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: 11 Section Name: CONSENT CALENDAR Account Number: 10-4677 File ID: 25-10617 TO: City Council
FROM: Alex Khojikian, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Public Works Department
MEETING DATE: December 01, 2025
SUBJECT:
Permitting Support for Citywide Creeks Maintenance Program — Appropriation and Agreement RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution to appropriate $66,000 from the unassigned fund balance of the Storm Fund to the Stormwater Pollution operating budget; approve an agreement with Montrose Environmental Solutions, Inc. to provide professional consulting for the Citywide Creeks Maintenance Program in the amount of $331,987; approve a 10% contingency reserve in the amount of $33,200; and authorize the Public Works Director to execute the agreement in substantially the form presented and execute any future amendments within the contingency amount, including no-cost term extension amendments.
BACKGROUND:
Maintenance of creeks and channels within the City generally comprises vegetation management, sediment and debris removal, and miscellaneous routine maintenance and repair activities. Each of these activities typically requires permits from four or more regulatory agencies including, but not limited to, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California State Water Resources Control Board, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission. Preparation of each of these relevant permits can include assessments related to biological, cultural, and tribal resources. The performance of relatively straightforward maintenance activities on a location-by-location basis is therefore a staff- and time-intensive effort. The City therefore seeks a multi-agency regulatory permit which would allow the City to operate a general maintenance program on an as- needed basis for City-managed creeks and channels. In addition, the City is seeking a consultant to prepare a project- specific permit for maintenance of a segment of the 16th Avenue Channel, as well as preparation of guidance which would be available as a resource for private property owners who are responsible for maintaining private creeks and channels within the City.
On September 29, 2025, the City issued a Request for Proposals for professional consulting services to perform the permitting support for the Citywide Creeks Maintenance Program. Three proposals were received by the due date of October 30, 2025. These proposals were received by Montrose Environmental ($331,981), Nichols Consulting Engineers ($912,105), and Soar Environmental Consulting ($430,564). After scoring the proposals based on staff knowledge and experience working on similar projects in the Bay Area, as well as conducting interviews of shortlisted firms, staff determined that Montrose Environmental Solutions, Inc. was the most qualified firm due to their technical expertise and relevant experience. This is a critically important effort for the City. Without receipt of regulatory permits, the City cannot perform necessary maintenance on creeks and channels. Staff therefore recommend awarding a professional consulting agreement to Montrose Environmental Solutions, Inc. The agreement term will extend from December 2025 to June 2027.
BUDGET IMPACT:
CITY OF SAN MATEO
This work was partially budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Stormwater Pollution operating budget in the Storm Fund, however, there are not sufficient funds to fully cover the anticipated cost of services planned through the end of the fiscal year. A supplemental budget appropriation of $66,000 from the unassigned fund balance of the Storm Fund is needed.
Sufficient funds are available in the Storm Fund balance for this appropriation. Funding for the subsequent years of the agreement will be addressed through the budget development process.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
Approval of this agreement is not a project subject to CEQA, because it constitutes an administrative activity related to retaining professional services for environmental and regulatory permitting support that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5).) The consultant’s work will include preparation of CEQA documentation to evaluate potential environmental impacts of routine creek maintenance work. No approval of a project or commitment to a defined physical activity is being made at this time, and a separate CEQA determination will be made prior to any project approval. In addition, approval of a budget appropriation from an unassigned fund balance of the Storm Fund to the Public Works Department operating budget is exempt from CEQA review, because it consists of a government fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment. (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4).)
NOTICE PROVIDED
All meeting noticing requirements were met.
ATTACHMENTS
Att 1 – Proposed Resolution
Att 2 – Agreement
STAFF CONTACT
Sven Edlund
[email protected]
650-522-7296