Principals
Michael J. Freitas, California Registered Civil Engineer C23345, has 40 years of experience in the civil engineering profession specializing in the design of water and wastewater projects. He is a graduate of the University of Santa Clara and a registered professional engineer.
Prior to establishing his consulting business Michael worked for eight years with Santa Clara Valley Water District, three years for PRC Consoer Townsend, Inc. and four years for Mark Thomas and Company. He has served on a consulting basis as City Engineer for the Cities of San Juan Bautista and Morgan Hill, CA and for one year was responsible for the daily operation of the water and wastewater systems of the City of Soledad, CA.
Michael has extensive experience designing wastewater and water treatment plants, pump stations, water storage facilities, hydrology studies and flood control studies.
Mr. Freitas’ community work include serving 4 years on the City of Santa Cruz Water Commission. Further, he has been a member of the Vision Center (a non profit organization assisting visually impaired individuals) since 2002 and served as President of the Board in 2006. In 2009, he received the Ray Westman Award for service.
Complete resume available on request.
Melanie Shaffer Freitas has a Masters degree in Urban Planning and has been a co-owner of Freitas + Freitas, Engineering and Planning Consultants, Inc. since its inception in 1985. During that time she has provided a range of consulting services to individuals, companies and governmental agencies. She has guided projects from land acquisition and permit processing on through to site development and construction. In addition, she has acted as a Project Manager for several municipal planning and redevelopment agencies.
She has also provided expert consulting services to over 40 different California communities in the areas of land use, affordable housing and economic development. On a national level, as a consultant for over 25 years to ICF, Inc. and the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, she was the manager of affordable housing technical assistance and training to hundreds of jurisdictions throughout the United States and its territories.
Ms. Shaffer Freitas serves on the County of Santa Cruz Planning Commission and has been a member and Chairperson of the City of Santa Cruz Planning Commission and Housing Advisory Committee.
She was on the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity Santa Cruz County as well as serving as its Executive Director for three years. She is a member of Leadership Santa Cruz County (Class of 28) and a Board member of the Rio del Mar Improvement Association. In addition to her professional accomplishments, she is very proud of the fact that she has published a booklet on the Venetian Court development, the first coastal condominium project built in the State of California and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The booklet is available at the Capitola History Museum as well as locally.
Complete resume and references available on request.
