CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
8/25/2025
1 SUBJECT:
Amendment No. 5 to the Inter-Agency Agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District and Agreement with San Mateo County for Water Quality Monitoring Services to fulfil the characterization monitoring requirement of the Pacifica State Beach and San Pedro Creek Bacteria TMDL requirements of Water Year 2026 to 2028.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt the Resolution entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Pacifica Approving Amendment No. 5 to the Inter-Agency Agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District and Agreement with San Mateo County for Water Quality Monitoring Services to fulfil the characterization monitoring requirement of the Pacifica State Beach and San Pedro Creek Bacteria TMDL requirements of Water Year 2026 to 2028; and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents.”
STAFF CONTACT:
David Harvey, Assistant Civil Engineer
(650) 738-3769
[email protected]
Roland Yip, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works/City Engineer (650) 738-3771
[email protected]
Melissa Tigbao, P.E., Director of Public Works
(650) 738-3770
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
The City of Pacifica (City) and County of San Mateo (County), in order comply with the Basin Plan Amendment establishing the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for bacteria in San Pedro Creek and at Pacifica State Beach was required to submit a Bacteria Water Quality Monitoring Plan. The Basin Plan Amendment was adopted by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) on November 14, 2012. It became effective on October 1, 2013 following approval by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency on August 1, 2013 and adoption by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) on March 19, 2013.
The TMDL required the development of a Bacteria Water Quality Best Management Practices (BMP) Implementation and Monitoring Plan for the San Pedro Creek watershed to reduce discharges of bacteria to the storm drain systems to attain wasteload allocations. The City has jurisdiction over 75% of the drainage basin while the remaining 25% belongs to San Mateo County. The City and County collaborated on developing a single BMP Implementation and Monitoring Plan.
Pacifica City Council 2
August 25, 2025
On November 28, 2016, the City and County approved the Inter-Agency Agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) for Pacifica State Beach Bacteria Total Maximum Daily Load Monitoring Services and approved the Agreement with San Mateo County for Reimbursement of the Monitoring Costs. On December 28, 2016, the City Manager approved Amendment No. 1 in the amount of $8,886, on August 11, 2020, City Manager approved Amendment No. 2 in the amount of $40,106.93, on August 9, 2021, City Council approved Amendment No. 3 in the amount of $147,178.50 and on August 28, 2023, City Council approved Amendment No. 4. Amendment No. 2 was for additional required water sampling, Amendment No. 3 was to continue the Monitoring Plan for the San Pedro Creek and Pacifica State Beach from 2021 through 2025 as required by the Water Board. Amendment No. 4 was for the Pacifica State Beach Bacteria Special Study as required by the Water Board.
San Pedro Creek is a complex system with many potential sources of bacteria including controllable sources such as humans, horses, and dogs, and uncontrollable sources, such as wildlife, and secondary sources such as biofilms and sediment. Bacteria sources were identified based on the results of a bacterial source tracking study and identified the sanitary sewer system as the main human source. However, to date, the exact source or sources related to the sanitary sewer system have not been identified. Water samples from the creek, its tributaries, and stormwater inflows, are analyzed in two ways. First, samples are analyzed for concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria which tells us about the severity of the problem, how much bacteria are in the creek and at which point. Second, samples are analyzed using Microbial Source Tracking (MST) which allows for the DNA analysis of water samples to test for the presence of specific animal markers from, in this case, horses, humans, and dogs. While there is some unquantified background level of bacteria from uncontrollable sources such as wildlife and secondary sources, MST analysis continues to detect bacteria from controllable sources. The three primary controllable sources of bacteria in the watersheds, humans, dogs, horses, are being targeted using three strategies. The San Pedro Creek watershed drains roughly eight square miles and has five major tributaries and moving the existing sampling sites within the watershed will isolate potential sources of human DNA and reduce the overall area of the sewer system required for inspections and possible repairs. Efforts to minimize horse manure entering the creek are focused on equestrian operations. Efforts to control pet waste from dogs takes the form of targeted outreach and education.
The City, County and RCD have been working diligently on reducing bacteria in San Pedro Creek and Pacifica State Beach. These efforts include but are not limited to, public engagement at local events such as Fog Fest and Eco Fest, direct mailers, print advertisements, local television advertisements, sewer lateral grants and various social media posts. The City and County also annually inspect the horse and animal facilities. City Wastewater Division inspected twenty miles and improved six miles of sewer main line within the watershed. Unfortunately, these efforts have not significantly reduced the bacteria in San Pedro Creek and Pacifica State Beach.
Since the Waste Load Allocations (WLA) was not met as required by the TMDL, the Water Board is requiring continuation of the Monitoring Plan for the San Pedro Creek watershed to reduce discharges of bacteria to the storm drain systems to attain wasteload allocations.
The City Manager recommends approval of Amendment No. 5 with RCD and the new agreement with San Mateo County.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
The Council may choose not to approve the amendment and agreement. This could result in the City not meeting Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit requirements. Staff does not recommend this alternative action.
Pacifica City Council 3
August 25, 2025
RELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND WORK PLAN:
• Improve and steward City infrastructure, streets and facilities: Approving the amendment will assist the City meet statutory requirements and will protect the City’s creeks, beaches and oceans and preserve environmental health.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total cost for Amendment No. 5 is $175,918.00 covering FY 2026 to 2028, which will cost $87,959.00 per year. Pacifica's share of the annual cost is expensed out of NPDES Stormwater Fund ($32,984.63) and Wastewater Fund ($32,984.63). There is no need for additional budget authority at this time as enough funds are budgeted in both NPDES Stormwater fund and WWTP fund during the adoption of the City’s annual fiscal budget. Future cost will also be budgeted as part of the respective annual budgets.
Amendment No. 5
Annual
Breakdown
Cost Funding Source
NPDES Fund 16 WW Fund 34 SM County
TMDL Monitoring $175,918.00 $65,969.25 $65,969.25 $43,979.50 FY 25-26 $87,959.00 $32,984.63 $32,984.63 $21,989.75
FY 27-28 $87,959.00 $32,984.63 $32,984.63 $21,989.75
ORIGINATED BY:
Public Works
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Pacifica Fifth Amendment to InterAgency Agreement with RCD (PDF) Pacifica City Council 4
August 25, 2025
RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PACIFICA APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 5 TO THE INTER-AGENCY AGREEMENT WITH THE SAN MATEO
RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND AGREEMENT WITH SAN MATEO COUNTY
FOR WATER QUALITY MONITORING SERVICES TO FULFIL THE CHARACTERIZATION
MONITORING REQUIREMENT OF THE PACIFICA STATE BEACH AND SAN PEDRO CREEK BACTERIA TMDL REQUIREMENTS OF WATER YEAR 2026 TO 2028; AND
AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE ALL DOCUMENTS
WHEREAS, the Basin Plan Amendment established the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for bacteria in San Pedro Creek and at Pacifica State Beach and was adopted by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Water Board) on November 14, 2012.; and
WHEREAS, the TMDL required the development of a Bacteria Water Quality Best Management Practices (BMP) Implementation and Monitoring Plan for the San Pedro Creek watershed to reduce discharges of bacteria to the storm drain systems to attain wasteload allocations.; and
WHEREAS, on November 28, 2016, the City and County approved the Inter-Agency Agreement with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District (RCD) for the San Pedro Creek and Pacifica State Beach Bacteria TMDL Monitoring Services and approved the Agreement with San Mateo County for Reimbursement of the Costs.; and WHEREAS, on December 28, 2016, City approved Amendment No. 1, on August 11, 2020, City Manager approved Amendment No. 2, on August 9, 2021, City Council approved Amendment No. 3, and on August 28, 2023, City Council approved Amendment No. 4; and WHEREAS, the San Pedro Creek and Pacifica State Beach is a complex system with many potential sources of bacteria including controllable sources such as humans, horses, and dogs, and uncontrollable sources, such as wildlife, and secondary sources such as biofilms and sediment; and
WHEREAS, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board is requiring continued bacteria water quality monitoring along the San Pedro Creek and Pacifica State Beach.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Governing Board of the City of Pacifica authorizes the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 5 with RCD and Agreement with San Mateo County for the Governing Board.
• • • • •
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica, California, held on the 25th day of August 2025, by the following vote:
AYES, Councilmembers:
NOES, Councilmembers:
Pacifica City Council 5
August 25, 2025
ABSENT, Councilmembers:
ABSTAIN, Councilmembers:
_________________________________
Sue Beckmeyer, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________ _________________________________ Sarah Coffey, City Clerk Michelle Kenyon, City Attorney