CITY OF SAN MATEO
CITY OF SAN MATEO
Agenda Report
City Hall
330 W. 20th Avenue
San Mateo CA 94403
www.cityofsanmateo.org
Agenda Number: 27 Section Name: {{section.name}} Account Number: 26-4662 File ID: {{item.tracking_number}} TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: City Manager's Office
MEETING DATE: July 28, 2025
SUBJECT:
Climate Adaptation Plan for Sea Level Rise – Agreement
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve an agreement with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) for the development of a Climate Adaptation Plan for Sea Level Rise in the amount of $420,000 for a term from August 1, 2025, through August 1, 2028; and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented.
BACKGROUND:
In January 2024, the City applied for grant funding through the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program for the development of a Climate Adaptation Plan for Sea Level Rise.
The development of a Climate Adaptation Plan will build on regional efforts such as the County of San Mateo Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment to produce a planning document specific to the City of San Mateo. The Climate Adaptation Plan will include an existing conditions assessment and technical analysis to develop criteria for evaluating vulnerable areas, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to establish minimum elevations required to address projected sea level rise in 2050 and 2100 and other technical analysis. The Climate Adaptation Plan will result in a prioritized list of facilities and infrastructure which may require site-specific adaptation strategies and will include funding and financing analysis that are intended to provide next steps toward implementation.
In 2023, the California State Legislature passed SB 272 (Laird), Sea level rise: planning and adaptation. SB 272 addressed the need for coordinated standardized sea level rise adaptation by requiring local governments along the San Francisco Bay shoreline to develop Subregional Shoreline Adaptation Plans. Subregional Shoreline Adaptation Plans are required to meet the Guidelines established by the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) Regional Shoreline Adaptation Plan (RSAP), ensuring effective and collaborative regional responses. Local governments that receive approval for their sea level rise plan are then prioritized for funding for the implementation of sea level rise adaptation strategies and recommended projects in approved plans.
In July 2024, the City of San Mateo received a Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program conditional grant award letter from Caltrans. In September 2024, City Council adopted a Resolution identifying approval authority for the agreements between the City of San Mateo and Caltrans, in compliance with the Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant Program requirement.
On February 3, 2025, City Council adopted a resolution accepting grant funds in the amount of $360,500 from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for the development of a Climate Adaptation Plan for Sea Level Rise and appropriating the grant funds to the Climate Adaptation Plan project and authorized the City Manager to execute the Restricted Grant Agreement with Caltrans.
CITY OF SAN MATEO
On March 21, 2025, staff released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a technical consultant to work with City staff to develop the Climate Adaptation Plan for Sea Level Rise that would meet Caltrans grant requirements and address BCDC RSAP requirements. The RFP closed on April 25, 2025 and five firms submitted proposals.
Environmental Science Associates (ESA) was selected because of their local and regional experience working on sea level rise in the Bay Area, their thoughtful and customized approach to meeting both BCDC RSAP guidelines and Caltrans RGA requirements, and the ESA team’s qualifications. The project will kick off with Existing Conditions analysis, followed by vulnerability assessment and evaluation of adaptation strategies and pathways. Equitable outreach and community engagement is planned throughout the duration of the project. Based on the above, staff recommends City Council approve an agreement with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) for the development of a Climate Adaptation Plan for Sea Level Rise in the amount of $420,000 and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented.
BUDGET IMPACT:
On February 3, 2025, Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant funds in the amount of $360,500 were appropriated to the Climate Adaptation Plan Project (46C005). Acceptance of the grant funding requires a local match of
11.47 percent, or approximately $41,350. The project has sufficient funding to provide the local match and cover the anticipated project costs that may exceed the grant amount.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
This agreement is not a project subject to CEQA, because it can be seen with certainty that it will not cause a physical change in the environment. (Public Resources Code Section 21065.) CEQA review will be included as part of the Climate Adaptation Plan.
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 - Agreement
STAFF CONTACT
Andrea Chow, Sustainability Analyst
[email protected]
(650) 522-7007