SR-505-008 (12)
EPWM:CP:BJ:NS:LACityurbanrunoffmitigation.doc
Council Meeting: November 9, 2004 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT:Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute an Agreement with
the City of Los Angeles for the Installation of an Urban Runoff Treatment
System in Mar Vista Park and to Advance Funds for Construction of the
System's Diversion Pipeline by the City of Los Angeles
Introduction
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate
and execute agreements with the City of Los Angeles (City of L.A.) to install the
Centinela urban runoff treatment system at Mar Vista Park and to advance the City of
L.A. funds in an amount not to exceed $180,000 to pay for the costs of a diversion
pipeline for this treatment system.
Background
Federal, state and local regulations require the City of Santa Monica to reduce urban
runoff pollution from storm drain discharges into the Santa Monica Bay. Recent
changes in these regulations and standards have shifted the management strategy for
urban runoff control from an end-of-pipe approach to a sustainable watershed
approach, where the entire watershed or storm drainage area is evaluated for
stormwater management opportunities. The watershed approach is considered a best
management practice (BMP) and promotes reduction of runoff volume and prevention
of urban runoff pollution as guiding principles.
1
This grant-funded project is a BMP that will reduce and prevent urban runoff pollution
for the Centinela Basin Watershed. The project will assist the City in meeting its
federal National Pollution Discharge Elimination System and Total Maximum Daily
Load mandates found in the Clean Water Act. It is designed to reduce urban runoff
pollution, including dry weather flows, from entering nearby Ballona Creek. Both
Ballona Creek and its receiving waters, the Pacific Ocean, have degraded water
quality which reduces a variety of beneficial uses, such as swimming and fishing.
These water bodies are listed on a national list of impaired water bodies that require
urban runoff remediation.
On May 11, 2004, City Council approved a contract with Black & Veatch to design the
urban runoff treatment system for this project. At that time, staff recommended
moving the installation of the project, originally envisioned within the City?s eastern
Centinela Watershed, downstream into Mar Vista Park in the City of L.A. This
recommendation reflects a collaborative regional approach to watershed management
as well as a more straightforward engineering solution and staff has been negotiating
with the Bureau of Sanitation and the Department of Recreation and Parks to that end.
On June 22, 2004, City Council approved a staff report with resolutions accepting the
last of three grants to complete this project. The previous two grants were accepted
by Council on September 11, 2001 (California Integrated Waste Management Board),
and November 13, 2001 (Proposition 12).
2
Discussion
The City of L.A. is constructing a new artificial turf soccer field in Mar Vista Park at the
location traversed by the L.A. County?s Sawtelle subsurface storm drain line. The
storm drain must be tapped into to divert runoff for treatment in the proposed
Centinela treatment system. It will not be possible to do so after the park
improvements are installed. To expedite the treatment system project in a cost-
effective manner, Santa Monica has requested that a change order be issued to the
City of L.A.?s park contractor to construct the necessary diversion pipeline. The timing
of the park work dictates that Santa Monica negotiate and execute an interim
agreement with the City of L.A. to advance funds immediately, in advance of execution
of the main treatment project agreement or lose the opportunity to use this site. There
is some risk that the main treatment agreement would not ultimately be reached and
that the City?s advance would not consequently be covered by treatment project
grants. That appears to be unlikely given the joint interest of the parties in employing
BMP?s and proceeding in a cost effective manner.
Staff requests that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute an interim agreement to advance up to $180,000 for the designated purpose
and negotiate and execute the main project agreement with the City of Los Angeles to
complete a treatment project in Mar Vista Park. Future work to complete the
treatment system installation will occur during spring or fall of 2005 by a City of Santa
Monica-selected contractor and will be coordinated with the City of L.A.
3
The proposed main agreement between the two cities will establish the responsibilities
of each agency, including Santa Monica?s operation and maintenance responsibility
for the life of the project, estimated at 30 years, at an estimated $5,000 annually. This
agreement may be similar in format and content to the agreement between the two
cities for the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility.
Staff will return to Council at a future meeting to select the contractor for the
construction of the remainder of the project.
Budget/Financial Impact
Funds in the amount of $90,000 are available in each of the miscellaneous grant
expenditure accounts C200796.589000 and C200797.589000 totaling $180,000.
Ongoing expenditures of approximately $5,000 per year for project operations and
maintenance will be included in the Wastewater operating budget in the Water
Resources Division once the project is completed.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute agreements with the City of L.A. to install the Centinela urban runoff treatment
system at Mar Vista Park and to advance the City of L.A. funds in an amount not to
exceed $180,000 for the installation of an urban runoff diversion pipeline at the park to
capitalize on current construction activity at the location and to minimize disruption of
park activity.
4
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director, Environmental & Public Works Management
Tony Antich, City Engineer
Gil Borboa, Manager, Water Resources Division
Brian Johnson, Manager, Environmental Programs Division
Neal Shapiro, Senior Administrative Analyst ? Urban Runoff
5