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PRESS RELEASES. From the Superior Court of California in the County of Santa Clara’s Civil Court, Department 9. This Bench Trial (DAY 6) for Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 at 9:00am with Judge Julia Alloggiamento (with remote attendance) provided her oral ruling and proposed Statement of Decision on Half Moon Bay (plaintiff) vs Grananda Community Services District (GCSD) and Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD): Court No. 17CV316927.
You can follow the progress of the lawsuit at this link. The link will take you to the Superior Court of California, Santa Clara Civil Case Index. In the first paragraph, there is a link for the “Case Information Portal”. Click on that and then enter Case #17CV316927. There you will find the Case Info, Parties, Events and Hearings.
NOTE: When the transcript is release, Buzz will post it.
Trail Court Minutes for 8/12/2025
9:09 am. Court convenes on the record. The following attorney(s)/parties are present in court and/or via Microsoft Teams, John Abaci and Pamela Graham for Plaintiff/Cross-Defendant, William Parkin for Defendant/Cross-Complainant Granada Community Services District, and Leila Sockolov and Christine C. Fitzgerald for Defendant/Cross-Complainant Montara Water and Sanitary District.
The Court recites its oral ruling as reflected on the record in detail. The Court reiterates that the prevailing party will prepare the proposed statement of decision. The stipulated facts and court of appeals by reference shall be included and/or incorporated in the proposed statement of decision.
10:20 am. The Court takes a mid-morning recess.
10:39 am. Court reconvenes on the record with all the parties present as before. The Court states its reasons for the Court’s decision as reflected on the record in detail.
10:41 am. The Court asks clarifying questions as to what remains pending in this case. The request for declaratory relief is not relevant at this stage. Counsel for Montara and Granada, the prevailing parties, shall coordinate as to the drafting of the proposed statement of decision. The Court reiterates that the proposed statement of decision should incorpo rate the stipulated facts as well as the court of appeals decision.
10:45 am. By 9/3/25 close of business, counsel for Granada shall submit the proposed statement of decision based on the Court’s ruling today by sending it to Dept 9 email and include opposing counsel. By 9/10/25, the Court will file its proposed statement of decision and if there are any objections, they shall be lodged thereafter.
10:47 am. The Court invites counsel to make comments if they wish to for the record. Ms. Graham on behalf of Plaintiff indicates that if there are remaining issues after reviewing the proposed statement of decision, counsel will bring them up to the Court. Currently, the cross-complaint is still pending.
10:50 am. The Court addresses all counsel and makes a few comments as stated on the record.
10:54 am. Court trial is concluded. Court stands adjourned.
Notably, Judge Alloggiamento Quoted from the JPA: An Agreement Creating the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (Joint Powers Agreement -JPA) Consolidated and updated as of October 10, 2011 (includes revisions resulting from amendments 1 through 8 to the original agreement).
THIS AGREEMENT, dated February 3, 1976, is made and entered into by and between the City of Half Moon Bay, hereinafter referred to as “Half Moon Bay”, and the Montara Sanitary District, hereinafter referred to as “Montara”, and the Granada Sanitary District, hereinafter referred to as “Granada”;
WITNESSETН:
WHEREAS, the parties hereto have in common the power to plan for, acquire, construct, reconstruct, alter, enlarge, replace, repair, maintain, manage, operate and control facilities for the collection, transmission, treatment and disposal of wastewater for the benefit of the lands and inhabitants within their respective boundaries; and…..
Press Release from the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside on August 12th, 2025.
SAM is grateful the trial is concluded in this matter – giving all the three SAM Member Agencies, and SAM staff certainty on what is legally required of them with regard to funding the operation and maintenance of SAM facilities throughout the Authority’s service area.
SAM has an obligation to provide all of the Coastside with high quality wastewater treatment services including protecting the environment , without preferential treatment towards any of the SAM’s three member agencies.
SAM dutifully provided such critical wastewater treatment services prior to Court’s decision today, and it will continue to do so to the best of its ability, in accordance with the Court’s order , and per the direction of the SAM Board.
Press Release from Montara Water and Sanitary District on Tuesday, August 12th, 2025.
Montara Water & Sanitary District Statement on Superior Court Ruling
re: City of Half Moon Bay v. Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside,
Montara Water and Sanitary District, and Granada Community Services DistrictMontara, CA – On Tuesday, August 12, Judge Julia L. Alloggiamento of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County ruled in favor of Granada Community Services District (GCSD) and Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) over the City of Half Moon Bay’s 2017 litigation related to the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) contract. Today’s ruling affirms that the City of Half Moon Bay must fund work related to the SAM Intertie Pipeline System (IPS), an integral part of our Coastside’s sewage system. Half Moon Bay has spent almost eight years attempting to renege on the SAM contract and shift its financial obligations onto its northern neighbors.
Today’s oral ruling follows a December 2023 decision by the Sixth District Court of Appeal in San Jose to return the lawsuit to the trial court. This Appeals Decision followed a February 2022 Santa Clara County Superior Court ruling which ended the City of Half Moon Bay’s (HMB) lawsuit.
The 2023 Appeals Decision did not rule in HMB’s favor, it merely identified legal and factual grounds for returning the lawsuit to a trial court. Specifically, the Court asked the trial court to resolve whether work planned in 2017 on the SAM IPS constitutes “maintenance” under the General Budget provision of the SAM Joint Powers Agreement, or “construction” under the Project Budget provision.
“Though MWSD is pleased with today’s ruling, we are saddened by the significant expense that has been imposed upon our Coastside residents by the City of Half Moon Bay’s choice to file litigation,” said MWSD Board President Scott Boyd. ‘Ultimately, the legal fees expended by MWSD, GCSD, and HMB are truly the whole Coastside’s loss. Whether you live in HMB, Granada or Montara, these funds have not been invested in our infrastructure, we do not have improved or new assets in the ground after all this expense.”
MWSD and GCSD have stood firm throughout these last eight years – all JPA parties must pay their fair share to operate and maintain the system. Regardless of today’s ruling, the Districts remain poised to move forward on critical repairs needed to protect our coastline.
SAM was formed in 1976 under a Joint Exercise of Powers Authority (JPA) contract between GCSD, HMB, and MWSD, and is tasked with protecting public health and our beautiful coastal environment.
In 1976, in order to serve all three communities, the partners of SAM chose to construct, own, and operate wastewater infrastructure, including the Intertie Pipeline System (IPS) and a single consolidated treatment plant. The IPS conveys wastewater from Montara and Granada (including a portion of the City of Half Moon Bay inside Granada’s boundary) to SAM’s Treatment Plant in Half Moon Bay. During heavy rain events, when increased wastewater flows can overwhelm the treatment plant, the IPS provides essential storage capacity to prevent releases of untreated sewage into the ocean.
For more than 45 years, SAM has operated and maintained constantly aging infrastructure. Throughout the years, we have seen the benefit of three agencies working together to share staffing, maintenance, and repair costs.
In 2017, the City of Half Moon Bay abruptly sued in an attempt get out of paying its share of the millions needed to maintain and repair the IPS, disregarding 45 years of financial partnership and the clear contractual language of the JPA. This action would have doubled costs for Granada, Princeton, and Montara/Moss Beach.
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Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) works every day to deliver water, garbage, and sewer services for the residents of Montara and Moss Beach. Over 6,000 residents rely on our services for their homes and businesses.
Press Release from Granada Community Services District (GCSD). on August 12th, 2025.
The Granada Community Services District (GCSD) is pleased to report that Judge Julia Alloggiamento of the Santa Clara Superior Court today ruled in favor of GCSD and the Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) in response to the City of Half Moon Bay’s 2017 lawsuit regarding funding issues for the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside Joint Powers Authority (SAM). The decision affirms that the City must continue to pay its fair share toward work on the SAM Intertie Pipeline System (IPS), a vital part of SAM’s and the coastside’s sewage network. The judge ultimately ruled that the SAM JPA agreement entered into by all three agencies in 1979 provided for a consolidated coastside wastewater treatment and conveyance system, with costs shared by all member agencies based on their respective flows into the system.
The SAM IPS transports wastewater from Montara and Granada (and the northern portion of the City) to the SAM Treatment Plant located in Half Moon Bay. For more than 45 years, SAM’s three member agencies shared costs for staffing, maintenance, and repairs of the IPS and treatment plant. In 2017, Half Moon Bay sued to avoid its responsibility for millions of dollars in IPS pipeline maintenance, disregarding decades of cooperation as well as the basic tenents of the JPA.
While GCSD is understandably pleased with the Court’s decision, it laments the costs of the lawsuit on its ratepayers, and all three agency’s ratepayers. GCSD continues to look forward to working together with SAM, the City, and MWSD to provide cost effective wastewater treatment services on the coastside.
Press Release from City of Half Moon Bay Statement Following SAM Trial; City Considers Rate Increases and Special District Formation
On August 12, 2025, Judge Julia Alloggiamento of the Santa Clara Superior Court ruled for Granada Community Services District and Montara Water and Sanitary District in the parties’ longstanding dispute over who is responsible for paying the over $25 million cost to replace the intertie pipeline, which transports wastewater from Granada and Montara to SAM’s treatment plant.
While we have great respect for the court, the City of Half Moon Bay is disappointed in the judge’s ruling. The City is now considering how best to proceed, including whether to appeal to the Court of Appeal in San Jose.
City Manager Matthew Chidester explained “As the judge acknowledged in today’s ruling, the decision will unfortunately have a disproportionate burden on Half Moon Bay ratepayers. Assuming it stands, the City will need to move forward with rate increases to pay for 62 percent of the cost to replace the intertie pipeline. We believe the ruling will also disincentivize Montara and El Granada from making cost-efficient infrastructure decisions if they know Half Moon Bay ratepayers will pick up 62 percent of the tab. ”
Chidester continued, “We think the JPA model needs either to be radically revised to reflect current regulations and Proposition 218 cost-benefit nexus rules or be replaced with a special district that consolidates the three agencies. Multiple grand juries have recommended consolidation under a special district. The upside of a special district is that Coastside residents would pay the same rates, the district could take advantage of financing of major infrastructure projects to come, offer lifeline rates to seniors and low-income residents, and govern through district elections.”
Since 2017, Half Moon Bay has been seeking a court judgment declaring the obligations of the three members of the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) Joint Powers Authority (Half Moon Bay, Granada Community Services District and Montara Water and Sanitary District).
The purpose of these efforts has been to protect Half Moon Bay ratepayers from paying unwarranted costs to replace the intertie—a system of pipes and pump stations that carry wastewater from Granada and Montara to SAM’s treatment plant in Half Moon Bay – a pipeline system which does not serve Half Moon Bay ratepayers.
In December 2023, the Court of Appeal ruled for Half Moon Bay and reversed an earlier trial court’s ruling for the two Districts. That ruling sent the case back to the trial court – (the Superior Court of Santa Clara County) for a trial before a judge sitting without a jury.
The trial began on Friday, July 25 before Judge Julia Alloggiamento, and it concluded on August 12.
This ruling concludes the $25-million replacement of the intertie is “operations and maintenance” for which the City must bear 62% of the cost, and not construction or reconstruction to be funded only by the Districts. This means City ratepayers are responsible for 62 percent of the costs of replacing the intertie. The City will need to increase sewer rates to fund intertie expenses, along with other capital projects to improve and maintain the City’s sewer collection system.
As has always been the case, the City of Half Moon Bay is committed to working in good faith with SAM and the other two SAM agencies, for the mutual benefit and protection of all three agencies’ ratepayers and the environment we share.
The Joint Powers IPS Map (Inter-tie Pipeline System)
History of the SAM Lawsuit on Coastside Buzz
Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) was created in 1976 between City of Half Moon Bay (HMB), Granada Community Services District (GCSD) and Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD)
Original JPA 1976.
After 8 amendments and Consolidated Agreement was created in 2011.
All JPA Documents.
Timeline
2015. Mediation took place in San Jose under the supervision of a retired superior court judge.
2/2022. Santa Clara Superior Court (Judge Rudy) Summary Judgement ~ HMB responsible for repairs
10/2023. California 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Summary Judgement: reversed Judge Rudy’s decision – “We conclude the agreement is ambiguous and capable of multiple reasonable interpretations regarding what constitutes “maintenance” or a “project,” and that the extrinsic evidence is conflicting, thereby creating a triable issue of material fact precluding summary judgment. Accordingly, we reverse and remand with directions to enter a new order denying all parties’ motions for summary judgment.”
Lawsuit Posts in Chronological Order
(bolded posts highlight Court Actions)
City of Half Moon Bay Encourages Renewed Negotiation of Sewer Authority Lawsuit Issues, to Update the JPA, and to Avoid Court; February 8, 2024
6th Circuit Court of Appeal’s LIVE Oral Argument for the Lawsuit “Half Moon Bay vs Granada Sanitary District and Montara Water and Sanitary District”; October 5, 2023
Santa Clara Superior Court Sets 2024 Date for Appeal Review for Half Moon Bay vs GCSD and MWSD Sewer Lawsuit; July 13, 2023
SAM Board Continue to Disagree on 2023/2024 Budget as Staff Warns of Violations, Criminal Charges and Plant Closure; June 29, 2023
SAM Inter-tie Lawsuit Lumbers Along ~ Judge Currently Scheduled to Hear Oral Arguments in October with a Decision in 6 Months (4/2024); June 15, 2023
GCSD Chair, Nancy Marsh, Calls Out Mayor Penrose’s Sewer Inter-tie Op-Ed as Factually Incorrect and a Convenient Fallacy; May 22, 2023
Montara Water and Sanitary District Factually Rebuts Mayor Penrose’s Claim that Half Moon Bay Does Not Use the Inter-tie; May 22, 2023
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside Attorney Warns of Contempt of Court and Receivership and GM Begs Board to Adopt a Budget; May 11, 2023
Amid HMB Lawsuit Protests, Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside Attorney Warns BOD that to Vote Against the General Budget will Violate 5C of the JPA; April 27, 2023
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) Directors from GCSD and MWSD Question HMB’s Budget Approval Under IPS Protest; May 19, 2022
HMB Sewer Lawsuit Dismissed, AGAIN?; April 28, 2022
Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) Statement on Costs of City of Half Moon Bay’s Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) Lawsuit; April 11, 2022
Three City Council Members Double-Down by Appealing Superior Court Summary Judgment Telling City to Pay for Shared Sewer Repairs; March 16, 2022
SAM sewer lawsuit … all over but the shouting?; February 10, 2022
Summary Judgment: Superior Court of California Finds HMB is Responsible for Repairs to Sewer;
City of Half Moon Bay Lawsuit Fails, Must Pay Its Share of Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside Costs; February 10, 2022
MWSD Statement on Preliminary Ruling ~ Half Moon Bay Must Pay Its Share of Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside Costs; January 19, 2022
HMB Floods Sewer Plant, and more…; January 13, 2022
Rush To Judgment… SAM Lawsuit Update; October 14, 2021
Coastside Water and Sewer Jurisdiction Map Comparison Study Session; September 1, 2021
Sewer: We Have Met The Enemy, and He Is Us.; August 19, 2021
Districts spent combined $700000 on sewer dispute; HMB Review, June 7th, 2021.
City of Half Moon Bay Responds to Midcoast Community Council’s Letter on the SAM Lawsuit; June 26, 2021
Fear and Loathing on the MidCoast; May 27, 2021
Anatomy of a Lawsuit: $6 million and counting; March 18, 2021
The History of the Relationship Between Montara Water and Sanitary District and Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside; December 16, 2020
To Protect its Ratepayers Granada Community Services District (GCSD) Rejects Tentative Lawsuit Settlement with Half Moon Bay; October 11, 2020
Montara Sanitary and Water District Responds to City of HMB’s Sewer Lawsuit; October 10, 2020
More on Granada Community Services District on Coastside Buzz
More on Montara Water and Sanitary District on Coastside Buzz
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) Meetings ~ 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 7:00pm
SAM Agendas and Zoom Links
Subscribe to Agendas. Watch remotely. Comments and questions by email.
SAM Meeting Videos via Pacific Coast TV
Where Does Your Poop Go ~ Virtual Video Tour!
Interactive “Story Map” Tour
Contact Us
Our regular office hours are 7:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The Authority can be reached 24-hours a day at: (650) 726-0124.
Our Address is:
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside
1000 Cabrillo Hwy N.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
SAM Board from left. Paul Nagengast (HMB), Nancy Marsh (GCSD), Scott Boyd (MWSD), Debbie Ruddock (HMB), Barbara Dye (GCSD), Kathryn Slater-Carter (MWSD).
The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) provides wastewater treatment services and contract collection maintenance services for a population of approximately 24,000 in the following areas:
- City of Half Moon Bay
- El Granada
- Miramar
- Montara
- Moss Beach
- Princeton by the Sea
SAM Directors
SAM is a joint powers authority (JPA) created by its three member agencies: City of Half Moon Bay (City), Granada Community Services District (GCSD), and the Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD).
The JPA is a separate, independent, public agency created by the member agencies to perform functions and share powers common to the member agencies. Those powers are outlined in a joint exercise of powers agreement (Agreement). The Agreement creating SAM can be found on the Documents page.
Each Agreement identifies how the independent agency will be governed. In the case of SAM, each member agency appoints two members from its governing board to represent it on the SAM Board of Directors, for a total of six directors.
The Agreement also establishes the weight of each director’s vote. The vote by each representatives from the City is given the weight of two votes. The vote by each representative from GCSD and MWSD is given the weight of one vote. The total number of possible votes is eight. A quorum is a minimum of five votes and resolutions require at least six votes to pass.
2025 SAM Directors
Deborah Ruddock ~ Chair, Representing the City of Half Moon Bay
Kathryn Slater-Carter ~ Vice Chair, Representing the Montara Water & Sanitary District
Nancy Marsh ~ Secretary/Treasurer, Representing the Granada Community Services District
Barbara Dye ~ Director, Representing the Granada Community Services District
Paul Nagengast ~ Director, Representing the City of Half Moon Bay
Scott Boyd ~ Director, Representing the Montara Water & Sanitary District
Author: mdrag
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