SAM Board Locks In $1.5M for Force Main Construction, Braces for Historic El Niño

The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside board unanimously approved three subcontracts totaling $1.53 million to support construction of the Force Main Montara replacement project — the agency's largest capital undertaking — while pumping the brakes on a $75,000 public outreach deal that drew skepticism from multiple directors. In a separate extended briefing, staff walked the board through a plant-wide emergency preparedness plan for what county officials are calling the worst predicted storm season since records began in the 1950s.

• $1.53 million in Force Main subcontracts approved 6-0 for environmental monitoring, construction inspection, and materials testing as construction launches this fall

• $75K outreach contract deferred after directors questioned cost, demanding itemized breakdown before next vote

• Staff details comprehensive El Niño defenses across every plant system and three pump stations, including 80,000 gallons of rented wet-weather storage

• County warns of worst storm season in 70+ years, with 12 inches of sea level rise and three king tides expected

• Tribal rights bill flagged as potential new compliance hurdle for SAM construction projects on state lands

Force Main Contracts: Board Goes 3-for-4

The board moved quickly through three construction-phase subcontracts for the Force Main Montara replacement project, approving each on unanimous 6-0 roll call votes, but a fourth contract for public communications drew enough pushback to get tabled.

Why it matters: The force main replacement is SAM's biggest capital project, and these subcontracts lock in the environmental compliance, construction oversight, and materials testing teams needed for construction to proceed this fall. The general contractor, McGuire and Hester, is already in place under a progressive design-build model.

Where things stand: BKF Engineers won a sole-source contract not to exceed $585,983 for environmental and cultural monitoring services. General Manager Kishen Prathivadi justified the sole-source approach by noting BKF handled the Phase 1 permitting work: "We did approach another consultant, see if we would like to get more bids, and they were a little apprehensive because they'll have to start from scratch and their prices would not be competitive."

Secretary/Treasurer Paul Nagengast pressed on both the procurement method and the price, noting the estimate had risen roughly $100,000 to $140,000 over earlier projections. SAM's Attorney confirmed the agency's procurement policy permits sole-source service contracts at the general manager's discretion: "The General Manager has to make a determination that it's in the best interest of the agency and that there are unique circumstances that justify going sole source."

Director Deborah Ruddock said she initially had similar questions about whether the value above $500,000 triggered an RFP requirement but was satisfied by the explanation, adding that she found the proposal's cultural and paleontological inspection requirements fascinating.

On the permitting front, General Manager Kishen Prathivadi reported that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife permit was received Sept. 8, with only the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval still outstanding.

Marina Construction Management won the $793,082.79 construction inspection contract despite being the only firm to respond to an RFP sent to eight or more companies. Two other firms declined due to workload. The contract provides full-time, on-site inspection that SAM cannot perform in-house. Secretary/Treasurer Nagengast confirmed the plan calls for a full-time inspector on site.

Berg Engineers secured the testing services contract at $150,875 as the lowest of four responsive bidders. The firm has worked with SAM since the early 2000s.

Outreach Contract Hits a Wall

The fourth subcontract — $75,000 to Castanos Strategic Consulting for public outreach during construction — did not fare as well. Director Wright set the tone: "That strikes me as very high. That's almost like three-quarters of our communications person in the city full-time."

Director Ruddock agreed, saying she'd like to see more detail and questioning whether door hangers and print mailings were necessary. Secretary/Treasurer Nagengast requested the item be deferred for an itemized cost breakdown.

Chair Kathryn Slater-Carter offered a counterpoint, drawing on her experience with the Harbor District: "It's very useful to have someone to tone down the natural responses of the board members and the general managers into a more diplomatic phrasing." She argued that professional outreach could prevent the kind of negative community reactions that delay construction.

The board deferred the item to the next meeting.

Decisions: BKF Engineers ($585,983), Marina Construction Management ($793,082.79), and Berg Engineers ($150,875) — all approved 6-0. Castanos Strategic Consulting ($75,000) — deferred pending itemized costs.

What's next: The Castanos contract returns at the next board meeting with a detailed cost breakdown. Construction on the force main is expected to proceed this fall.

Bracing for the Worst: SAM Maps El Niño Defenses

General Manager Prathivadi delivered a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation walking the board through every major system in SAM's treatment plant and all three pump stations, detailing how each has been upgraded, repaired, or reinforced ahead of what could be the most severe storm season in more than 70 years.

Why it matters: The Super El Niño wet season runs Oct. 1 through March 31, and San Mateo County emergency officials have told local agencies this could be the worst event since recordkeeping began in the early 1950s.

Chair Slater-Carter delivered the starkest warning, relaying a briefing from the San Mateo County Special District Association: "This is the worst they have ever seen." She added that sea levels are "expected to be 12 inches or so higher in elevation. And there are three king tides during that period."

The plant readiness checklist covers virtually every link in the treatment chain: siphon pipeline cleaning is scheduled; bar screens recently replaced with a backup bypass available; five of six influent pumps replaced (the sixth is planned); grit chambers on a quarterly cleaning schedule; primary clarifiers inspected; aeration basin gates to be repaired or replaced to allow equalization storage; dissolved oxygen controls being replaced; secondary clarifier upgraded; a rotary drum thickener cover to be reinforced; new input/output cabinets installed at higher elevation to prevent flood damage; newly installed effluent pumps completed startup Sept. 3; blower room maintenance completed; two new boilers online; expansion tank restored after years of disrepair; digester mixer maintenance up to date; and belt press belts replaced.

SAM Staff Tim explained the siphon infrastructure challenge: "Anytime it goes under a creek or something like that, it can't gravity flow, so it has to go under a lower elevation."

Pump Stations and Storage

At Montara, a new pump is in place plus 80,000 gallons of rented wet-weather storage — four 20,000-gallon tanks from Rainforest, deployed October through March. Portola has 400,000 gallons of wet-weather storage with pumps 2 and 3 recently replaced. Princeton will get a rented 6-inch trash pump by early October. Smart cover sensors at six key manholes provide cloud-based monitoring.

General Manager Kishan outlined the proactive posture: "We will be proactive in doing sandbagging at vulnerable locations, increased on-call assignments ahead of big storms." Staff also plans to pre-position contractors in local hotels before major storms hit.

Dam Concerns and Flood Barriers

Director Barbara Dye raised the condition of the Pilarcitos Reservoir dam, built in 1866 and rated in poor condition: "According to this report, it is extremely dangerous for downstream effects, and it is in poor condition."

Director Wright described the city's own preparations: "What city is doing is we're purchasing some canvas flood barriers that will actually expand depending on the pressure of the water." The barriers are targeted for Oak Creek Park and Safeway areas.

Chair Slater-Carter praised staff for the transformation in readiness: "Each and every one of you has made this place so much more secure in the last few years."

Secretary/Treasurer Nagengast emphasized interagency coordination, noting SAM staff works closely with city, county, and Caltrans resources during emergencies.

What's next: The wet season officially begins Oct. 1. No board action was required; the presentation was informational.

Minor Items

• Consent agenda approved (For: 5, Abstain: 1) — includes minutes of Aug. 24, 2026; disbursements for Sept. 14, 2026; and the quarterly financial report for Q4 FY 2025–26. Secretary/Treasurer Nagengast abstained from the minutes vote because he was not present at the August meeting.

• New staff introduction: General Manager Prathivadi welcomed new Accounting Technician Liz Eden, who replaces Kelly.

• Tribal rights legislation: SAM's Attorney briefed the board on the California Native American Indian Freedom Act of 2026, which passed the legislature but has not been signed by the governor. If enacted, it would prohibit governmental agencies from substantially burdening tribal religious or spiritual practices on state lands beginning Jan. 1, 2028, and would create a private right of action. Jeremy noted the bill could affect SAM's force main and future projects, though it applies only when state lands are involved and does not affect State Water Resources Control Board water rights permitting. The board was advised to monitor the bill.