BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☐ No ☒
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Conduct a Public Hearing on the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Engineer’s Report for the Vasona Pump Station Upgrade Project, Project No. 92264001; Adopt a Resolution Adopting the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and the Mitigation and Reporting Program; Adopt a Resolution Approving the Engineer’s Report; and Approve the Project for the Vasona Pump Station Upgrade Project (Los Gatos, District 7).
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
A. Open and conduct the public hearing to receive comments on the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration and Engineer’s Report for the Vasona Pump Station Upgrade Project, Project No. 92264001;
B. Close the Public Hearing;
C. Adopt the Resolution ADOPTING THE FINAL MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND THE MITIGATION MONITORING AND REPORTING PROGRAM FOR THE VASONA PUMP STATION UPGRADE PROJECT;
D. Adopt the Resolution APPROVING THE ENGINEER’S REPORT FOR THE VASONA PUMP STATION UPGRADE PROJECT; and
E. Approve the Project.
Body
SUMMARY:
On January 27, 2026, the Board adopted a Resolution setting the time and date for the Public Hearing on the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration (Final MND) and Engineer’s Report to take place on February 10, 2026, for the Vasona Pump Station Upgrade Project (Project). Staff is recommending the Board hold this Public Hearing to consider adoption of a Resolution approving the Final MND and the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP, Attachment 2), adoption of a Resolution approving the Engineer’s Report (Attachment 3), and approving the Vasona Pump Station Upgrade Project.
Project Background
Vasona Pump Station (VPS) is a pump station that has been in operation since 1971. The objective of the Vasona Pump Station (VPS) Upgrade Project (Project) is to eliminate the risk of failure due to age or condition of equipment by replacing pumps and their assets, prepare for future capacity requirements, add redundancy to the system, increase efficiency and operational flexibility and allow for the blending of water from multiple sources, and increase reliability, efficiency, and ease of use of the electrical and controls components. The scope of work for the Project includes developing operational models for VPS, evaluating system hydraulics, assessing the structural condition of the pump building for new equipment, replacing existing pumps, motors, adjustable speed drives, and valves, installing new flow meters, HVAC upgrades, and backup power, replacing electrical equipment, upgrading the electrical service equipment, and modernizing the control systems.
Final Mitigated Negative Declaration
A Draft MND was prepared for the Project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and circulated for public review from December 24, 2024, to January 23, 2025. Comments received during the public review period did not result in changes to the MND’s mitigation measures. Text revisions in the Final MND update the status of the Project’s CEQA environmental review process and make minor text revisions to a Best Management Practice. These revisions are not considered substantial under Section 15073.5 of the CEQA Guidelines. The Final MND is provided in Attachment 1.
The Final MND determined that the Project has the potential to result in significant impacts during construction related to fugitive dust and air pollutant emissions, nesting birds, roosting bats, San Francisco dusky-footed woodrat, Southwestern pond turtles, accidental releases of hazardous building materials, and temporary construction-related noise increases. However, these potentially significant impacts would be reduced to a less-than-significant level with implementation of the mitigation measures identified in the Final MND.
CEQA requires that before approving a project, the lead agency must consider the Final MND, together with any comments received during the public review process, and adopt the Final MND only if it finds that the Project will not have a significant effect on the environment. As concluded in the findings of the Final MND, the Project would not cause any significant adverse effect upon the environment because mitigation measures have been incorporated into the Project to avoid, minimize, and reduce potential impacts to less-than-significant.
When adopting an MND, the lead agency must also adopt a program for reporting on, or monitoring measures to avoid or mitigate significant environmental impacts (Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program or MMRP). A Final MND, including the MMRP for the proposed Project, is before the Board for adoption.
A Resolution to adopt the Final MND is included as Attachment 2.
Engineer’s Report
Section 12 of the District Act requires the Board to conduct a Public Hearing to consider all written and oral objections to the proposed Project when: 1) the Project is new construction; and 2) the Project is funded by a single or joint zone of benefit. Construction of the proposed Project meets both conditions, and staff has prepared an Engineer’s Report for this Project (Attachment 4) for the purpose of public disclosure. The Notice of Public Hearing (Attachment 5) for the Engineer’s Report was published in accordance with the District Act and posted outside Santa Clara Valley Water District’s (Valley Water) Offices at 5700 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, California, 95118, and on the Valley Water website at www.valleywater.org.
A Resolution to approve the Engineer’s Report is included as Attachment 3.
Previous Board Actions
On January 27, 2026, the Board adopted a Resolution setting the time and date for the Public Hearing on the Final MND and Engineer’s Report to take place on February 10, 2026, for the Project.
On August 22, 2023, the Board considered the outcome of the CIP Committee to approve the design-bid-build project delivery method for the project.
On April 23, 2019, the Board approved implementing a Design-Build project delivery method for the VPS Upgrade Project, and approved a consultant agreement with Hazen and Sawyer.
Next Steps
If the Board approves the proposed Project, the future milestones are:
1. Board adoption of plans and specifications, and authorization for construction contract procurement, and
2. Board award of construction contract
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There are no environmental justice impacts associated with the recommended action for the Vasona Pump Station Upgrade Project. The recommended action is unlikely to or will not result in disproportionate impacts on any specific community(ies) relative to the general population. The Public Hearing allows community members to provide input into the decision-making process.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Vasona Pump Station Upgrade Project, Project No. 92264001, is included in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Fiscal Years (FY) 2026-30 Five-Year Plan and in the FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget. The estimated cost to plan, design, and construct the Project is approximately $36 million (with inflation). Based upon current estimates, there are adequate funds in the Project’s Board-Adopted FY 2025-26 budget for planned Project spending during this fiscal year. Funds to cover each subsequent fiscal year anticipated Project costs will be included in the biennial budget process and recommended by staff during the annual fiscal year budget process or through budget adjustment(s), if needed. The Project is funded by the Water Utility Enterprise Fund (Fund 61), with 100% of the costs allocated to Zone W-2 (North County).
CEQA:
A Final MND has been prepared for the Project and is before the Board for approval. The Final MND is available as Attachment 1.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Final MND, including MMRP
Attachment 2: Resolution, Final MND
Attachment 3: Resolution, Engineer’s Report
Attachment 4: Engineer’s Report
Attachment 5: Notice of Public Hearing
Attachment 6: Project Delivery Process Chart
Attachment 7: PowerPoint
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
Emmanuel Aryee, 408-630-3074