PRESS RELEASE. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10/11/2020.
The Granada Community Services District (Granada) is disappointed that the City of Half Moon Bay (City) felt the need to issue a press release with incomplete information and misleading statements regarding the potential settlement of the lawsuit filed by the City against Granada and Montara Water and Sanitary District (Montara).
In 1978, the City, Granada, and Montara formed the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) as a joint powers authority. SAM owns and operates the Intertie Pipeline System (IPS) and the SAM sewage treatment plant, and the three member agencies are responsible for their respective flow-based share of the costs of operating and maintaining the SAM sewer system. The basis of the lawsuit filed by Half Moon Bay in 2017 was Half Moon Bay’s assertion that they were suddenly not responsible for their fair share of the operations and maintenance cost of the IPS pipeline system. After decades of paying their share of the operational cost of the IPS, the City is attempting to avoid its responsibility to fund critical repairs to the IPS through litigation. Contrary to Half Moon Bay’s assertion that the IPS serves as an extension of Granada’s and Montara’s sewer collection systems, the IPS is an asset owned and operated by SAM, and serves residents of Half Moon Bay as well as residents of Granada and Montara.
The August 29, 2019 tentative settlement agreement called for Granada to pay more for its flow-based share of the operations costs for SAM, as much as 50% more than it currently does. This would cost the ratepayers of Granada more than if Granada ultimately lost the lawsuit. Half Moon Bay was not willing to compromise on this, insisting that this new allocation of operating costs be locked in permanently. Because Half Moon Bay would gain more by its demanded settlement terms than it could if it won its lawsuit, Granada was compelled to push for a resolution that was fair to its ratepayers and all ratepayers involved.
In conclusion, we have all worked countless hours in good faith toward an equitable solution. Half Moon Bay’s assertions in its press release that Granada and Montara are responsible for the failure of settlement negotiations ignores the fundamental truth that it takes compromise from all parties.
The Granada Community Services District remains committed to the fundamental goal of protecting the environment in and around the community, while paying its fair share for sewer and wastewater treatment services to the Coastside.
Barbara Dye
President, Granada Community Services District
blkdye@gmail.com; 415-321-9476
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 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.
Links to previous GCSD meetings’ videos.
The Granada Community Services District (GCSD), formerly the Granada Sanitary District, gained park and recreational jurisdiction on October 1, 2014, for the unincorporated areas of El Granada, Miramar and Princeton (i.e. the “GCSD Community”) by a positive vote of 60% of the voters in the District. This reorganization allows the district to provide parks and recreation services in addition to the sewer, solid waste and recycling services it currently provides to over 2,500 residences and businesses in the District as well as the northern portion of the City of Half Moon Bay. Solid waste and recycling services are provided by Recology of the Coast under a franchise agreement with GCSD.
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.
Granada Parks Advisory Committee (PAC) Agenda
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!