of actually receiving funding, which means the non-federal share or Montara share is at 55%."

Where things stand: General Manager Heldmaier underscored the urgency of the SCADA upgrade, noting the current system's architecture dates back over four decades. "The skeleton of the SCADA system that we're currently using is over 40 years old," he said. "One of the problems is to find knowledgeable people that can work with this old software at this point."

On the groundwater front, Heldmaier offered reassurance about the district's aquifer: "This aquifer is extremely drought-proof. So after the drought we see recharge back to levels like before."

The other side: Board Director Leah Champion raised cybersecurity concerns about the SCADA upgrade. Public commenter Greg Diego asked about ongoing maintenance costs and asset lifetimes, which staff noted would need follow-up with Calcon.

Board President Scott Boyd framed the monitoring investment in practical terms: "If we know about it, we can do something about it and we can put a stop to the water going away in ways that might have gone undetected."

What's next: The Bureau of Reclamation will evaluate the three applications. No board vote was required; this was an informational presentation.

Strategic Plan Standoff: Staff Says It's Fine, Director Says Update It

A seemingly routine staff review of the district's 2015 strategic plan devolved into the meeting's most contentious exchange, exposing a governance rift over committee authority, compensation, and the board's readiness for outside scrutiny.

The basics: General Manager Heldmaier presented a comprehensive review of the plan's eight goals — covering water supply, communications, risk and finances, governmental relations, additional services, operations, facilities, and governance. His conclusion was blunt: "Given these achievements and the consistency of the existing plan with our obligations as a public utility, a revision of the plan does not appear necessary nor beneficial to the public the district serves. That is staff's opinion."

The other side: Board Director Cid Young pushed back sharply. She argued the ad hoc strategic plan committee — composed of herself and absent Director Bill Softky — has not been convened to weigh in. "We have not yet had a strategic plan update committee meeting this whole year or last year," Young said. "So I don't know if you think that you don't need to update it, but after 11 years it probably should be updated."

Young tied the urgency directly to external oversight: "Because of the upcoming municipal services review, I suggest we have something better than a 2015 plan on our website."

Where things stand: Board President Boyd challenged Young to identify specific gaps, noting a year had passed without committee output. He then issued a direct ultimatum: "If you guys don't have a meeting in the next six weeks, I'm going to reassign the committee."

The exchange also surfaced a secondary dispute over whether ad hoc committee meetings are compensated. Heldmaier clarified they are not, and that the distinction matters due to past issues with unauthorized spending. Boyd suggested an incremental approach — tagging future agenda items to corresponding strategic plan goals.

Board Director Slater-Carter sided with staff, praising the plan's ongoing relevance: "I think that's why we're so successful as a district, why we have our certificate of transparency and why we have such a long-standing crew and such low workers' comp payments, which all are proof of our excellence."

Why it matters: LAFCO's upcoming municipal services review will evaluate the district's governance, efficiency, and service delivery. Whether the board presents a refreshed strategic vision or relies on an 11-year-old document could shape that assessment — and, ultimately, questions about the district's continued independence.

What's next: The strategic plan committee has six weeks to hold a meeting. No formal board action was taken.

SAM Easement Breakthrough With Half Moon Bay

Board Director Slater-Carter reported that the SAM (Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside) solar project has been canceled — but produced an unexpected dividend. Negotiations yielded a formal easement for the SAM treatment plant, which sits on Half Moon Bay-owned property and has operated for decades without a current agreement after the previous easement quietly expired around 2022.

Board President Boyd elaborated on a related development: Half Moon Bay wants to restore the Kehoe waterway from a channelized course to a more natural meander pattern and relocate a sewer line from behind homes to the street. SAM and MWSD have separated these issues from earlier, more fraught negotiations and are agreeing to both.

Boyd struck an optimistic note on inter-agency dynamics: "People of goodwill can say yes to things that are beneficial, maybe more to you than to me, but if it's good, let's do it. So we're finding small but important little things to find agreement on and go forward together on."

The SAM force main project in Montara and Super El Niño preparations were flagged as upcoming agenda items.

LAFCO and Coastal Commission: District Defends Its Record

Board President Boyd highlighted two letters in the general manager's report. The first, to LAFCO, responds to the agency's announced municipal services review by affirming the district has never failed to provide water or sewer service to any customer. The second, a 10-page response to the Coastal Commission, addresses a proposed amendment to the Mid Coast Local Coastal Program that would change how annual building permit allocations are calculated.

Why it matters: The permit cap issue is live: the county's Planning Commission issued 71 building allocations in a single year, pushing cumulative totals to 120 and blowing past the longstanding 40-unit annual cap. Director Young explained the resulting scramble: "They gave out 71 allocations in one year, which plus what had already been given out came to 120. So they had to backtrack and figure out, oh, what are we going to do now?"

The preferred fix — known as Option E — would apply a 166-unit lookback to 2013, the year the Tom Lantos Tunnel opened and the district resumed issuing water permits. The 40-unit annual cap would be maintained, excluding large affordable housing projects like MidPen. The plan still needs to return to the Mid Coast Community Council before final adoption.

Public commenter Greg Diego protested the Planning Commission's actions and asked the district to review a draft response he plans to submit: "My request of this group is if I send a draft, I'm hoping some aspect of MWSD will be able to review for accuracy whatever I say about matters that are within the district's purview."

Minor Items

• Consent agenda approved 4-0 (Softky absent). Items were not individually discussed.

• Closed session held on real property negotiations regarding 771 Rivera Road with Co-Director Wholesale Florists Corporation and Miller Habit Ranch. No reportable action.

• Director Softky was absent from the meeting.