REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the Interagency Recycled Water Service Agreement with the City of Mountain View to Provide Recycled Water Service to the LinkedIn Campus in Mountain View
Report
BACKGROUND
In 2019, LinkedIn Corporation completed construction of four dual-plumbed buildings at 700-800 East Middlefield Road in Mountain View (LinkedIn Campus). LinkedIn expressed strong interest in using recycled water for its new campus; however, the City of Mountain View currently lacks recycled water infrastructure in the area. Mountain View is in the process of developing a master plan to extend recycled water service to the site in the future. In the meantime, the City of Sunnyvale has a 16-inch recycled water main running along where the LinkedIn property fronts Maude Ave, with sufficient capacity to meet LinkedIn’s request for 25,000 gallons per day. Mountain View approached Sunnyvale about a temporary recycled water service arrangement to supply available recycled water from Sunnyvale until Mountain View extends its recycled water system to LinkedIn.
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan Policy EM- 1.2: Maximize recycled water use for all approved purposes both within and in areas adjacent to the City, where feasible.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This project is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303(d) which exempts the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures including water main, sewage, electrical, gas, and other utility extensions of reasonable length to serve such construction. The project is also exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15282(k) which exempts the installation of new pipeline or maintenance, repair, restoration, removal, or demolition of an existing pipeline as set forth in Section 21080.21 of the Public Resources Code, as long as the project does not exceed one mile in length.
DISCUSSION
Staff drafted a temporary interagency recycled water service agreement to provide water from Sunnyvale’s system to the LinkedIn Campus until Mountain View’s recycled water infrastructure is extended to the site. This Interagency Recycled Water Service Agreement outlines the terms under which Sunnyvale will supply recycled water to LinkedIn. The agreement is open-ended in duration, specifies applicable rates, and defines the roles and responsibilities of each party. Under its terms, Sunnyvale will deliver approximately nine million gallons of recycled water (28 acre-feet) annually to meet LinkedIn’s needs and will bill the City of Mountain View for the water supplied.
Mountain View is aware that Sunnyvale is currently not producing recycled water due to algae issues at its wastewater treatment facilities. Recycled water service pursuant to the agreement will begin once Sunnyvale resumes production.
On June 24, 2025, the Mountain View City Council authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement with Sunnyvale. This partnership advances regional goals for water conservation and sustainability.
FISCAL IMPACT The anticipated annual revenue from selling recycled water to Mountain View for the LinkedIn Campus is approximately $31,500 and is expected to increase in line with water rate adjustments. The cost of producing and distributing recycled water is approximately $2,300 per million gallons. The additional revenue will cover staff labor costs including overhead.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council meeting agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board at City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Public Library and in the Department of Public Safety Lobby. In addition, the agenda and this report are available at the City Hall reception desk located on the first floor of City Hall at 456 W. Olive Avenue (during normal business hours), and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Interagency Recycled Water Service Agreement with the City of Mountain View to provide Recycled Water Service to the LinkedIn Campus in Mountain View.
Levine Act
LEVINE ACT
The Levine Act (Gov. Code Section 84308) prohibits city officials from participating in certain decisions regarding licenses, permits, and other entitlements for use if the official has received a campaign contribution of more than $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant in the previous 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to-play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
An “X” in the checklist below indicates that the action being considered falls under a Levine Act category or exemption:
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
___ Land development entitlements
___ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
___ Contract or franchise
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
___ Competitively bid contract*
___ Labor or personal employment contract
___ Contract under $50,000 or non-fiscal
_X_ Contract between public agencies
___ General policy and legislative actions
* "Competitively bid" means a contract that must be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.
Staff
Prepared by: Mansour Nasser, Water and Sewer Division Manager
Reviewed by: Ramana Chinnakotla, Director, Environmental Services Department
Reviewed by: Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Approved by: Tim Kirby, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Sunnyvale-Mountain View Recycled Water Service Agreement