CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
2/9/2026
1 SUBJECT:
Continuation of Proclamation of a Local Emergency at the Sewer Mains Crossing Calera Creek in the Vallemar Neighborhood
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Accept report and make a determination that conditions of local emergency continue to exist at the Sewer Mains Crossing Calera Creek in the Vallemar Neighborhood.
STAFF CONTACT:
Melissa Tigbao, P.E., Director of Public Works
(650) 501-6016
[email protected]
Dan Patten, P.E., Engineering Manager
(650) 738-4660
[email protected]
Sarah Coffey, City Clerk
650-738-7307
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On August 6, 2025, Public Works Wastewater Division staff received a call from a resident observing a crack on the 6-inch sewer main crossing Calera Creek near the intersection of Oneonta Avenue and Minerva Avenue. Public Works Wastewater Division staff responded to the notification and inspected the sewer main and discovered evidence of corrosion on the sewer main. Staff also conducted a temporary repair. The temporary repair is inadequate for the long term, and the cracked sewer main requires immediate repair to prevent potential sanitary Sewer Spills and threaten the safety of persons and property, including polluting the Calera Creek watershed.
On August 20, 2025, the Director of Emergency Services proclaimed the existence of a local emergency at the sewer mains crossing Calera Creek in the Vallemar Neighborhood near the intersection of Oneonta Avenue and Minerva Avenue due to corroded conditions and potential collapse of the 6-inch sewer main crossing Calera Creek (Attachment 1). Since this date, the Director of Emergency Services has proclaimed the existence of these emergencies as described below:
• There is a potential for leakage during wet weather flows. The potential for sewer main failures and resulting sanitary sewer spills threatens the creek. • Sewer mains cross Calera Creek in three locations in the Vallemar neighborhood. These sewer mains have been identified as health and safety of persons and property, including critical public infrastructure for replacement as part of the Vallemar and Rockaway Beach Boulevard Pacifica City Council 2
February 09, 2026
Areas Sewer and Rehabilitation and Repair Project. The design of this project (approved by Council August 26, 2024) is in progress. The City is fast-tracking the creek crossings portion of the project, and construction documents are underway.
• The creek crossing near Oneonta Avenue and Minerva Avenues has deteriorated further since inspection earlier this year, and there is a risk that the other creek crossings in the neighborhood are deteriorating further and may result in sanitary sewer spills.
The City Council first ratified this proclamation (Attachment 2) at its regular meeting of August 25, 2025. Since that date, staff is expeditiously working towards a permanent repair solution. • Design documents were completed in September, staff issued 100% plans for informal bidding in October and received two bids, and selected the apparent low bidder, Ranger Pipelines.
• Staff have finalized contract documents and scheduled a pre-construction meeting on November 13, 2025.
• Staff issued a Notice to Proceed on December 1, 2025. • Contractor is completing stormwater Best Management Practices and tree protection work in the Vallemar neighborhood.
• Contractor is procuring materials required for the Oneonta and Berendos crossings.
Pursuant to Government Code section 8630(c), the City Council must review the need for continuing the local emergency at least every 60 days until the City Council terminates the local emergency. Conditions of local emergency at the sewer mains crossing Calera Creek in the Vallemar Neighborhood near the intersection of Oneonta Avenue and Minerva Avenue still exist since the City Council first acted to declare a local emergency on August 25, 2025. Staff will bring up the continuance of Proclamation every 30 days, with February 9, 2026, being the most recent.
The City is using a combination of city staff, contractors, and consultants to manage the discussed emergency work. Staff will bring recommendations to the Council to end the emergency designation for projects on the list once conditions stabilize and the projects are no longer in need of the emergency designation.
The City Manager recommends that the City Council make a determination that the conditions of local emergency continue to exist at the sewer mains crossing Calera Creek in the Vallemar Neighborhood near the intersection of Oneonta Avenue and Minerva Avenue.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
Council may choose not to adopt the Proclamation Confirming Existence of Local Emergency at the sewer mains crossing Calera Creek in the Vallemar neighborhood, however this is not recommended. Delaying the work increases the risk of Sanitary Sewer Spills into Calera Creek and may cause health and safety issues to persons and property, including critical public infrastructure.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Pacifica City Council 3
February 09, 2026
There are no fiscal impacts associated with the emergency declared.
ORIGINATED BY:
Public Works - Wastewater Division
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment 1 - PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY at Calera Creek Oneonta - Minerva (PDF)
Attachment 2 - ResolutionNo74-2025_RatifyingProclamationLocalEmergency_SewerMainVallemar_EXECUTED (PDF)