SR-504-004
EPWM:CP:BJ:F:EPWM/ADMIN/STAFFREPORTS/Yardlandfill.doc
Council Meeting: December 14, 1999 Santa Monica,
California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a
Two Year Contract with Arthur D. Little, Inc. to Provide Operation,
Maintenance, Construction and Monitoring Services for the Landfill Gas
Extraction System at the City Yards
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a two year contract with Arthur D. Little, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $916,620
to operate, maintain, monitor and expand the landfill gas extraction system currently
operating at the City?s Municipal Yard and to approve $137,493 in contingency funds for
the contract.
BACKGROUND
Portions of the City Yard and Stewart Street Park lie over an inactive landfill. In response
to the potential hazard posed by gases generated by the decomposition of the landfill, the
City has installed and is operating a landfill gas extraction and treatment system to collect
and treat landfill gases generated from the former landfill. The extraction system has been
operating on a continuous basis since July, 1998. The system is permitted by the South
Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the Los Angeles County
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Department of Health Services (LACDHS).
DISCUSSION
Permit and operational conditions for the extraction system require periodic monitoring
and adjustment to maintain maximum gas extraction and treatment effectiveness.
Additionally, to more effectively control gases throughout the landfill, it is necessary to
expand the extraction system.
Due to the complexity and specialized nature of the engineered system, it is necessary
that these services be provided by a consultant experienced in landfill gas projects.
A request for proposals was distributed to five qualified and experienced landfill
consultants. Three proposals were submitted and reviewed by a committee comprised
of representatives from the Environmental Programs, Engineering and Maintenance
Management Divisions. Based upon the qualifications, experience and cost
effectiveness of their proposal, staff recommends that Arthur D. Little, Inc. be retained
to provide landfill gas extraction services.
Due to the extended period during which landfills typically generate gas, it is
anticipated that the gas extraction system will be in operation at the site for an
additional 10 to 12 years. Although the system will remain in consistent operation
throughout this entire period, several factors restrict our ability to develop a
comprehensive and cost effective scope of services for a period beyond two years.
Specifically, gas conditions in the landfill will vary over time as the extraction system
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effectively remediates different sections of site, thereby imposing varying future
regulatory and monitoring standards that currently can not be anticipated. Additionally,
possible future renovation of the City Yards may result in significant infrastructural
changes that would require reconfiguration of the existing extraction and treatment
systems. In light of these conditions, staff recommends that the current contract be
executed for a period of two years. Staff expects to return to the City Council in the
future with recommendations for the continued operation of the system.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funds are available for the two year contract in the amount of $1,054,113 in the
General Fund CIP account #C01079800.589000.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a two year contract with Arthur D. Little, Inc. in an amount not to exceed
$916,620 to operate, maintain, monitor and expand the landfill gas extraction system
currently operating at the City?s Municipal Yard and to approve $137,493 in
contingency funds for the contract.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works Management
Brian J. Johnson, Environmental Programs Coordinator
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