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San Mateo County SURVEY for Potential Ballot Measure for 5 Cent/SqFt Tax on Every Building to Pay for Drought, Wildfire, Storms and Sea Level Rise Resliency

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VIDEO. From the Montara Water and Sewer District (MWSD) Director’s meeting on Thursday, May 19th, 2022 by Zoom.

MWSD Director, Kathryn Slater-Carter, reports.

Midcoast Community Council (MCC) member, Gregg Dieguez, question why the consultant went from a $25k contract to a $880k no bid contract that “grows and grows”.

Keeping San Mateo County Prepared Survey

San Mateo County values your opinion and thanks you for taking time to complete this survey.

 

 

FAQs From the San Mateo County Preparedness website

Why is the County sending me/paying for messages about climate change?

In a few months, the Board of Supervisors may consider a potential ballot measure that could generate funding to pay for projects and services that would strengthen San Mateo County’s residents, businesses, and infrastructure against the impacts of drought, wildfire, extreme storms, and sea level rise. As was undertaken with prior local ballot measures, the County has embarked upon a public information/education/feedback program describing the challenges the County may address with this potential measure and gathering input from residents.

I already pay property taxes to deal with these issues in my community – would this new tax be for those same purposes?

Expert studies and recent experiences have shown that San Mateo County is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including those from sea level rise, wildfire, major storms, and drought. This vulnerability threatens not just many of our homes and businesses, but the air we breathe and the major infrastructure we depend on to deliver drinking water and electricity to our homes, drive in the county, and flush a toilet. Given the scope of the potential impacts to the entire County, efforts within one city cannot address these collective challenges. A potential ballot measure would apply countywide, allowing for strategies and projects that align and connect protection across jurisdictions.

Didn’t we already create an agency to deal with these issues?

A new countywide Flood and Sea Level Rise Resiliency District (known as OneShoreline) was established on January 1, 2020 through State legislation to work across jurisdictional boundaries to secure and leverage public and private resources for the long-term resilience of our San Mateo County against flooding and sea level rise. OneShoreline has already completed its first construction project to protect some of our county’s most vulnerable residents and it has launched new multi-jurisdictional efforts along the Bay shoreline and Pacific Coast. Besides the fact that it does not work on issues related to wildfire, OneShoreline has no long-term funding to manage this effort and no project funding to make this county competitive for federal and state dollars, and thus it would likely receive some of the funding were the parcel tax to be placed on the ballot and be approved by voters.

Why can’t Measure K cover these as essential county needs?

Tax revenues raised through Measure K currently support essential services in the areas of public safety, youth and education, parks and environment, community services, health and mental health, housing and homelessness, and older adults and veterans. More information as to how Measure K funds have been spent can be found here: https://www.smcgov.org/ceo/measure-k. The resources needed to support these essential services and prepare San Mateo County effectively for the impacts of sea level rise, wildfire, and drought exceed anticipated revenues of Measure K.

How much can I expect to pay and for how long?

The potential measure is still being developed, but the County is assessing support for an annual parcel tax of 5 cents per building square foot. This means that, for example, an owner of a 1,500 square foot home would pay $75 per year. At that rate, a countywide assessment would raise approximately $40 Million annually. The Board of Supervisors will ultimately decide the amount and duration of the potential measure if/when they choose to put it on the November 2022 ballot. The Board of Supervisors could also choose to allow low-income senior citizen exemptions.

Who would make recommendations and decisions regarding which projects would be funded?

The decision-making structure for the proposed tax is still be assessed, but similar local taxes in the region have provided for funding decisions to be made by the governing board—here the Board of Supervisors and/or the appointed city officials who sit on the OneShoreline Board of Directors—with the advice and input of a Technical Advisory Committee of experts who make funding recommendations.

Keeping San Mateo County Prepared Survey

San Mateo County values your opinion and thanks you for taking time to complete this survey.

 

Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) Meetings ~ 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 7:30pm

Watch remotely. Comments and questions by email.

 

Agendas and Zoom Live Meeting Links

If you experience technical difficulties or have technical questions prior to or during the meeting, please contact MWSD’s IT support at (650) 728-7843.

Meeting Videos

 

Meeting Schedule:

Regular meetings are 7:30pm on the first and third Thursday of each month. They used to held at the District office at 8888 Cabrillo Hwy, next to Pt Montara Lighthouse and Hostel.

To receive agendas by email, send a request to [email protected]

In addition to email, we post agendas before each board meeting:

  • On the District website here
  • Montara post office
  • Moss Beach post office
  • the bulletin board in front of the MWSD office

 

Who is on the Board of Directors?

DIRECTOR TERM
Scott Boyd — President Term 2020-2024
Jim Harvey — President Pro Tem Term 2018-2022
Ric Lohman — Secretary Term 2018-2022
Peter Dekker — Treasurer Term 2020-2022
Kathryn Slater-Carter — Director Term 2020-2024

 

Services

Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) – MWSD is a member of SAM, the agency that collects and cleans our Coastside community’s wastewater before it enters the ocean. SAM meets monthly on the 4th Monday at 7:30pm. Jim Harvey and Scott Boyd presently serve as SAM board members.

Recology of the Coast – MWSD has contracted with Recology of the Coast for trash pickup, recycling, and waste hauling.

Visit County Solid Waste Department for more information about recycling, composting, etc.

 

In an Emergency

Water Emergencies: Call MWSD at (650) 728-3545

Sewer Emergencies: Call SAM at (650) 726-0124

For emergencies that affect life, health or safety:  Dial 911

 

Contact Us

  • 8888 Cabrillo Hwy
    Montara, California 94037
  • Office Hours:
    8:30AM to 5PM Mon-Fri
  • (650) 728-3545
  • [email protected]

Note: Public participation is not permitted during closed session discussion items.

 

MWSD General Manager Clemens Heldmaier showing a creek filtration system.

 

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