Volunteer Fire-Prevention Push Forces Caltrans Action on Coastside Hazard

The Montara Water and Sanitary District board celebrated a rare community win against state bureaucracy, honored nearly $1.81 million in cumulative federal disaster funding flowing to the local sewer authority, and heard warnings that new wildfire regulations could force changes at district facilities — all in a meeting that underscored how a small special district punches above its weight on public safety and infrastructure.

• Community group pressures Caltrans to clear decades of overgrown fire hazard through Montara and Moss Beach, but long-term maintenance remains unresolved
• FEMA pass-through funding to the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside tops $1.81 million, paying for critical infrastructure work the sewer agency cannot fund on its own
• New state Zone 0 wildfire rules advancing after years of delay could require the district to modify landscaping around pump stations, tanks, and buildings
• Solid waste rates heading for 6% increase under contractual cap; Prop 218 notice coming in December
• Director Slater-Carter sworn in to LAFCO special district seat, strengthening coastside voice in regional governance

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How a Neighborhood Group Got Caltrans to Move

A scrappy volunteer coalition accomplished what years of government inaction could not: forcing Caltrans to clear a fire-choked right-of-way running through the heart of Montara and Moss Beach.

The basics: The Red Alert Montara Moss Beach group, known as RAMP, organized a multi-pronged pressure campaign targeting Caltrans-owned land that had become dangerously overgrown. The board invited RAMP's leader to present on the effort under agenda item 901.

Why it matters: The corridor cuts through two residential communities in an area with documented wildfire risk. Caltrans had allowed the vegetation to accumulate for years, and the district — a water and sanitary agency, not a fire department — had no enforcement authority over the state agency's land.

Where things stand: The breakthrough came through media pressure and a fortunate pricing quirk. "The NBC piece that they did on this, I think in April a year ago, that really got everybody's attention," said Larry, RAMP steering committee leader. When Caltrans finally contracted a tree company to clear a minimal 15-foot setback, the contractor made an offer that changed the equation: "The professional tree company that was contracted told Caltrans that the 15-foot thing will take a lot of bucket trucks and we can clear — we can mitigate the fire hazard in the entire area for the same price."

Director Cid Young credited steering committee member Greg Diegas and raised the possibility of converting the cleared land into a linear trail. She pointed to $287,444 in unspent Mid Coast Parks Mitigation Fees as a potential funding source: "Right now in that pot, they had at the end of 2025, $287,444.58, and for the past two years, '24 and '25, they hadn't spent any of it. So I think that would be a great time to talk to Steve Monowitz to try to get them to get rolling on a plan." Any trail plan would require Coastal Commission certification.

What's next: The critical unresolved question is maintenance. "The question is now who's going to maintain that land?" Larry asked. He noted Caltrans has said the property is available for sale at market value and mentioned his son's organization, Trail Stewards of the Santa Cruz Mountains, as a potential source of grant funding for acquisition. No formal action was taken; the board commended the group but left maintenance and trail conversion as open items.

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$1.81 Million and Counting: Federal Disaster Money Flows to Sewer Authority

The district received another $75,000-plus FEMA check, pushing cumulative federal pass-through funding to the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside to $1,809,976.98 — money for infrastructure work the sewer agency could never have funded on its own.

The basics: SAM, the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside, is a joint powers authority, not a special district, meaning it cannot receive federal disaster or pre-disaster mitigation funds directly. MWSD agreed to serve as the pass-through entity — the only coastside agency willing to do so.

Why it matters: The latest funding is for an electrical system relocation project — pre-disaster mitigation designed to prevent catastrophic failure during future storms. Director Kathryn Slater-Carter did not mince words about the stakes: "We came within a mere several inches of losing our entire system three years ago. And it would have taken enormous amounts of money and time to repair it had we lost the electronics."

She added that the work simply would not have happened otherwise: "That was work that needed to be done that SAM does not have money for."

Tanya Yurovsky, who established the framework enabling the pass-through arrangement, credited the board's foresight: "The first and foremost was to join the San Mateo County mitigation program — pre-disaster mitigation program. That was the first decision that this board made. Then the board made a decision to include SAM because SAM is not a special district. You were the only agency on the coast that agreed to do this."

Accountant Peter McGina confirmed the running total at $1,809,976.98 and noted the district has triggered single audit requirements by exceeding the $1 million threshold in federal pass-through funds.

President Scott Boyd connected the FEMA work to a broader governance philosophy: "I love that when you put all this together, you get a picture of governance that is the opposite of what so many people think government is about."

What's next: Director Young suggested SAM follow Half Moon Bay's lead in ordering pre-filled sandbags for storm readiness. Director Slater-Carter urged board members to watch the recent SAM meeting presentation on El Niño preparedness.

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New Wildfire Rules May Force District Facility Changes

District legal counsel warned that long-delayed state regulations creating a new "Zone 0" defensible space requirement are finally advancing — and could affect district pump stations, tanks, and buildings.

The basics: AB 3074, enacted in 2020, directed establishment of Zone 0, requiring an ember-resistant area within the first five feet around structures. Implementing regulations missed both 2023 and 2024 deadlines but were approved by the Board of Forestry in August and are now before the Office of Administrative Law.

Why it matters: While MWSD is not a fire protection agency and has no enforcement role, it owns and operates facilities in areas that may fall within high fire hazard severity zones. District Counsel Christine explained: "The potential significance to MWSD is as an owner and an operator — facilities located in the district, if they are located within these certain areas, we will have to make sure that we comply with the five-foot rule."

She attributed the regulatory push to recent events: "I think the trigger for pushing it now was probably the Pacific Palisades fire. And so I think the governor's office probably put some pressure on the state departments in charge of this."

Director Young provided additional detail on what Zone 0 compliance looks like in practice, including removal of wood products like bark chips near building perimeters and restrictions on certain plants. She noted a recent fire on Grant Road in Montara resulted in an $80,000 GoFundMe for the displaced family — a reminder that fire risk on the mid-coast is not theoretical.

What's next: Implementation is expected to be phased over several years once the Office of Administrative Law approves the regulations.

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Solid Waste Rates Heading for 6% Increase

Why it matters: Ratepayers will see a 6% increase in solid waste rates for 2027, the maximum allowed under the district's contract with Recology. The contract expires in 2028, after which the protective cap may not be renewed.

Where things stand: Accountant Peter McGina verified the base rate increase at 4.41%, driven by Bay Area CPI (2.78%), collective bargaining wage increases (6.69%), and fuel index increases (8.4%). Deferred amounts from prior years — when Recology's requested increases exceeded the cap — push the total to the 6% ceiling. The deferred balance is being worked down over the remaining two years of the contract.

Director Slater-Carter asked about the relationship between district costs and Recology costs and expressed concern about diesel price trends.

What's next: A Prop 218 notice for the 6% increase will be prepared for the board's first meeting in December.

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SAM Secures Two-Year Timeline for Sewer Repairs

President Boyd reported that the SAM board approved contracts for the IPS repair project at its Monday meeting, with a significant scheduling win: staff successfully negotiated with the group that filed the original lawsuit (ERF) to extend the completion deadline from one year to two years. "Our staff negotiated with the ERF, the group that sued, agreed to change that to give — instead of just a one year, two years to get the work done really well," Boyd said.

The extended timeline reduces the risk of construction during the wet season — a critical concern given Director Slater-Carter's warnings about the system's vulnerability to storms.

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Minor Items

• Tribute to Bill Hill: President Boyd opened with a remembrance of former Director Bill Hill, who served on the board in the late 1990s and continued contributing to district communications until his recent passing.
• Consent agenda approved 5-0 (For: Champion, Young, Slater-Carter, Softky, Boyd; Against: none; Absent: none).
• LAFCO alternate seat: Board authorized General Manager Clemens Heldmaier to submit the electronic ballot authorization to LAFCO for the alternate special district member position, vacated when Director Slater-Carter was promoted to the full seat. Candidates from other special districts are expected to apply.
• CSDA conference: Director Young and Director Slater-Carter reported on the annual California Special Districts Association conference in Palm Desert, covering sessions on leadership, succession planning, and hearing assistance for aging board members.
• Director Softky discussed plans to use his unopposed election campaign as a community engagement opportunity, including setting up signage and camp chairs on his front lawn.
• Director Young reported that Half Moon Bay has dropped its automated license plate reader contract, while the mid-coast retains its program, and noted discussions about a potential county government location on the coast side.
• Director Slater-Carter reported on LAFCO sphere-of-influence work regarding drainage facilities in Atherton.