SR-505-004-01 (3)
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Council Meeting: February 14, 1989
Santa Monica, California
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TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: city staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Authorize the city Manager to
negotiate and execute an Interagency Agreement for
Improvements to the Pico-Kenter storm Drain.
INTRODUCTION
This report requests City council authorization for the City
Manager to negotiate and execute a cooperative agreement between
the city of Santa Monica, city of Los Angeles and the County of
Los Angeles to reduce stagnate and undesirable drainage
conditions in the Pico-Kenter storm drain. The agreement allows
for installation of a ~ow flow by-pass drain, approximately 1,200
feet in length, and installation of a sensor/alarm system to
detect hydrocarbon contaminants within the Pico-Kenter storm
drain.
BACKGROUND
The Pico-Kenter storm drain has a long history of surface water
runoff pollution. When constructed in 1935, the drain was near
the surf line.
Over the years, however, sand has built-up to
extend the distance the runoff water must travel before reaching
the surf. This has resulted in a very undesirable and unhealthy
condition when pollution is discharged from either low flow
contamination or occasional accidental or intentional spills of
pollutants into the storm drain.
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t'CQ 1 4 1989
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The growing awareness of these pollution problems by the City
Council, City staff and members of the public led to the
formation, in 1986, of a Multi-agency Task Force to evaluate the
problem and develop recommendations for mitigation.
This Task Force, led by the City of Santa Monica, the City of Los
Angeles, and the County of Los Angeles, has met regularly since
1986 to evaluate problems of bacterial and chemical pollution
associated with the runoff in the Pico-Kenter storm drain.
Representatives of other agencies and organizations including the
County Health Department, State Fish and Game Department,
Regional Water Quality Control Board, Assemblyman Tom Hayden I s
office and Heal the Bay have also been present at many of these
meetings. The Task Force agreed upon a five point program
designed to reduce the effects of pollutant levels for both
bacterial and chemical contaminants.
The specific components of the program are as follows:
1. The placement of a subsurface low flow pipe from the
end of the storm drain to a point 600 feet beyond the
surf line and installation of asensor/alarm system
within the Pico-Kenter storm drain.
2. An increased pollution control monitoring and
enforcement program which includes sampling.
3. Development and implementation of an education program
designed to reduce contamination of the system.
4. An increased street and storm drain inlet cleaning
program to reduce non-point source pollution.
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5. An increased enforcement program to reduce the incident
of illegal dumping into the storm drain.
The City Council approved the five point plan in January 1987,
but directed Planning staff to prepare an Environmental Impact
Report to evaluate these improvements. In April, 1988, the
Environmental Impact Report, which concluded that the Pico-Kenter
storm drain improvement program would result in beneficial
effects, was certified by Council.
Also in April, 1988, staff reported to Council that substantial
progress had been made on the five point program. The report
stated that:
1. The low flow pipe had been designed by the County of
Los Angeles and a cooperative interagency agreement was
under negoti~tion between the City of Santa Monica,
the City of Los Angeles, and the County. A.lso, the
first portion of a sensor/alarm system was nearing the
testing phase.
2. Increased monitoring activity was in the planning
stages.
3. A video had been produced and shown on cable
television. Educational programs aimed at storm drain
awareness had been presented to numerous groups.
4. There had been a significant increase in street and
inlet cleaning by both Santa Monica and the City of Los
Angeles.
5. The City had posted warning notices on each storm drain
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inlet and the City Attorney was pursuing prosecution of
several violators.
DISCUSSION
The interagency agreement between the City of Santa Monica, the
City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles has now been
completed. The agreement proposes that each agency share in the
construction of a 1,200 foot long flow outfall pipe extending 600
feet into the ocean,
along with the installation of a
sensor/alarm system to detect hydro-carbons. The major points of
the agreement are as follows:
1. City of Santa Monica agrees:
A. To prepare all necessary environmental
documentation and permits for the drainage pipe
and sensors.
B. To prepare the necessary plans and specifications
and administer construction for the hydro-carbon
sensors.
C. To pay 33-1/3% of the actual construction cost of
the drain pipe and hydro-carbon sensors.
D. To acquire all necessary rights of way for the
project (This does not include any land acquisition
but will obligate the City to obtain all necessary
construction permits.)
E. To operate and maintain hydro-carbon sensors upon
completion and acceptance of construction.
2. city of Los Angeles agrees:
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A. To pay 33-1/3% of the actual construction cost of
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the drainage pipe and sensors.
3. Los Angeles County agrees:
A. To pay 33-1/3% of the actual construction cost of
the drainage pipe and sensors.
B. To prepare the necessary plans and specifications
and administer construction of the 1,200 feet of
drainage pipe.
C. To operate and maintain the storm drainage pipe
upon completion and acceptance of construction.
The construction of the low flow pipe, which was initially
anticipated to begin in March, 1.989, has been delayed until
september, 1989. This is due to design changes, a longer than
anticipated review process and a desire that construction not
interfere with the summer season.
SENSOR SYSTEM
The City has been testing a prototype of the hydro-carbon sensor
system in anticipation of full installation. Last year, an
Adsistor sensor, which is a resistance based monitoring device,
was tested. The results indicated it had several operational
problems and was not sensitive at detecting low concentrations of
hydrocarbons. After a brief investigation of other approaches,
it was decided in January to test a fiber optic sensor based on a
Fiber Optic Chemical Sensor (FOCS). This sensor is a result of a
recent advancement in fiber optic technology. The first fiber
optic sensor is being tested on the bus facility site near 5th
and Olympic. Based on the results of these tests, a decision
will be made on the applicability for full scale implementation.
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council will be kept informed as to the progress of both projects
as they are implemented.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
Funds have been previously authorized by Council for the low flow
pipe extension (1988-89 Budget) in the amount of $150,000 in
account number 31-760-661-000-943. The sensor/alarm system was
budgeted in 1987-88 in account number 31-760-661-000-927, which
has a current balance of $44/029. Both of these accounts contain
sufficient funds to cover Santa Monica's anticipated share of the
total project costs.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff respectfully recommends that City council authorize the
City Manager to negotiate and execute an interagency agreement
between the City of Sapta Monica, the City of Los Angeles and Los
Angeles County to implement improvements to the Pico-Kenter storm
Drain.
Submitted By: stan Scholl, Director of General Services
Byron Gaines, utilities Manager
(srpicok)
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