City of Half Moon Bay Consolidates Coastal Development Permit with Caltrans for Broadband Middle Mile Network (and Redundancy) by 2026

AGENDA REPORT.  From the Half Moon Bay City Council meeting on Tuesday, December 20th, 2022 at 7:00pm by Zoom.

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit a letter to the California Coastal Commission in support of a consolidated Coastal Development Permit (CDP) application for the Broadband Middle Mile Network (BMMN) project and further authorizing the California Coastal Commission assume the lead agency role.

STRATEGIC ELEMENT:

The requested action supports the Infrastructure and Environment and Healthy Communities and Public Safety Elements of the Strategic Plan.

BACKGROUND:

The Broadband Middle Mile Network (BMMN) project is an effort involving the installation of 10,000 miles of broadband infrastructure throughout the State of California to make high-speed internet service more broadly available in California, particularly in unserved and underserved areas.

All broadband infrastructure will be placed within the State Highway System right-of-way owned and operated by Caltrans. This project is proposed to be located within a portion of Highway 1 (City limit southerly to Highway 92) and then extend easterly on Highway 92 to the City limit.

The project is supported by Senate Bill 156, which provides a $7 billion investment to implement the project over the next few years. Funding parameters require the issuance of permits by the end of 2024 and the completion of construction by the end of 2026.

Approximately 900 miles of the network will occur within the coastal zone, and approximately 6.3 miles are proposed to be installed within the City limits. The infrastructure will include fiber optic conduit and cable, hub shelters, vaults, and markers. Caltrans is responsible for the planning, permitting, and construction of the project, including each Caltrans District obtaining CDPs for the portions of the project within the coastal zone pursuant to the Coastal Act and Local Coastal Programs (LCPs). Caltrans District 4 intends to organize the CDP applications such that one permit could cover all the coastal zone geographic area within District 4.

DISCUSSION:

Coastal Commission staff have reached out on behalf of California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to request the City’s support and authorization of a consolidated coastal development permit (CDP) for the Broadband Middle Mile Network (BMMN) project. Section 30601.3 of the Coastal Act allows for a consolidated CDP process in cases where projects cross the Commission’s permitting jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of a local government with a certified LCP, such as is the case here since the Commission retains permitting jurisdiction in multiple areas within Caltrans District 4. A consolidated CDP will assist Caltrans in meeting their highly compressed project timeline while reducing the burden on local governments and ensuring a smoother, more consistent approach to reviewing this project for compliance with the Coastal Act. Each local jurisdiction’s certified LCP would also serve as guidance during such a consolidated CDP review, and Commission staff have informed us that they are committed to ensuring that this project is consistent with both Coastal Act and the City’s certified LCP policies.

Caltrans has provided a map (link: BMMN Web Map Link) that shows the coastal zone boundary in blue, the coastal zone portions of the BMMN project alignment in red, and LCP jurisdictions in purple. The map does not show where hub shelters are proposed as Caltrans is still finalizing their locations, but in general, hub shelters will be placed approximately every 50 miles along the BMMN alignment. Coastal Commission staff have committed to continue to work with City staff to clarify the project details within City limits.

It is the Commission’s intent to combine the consolidated CDPs for all local jurisdictions intersected by the BMMN project within District 4’s coastal zone into one master CDP. To meet the project’s ambitious schedule, the Commission is requesting a response from local jurisdictions regarding permit consolidation no later than December 23, 2022. Note that the City was notified about the intent for permit consolidation on November 28, 2022.

Staff is recommending authorization of the Consolidated Coastal Development Permit. Staff will continue to monitor work and to ensure the interests of the Half Moon Bay community and LCP conformance are considered moving forward. During the permitting process, staff will provide the community and City Council periodic updates and clarify how this broadband infrastructure will support the community.

Agenda Report

City Council of Half Moon Bay Meets ~ 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 7:00pm

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The New Now ~ Virtual Remote Public Agency Meetings

Watch streaming, or the Pacifica Coast TV video, that we will post. Stay tuned!

The meeting will be held at the Adcock Community Center for any members of the public who wish to speak in person, though we do encourage all members to participate remotely.

The meeting will be:

• streamed live on Comcast Channel 27 and Pacific Coast TV website
• the City’s website online (via Granicus)
• and on Facebook Live
  • one in English (City of Half Moon Bay FB Page)
  • one in Spanish (City of Half Moon Bay Recreation FB Page)
• Recorded by Pacific Coast TV (PCTV)

Members or the public are welcome to submit comments (in accordance with the three-minute per speaker limit) via email

to jblair@hmbcity.com prior to or during the meeting, via Facebook live during the meeting, and via two phone lines during the meeting – (650) 477-4963 (English) and (650) 445-3090 (Spanish).

The City Clerk will read all comments into the record.

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