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PRESS RELEASE. From Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) on December 19th, 2023.
Montara, CA – On Friday, December 15, in an opinion written by Justice Wilson with concurrence of Justices Bamattre-Manoukian and Danner of the Sixth District Court of Appeal in San Jose, nullified a February 2022 Santa Clara County Superior Court ruling which ended the City of Half Moon Bay’s (HMB) lawsuit against Granada Community Services District (GCSD) and Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD). This unfortunate Appeals Decision returns the lawsuit to a trial court and adds yet another expensive chapter to the financial losses imposed upon our Coastside residents by the City of Half Moon Bay’s 2017 litigation related to the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) contract. 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. And these legal costs will now continue.
In 2017, Half Moon Bay filed litigation in order to renege on the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) contract and shift the City’s financial obligations onto its northern neighbors. The SAM agency 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 February 2022, the Santa Clara County Superior Court affirmed Montara Water & Sanitary District and Granada Community Services District’s legal arguments against the City of Half Moon Bay’s frivolous 2017 lawsuit. Half Moon Bay has spent almost six years attempting to renege on the SAM contract and shift its financial obligations. This December Appeals Decision does not rule in HMB’s favor, it merely identifies legal and factual grounds for returning the lawsuit to a trial court.
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.
MWSD and GCSD have stood firm throughout these last six years – all JPA parties must pay their fair share to operate and maintain the system. Regardless of this recent ruling, the Districts remain poised to move forward on critical repairs needed to protect our coastline.
“It is time to get back to work and care for the wastewater system the entire Coastside relies upon,” said MWSD Board President Scott Boyd. ‘This lawsuit steals critical funding from ratepayers and throws it away. We should be working as partners and investing in our Coastside, not continuing lawsuits and litigation.”
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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.
More on the HMB vs GCSD and MWSD IPS Sewer Lawsuit on Coastside Buzz
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”
To Protect its Ratepayers Granada Community Services District (GCSD) Rejects Tentative Lawsuit Settlement with Half Moon Bay
Montara Water and Sanitary District (MWSD) Meetings ~ 1st & 3rd Thursdays @ 7:30pm
MWSD Agendas and 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 |
| Kathryn Slater-Carter — President Pro Tem, Secretary | Term 2020-2024 |
| Peter Dekker — Treasurer | Term 2020-2026 |
| Bill Softky — Director | Term 2022-2026 |
| Carlysle Ann (Cid) Young— Director | Term 2023-2024 |
All Board members may be reached by sending an email to [email protected].
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.
MSWD General Manager Clemens Heldmaier showing a creek filtration system.
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) Meetings ~ 2nd & 4th Mondays @ 7:00pm
Agendas and Zoom Links
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
Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside
1000 Cabrillo Hwy N.
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
Regular Board Meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month at 7:00pm.
The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) provides wastewater treatment services and contract collection maintenance services for a population of approximately 27,000 in the following areas:
- City of Half Moon Bay
- El Granada
- Miramar
- Montara
- Moss Beach
- Princeton by the Sea
Barbara Dye, Vice-Chair, Representing the Granada Community Services District
Deborah Ruddock, Secretary/Treasurer, Representing the City of Half Moon Bay
Peter Dekker, Director, Representing the Montara Water & Sanitary District
Matthew Clark, Director, Representing the Granada Community Services District
Deborah Penrose, Director, Representing the City of Half Moon Bay
Granada Community Services District (GCSD) Meetings ~ 3rd Thursday @ 7:30pm
Granada Community Services District (GCSD) Agendas and Zoom Links
The District is responsible for parks, recreation, garbage and recycling services in the unincorporated areas of El Granada, Princeton, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Clipper Ridge, and Miramar.
GCSD Regular Board Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 pm in the District’s meeting room, and are normally shown on Pacific Coast TV (PCT) (Cable channel 27) at 6:00 am on Wednesday and at 11:00 am Saturday following the meeting (but check the schedule as show times can vary).
Mission Statement
To protect public health and safety, preserve our environment, and maintain fiscal soundness by providing high quality service for wastewater, solid waste collection, recycling, and serving the community’s needs for parks and recreation, through responsible operations and management.
The Granada Sanitary District was formed in 1958 under the California Sanitary District Act of 1923. In October of 2014, the District was reorganized as the Granada Community Services District under California Government Code 61000 et seq. The District is responsible for parks, recreation, garbage and recycling services in the unincorporated areas of El Granada, Princeton, Princeton-by-the-Sea, Clipper Ridge, and Miramar. The District is also responsible for the sewage collection system and disposal for approximately 2,500 residences and businesses in these same unincorporated areas as well as the northern portion of the City of Half Moon Bay. Garbage and recycling services are provided by Recology of the Coast under a franchise agreement with the Granada Community Services District.
The parks and recreation function is funded by utilizing a portion of GCSD’s share of San Mateo County property tax revenues, not from sewer charges. GCSD’s goal is to provide parks and recreation services that benefit the GCSD community, with a commitment to robust neighborhood outreach on new projects.
The Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) is a Joint Powers Authority created by an agreement between the Granada Sanitary District, the Montara Sanitary District, and the City of Half Moon Bay in 1976. The agreement called for the creation of the Authority to build and operate a commonly owned sewer treatment plant for the benefit of all three agencies. All sewage generated by the three agencies is pumped and piped to the treatment plant for treatment and eventual disposal. For more information on SAM, please visit their website at samcleanswater.org.
The District office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is located on the third floor of 504 Avenue Alhambra, El Granada. To contact the District please call (650) 726-7093. Regular board meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
GCSD Board of Directors
Board members serve four year terms, and are elected on a staggered two year basis in even numbered years. Board members receive $145 per meeting as compensation for their service on the board.
Barbara Dye – President
Nancy Marsh – Vice President
Jen Randle – Director
Matthew Clark – Director
Jill M. Grant – Director
Board members serve four year terms, and are elected on a staggered two year basis in even numbered years. Board members receive $145 per meeting as compensation for their service on the board.
Staff
General Manager: Chuck Duffy
Assistant General Manager: Hope Atmore
Legal Counsel:William Parkin, Wittwer Parkin
District Engineer: John Rayner, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants
Administrative Assistant: Nora Mayen
Granada Parks Advisory Committee (PAC) Agenda
The PAC was formed by the Granada Community Service Board to ensure community involvement in all phases of park planning, design and development. Seven voting members are appointed by the Board to serve two-year terms. Members receive no compensation – they are neighbors volunteering to support and benefit our community. The PAC makes recommendations regarding parks and recreation to the GCSD Board of Directors. PAC meetings are held at the GCSD office at least once each quarter and are open to the public and televised. The PAC meeting schedule and meeting minutes may be found here.GCSD owns the undeveloped “Burnham Strip” property along Obispo Street between Coronado Street and Avenue Alhambra in El Granada, which may be developed as an El Granada gateway park.
Additional potential park areas are a small GCSD-owned parcel on Capistrano Road in Princeton and the road medians in El Granada. GCSD and SMC completed a Permit Agreement in February 2018 which allows the District to make improvements to the El Granada Medians. GCSD may implement landscaping, seating, and active and passive recreational improvements on these properties, following an open and transparent community outreach process and all required permit and environmental review processes.
El Granada in 1972. Look at that big triangle of land that is now completely eroded!
Author: Coastside Buzz
Me
If ever there is a time of reckoning, the City of Half Moon Bay will owe the communities of the unincorporated Midcoast apologies on numerous fronts. The City’s current and ongoing bad behavior with this asinine lawsuit is the latest chapter in a sequence of irresponsible burdens on its partners at SAM over the years. In hindsight, the JPA that created SAM was a mistake. Hoped-for economies of scale have not played out for the unincorporated Midcoast. In the long run, GCSD (GSD at the time) and MWSD (MSD at the time) would have done better with a cooperative agreement of their own in the mid-70’s. Marriages between fundamentally incompatible parties don’t work.