SR-6I (16)
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EPWM:CP:JRM:JSH:sm.srbypass Santa Monica, California
Council Meeting: September 13, 1994
SEP 1 3 19911
TO: Mayor and City Council /u~0
FROM: City staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Authorize the city Manager to
Negotiate and Execute an Amendment to the Contract with
the City of Los Angeles for the Dry-weather Low Flow
Runoff Diversions from the Pico-Kenter storm Drain
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the city
Manager to negotiate and execute an amendment to the contract with
the City of Los Angeles to continue diverting dry-weather low flow
runoff from the Pico-Kenter storm drain into the sewer system.
BACKGROUND
For over a decade, the Pico-Kenter storm drain has been a source of
concern because of the possible releases of biological and chemical
contaminates into the Santa Monica Bay. These contaminates pose a
potential risk to pUblic health. Sixty percent of the Pico-Kenter
drainage basin is located in the City of Los Angeles, and
approximately the same percentage of the storm drain flow enters
from Los Angeles.
Several measures have been taken over the past several years by
various agencies for better control and elimination of storm drain
pollutants entering Santa Monica Bay. These agencies include the
City of Santa Monica and the city of Los Angeles, the County of Los
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Angeles, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project, the Los Angeles
Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the United States
Environmental Protection Agency.
In 1991, the City of Santa Monica developed a pilot sensor system
which will detect fuel hydrocarbon spills in the pico Kenter storm
drain, send an alarm to a computer control station and close a
valve preventing spills from entering the Bay. This project is now
being expanded to include eight permanent monitoring stations. It
is anticipated that a contract to complete the sensor system
project will be awarded within the next six months. Also in 1991,
the cities of Santa Monica and Los Angeles, and the County of Los
Angeles constructed a temporary "by-pass line" to carry dry-weather
low flows from the Pico-Kenter storm drain 600 feet out into the
ocean. This project prevented the accumulation of low flow storm
water at the mouth of the Pico-Kenter drain which over the summer
months becomes stagnant and unsightly. In 1992, the Santa Monica
City council approved a comprehensive Urban Runoff and Pollution
Control Ordinance that requires every new residential and
commercial development to reduce the runoff from their site by 20
percent, and requires all existing properties in the city to adhere
to various pollution control best management practices.
In an effort to further reduce pollution entering the Santa Monica
Bay, in January 13, 1992, the cities of Santa Monica and Los
Angeles entered into an agreement (Contract 84370) to temporarily
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divert dry weather urban runoff flows from the Pico-Kenter storm
drain into the City's sewer system to be transported to the
Hyperion Treatment Plant. As a result of this agreement, diversion
pump facilities were constructed at the terminus of the Pico-Kenter
storm drain. These facilities replaced the temporary "bypass line"
that had been constructed in 1991. This agreement must be renewed
annually, and the current agreement term will expire on October 29,
1994. One of the conditions of the sewer diversion agreement
between the City of Los Angeles and the City of Santa Monica is
that the City of Santa Monica must continue to pursue the design
and construciton of the proposed dry weather storm drain treatment
plant to be located south of the Pier. It is anticipated that the
City of Los Angeles will share the construction and operational
costs of the treatment facility.
Since the term of the agreement is about to expire and cannot be
extended without further approval by both parties, it is
recommended that the city Council authorize the City Manager to
negotiate and execute an amendment to the contract with the City of
Los Angeles to permit the continuation of the dry weather low flow
diversions from the Fico-Kenter storm drain to the sewer system.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
According to flow data recorded by the City's Wastewater Division,
approximately thirty-one (31) million gallons per year are diverted
to the Hyperion Treatment Plant from the Pico Kenter drain. This
results in sewage treatment cost of $140,000 per year, of which
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one-half is paid by Los Angeles and one-half of which is paid by
santa Monica per the agreement. Santa Monica's share ($70,000) is
already budgeted in account number 31-500-661-00000-5512-00000. No
budget adjustments are therefore needed at this time.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager
to negotiate and execute an amendment to the agreement with the
City of Los Angeles to divert Pico-Kenter dry-weather runoff into
the sewer system.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Dir. Environ. & Public Works Mgmt.
John Mundy, utilities Manager
Jean Higbee, Sr. Administrative Analyst
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