SR-505-011 (4)~_ . .
~ ~;ty o, City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: June 27, 2006
Agenda Item: -~" D
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Craig Perkins, Director - Environmental and Public Works Management
Subject: Agreement with Psomas for a Santa Monica Municipal Airport Sub-
Watershed Evaluation Study
Recommended Action
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services
agreement with Psomas in an amount not to exceed $88,600 to conduct a study
to evaluate and recommend structural Best Management Practices (BMPs) for
the Santa Monica Municipal Airport sub-watershed in order to reduce urban
runoff pollution into the Santa Monica Bay; and
2. authorize the City Engineer to issue any necessary modifications to complete
additional work within budget authority.
Executive Summary
The Santa Monica Municipal Airport Sub-Watershed Evaluation Study will identify,
evaluate, and rank urban runoff volume reduction and pollution mitigation. This study,
conducted by Psomas, will develop a cost estimate, schedule, and matrix of potential
funding sources for the implementation of various recommended BMPs that are
consistent with the proposed Watershed Management Plan (WMP). The Airport sub-
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watershed is bounded by Pico Boulevard to the north, 18th Street to the west, and the
City boundaries to the south and east. The total cost for this agreement will not exceed
$88,600.
Discussion
There are 13 sub-watersheds in the City. The Airport sub-watershed will be the first to
be studied for structural BMPs within the framework outlined in the City's WMP. This
sub-watershed is an ideal first choice for such a study since a large portion of the
Airport sub-watershed consists of lands owned and/or managed by the City, including
Clover Park and the Santa Monica Municipal Airport, both with significant open spaces.
The evaluation, selection, and recommended implementation of the BMPs identified in
the study will be based on City BMP usage: harvesting, treating and reusing runoff for
landscape watering and/or indoor use as the highest priority; harvesting and infiltration,
where appropriate, as the second priority; and treatment and release, back into the
storm drain system, as the third priority.
Background
In November 2002, the City hired a consultant to develop a comprehensive Watershed
Management Plan to develop a framework for long-range urban runoff volume reduction
and pollution mitigation.
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Consultant Selection
On January 12, 2006, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was posted on the City's web site
and issued to qualified consulting firms, soliciting proposals to develop the Airport Sub-
Watershed Evaluation Study. On February 16, 2006, two proposals were received from
Brown & Caldwell and Psomas. A selection committee was formed consisting of staff
from Civil Engineering & Architecture, Environmental Programs, Water Resources, and
Airport divisions. On March 29, 2006, the selection committee interviewed both
consultants. The selection criteria included the firm's technical competence;
understanding of the project's scope; direct experience on similar projects; approach to
the work; qualifications of the proposed staff; and staffing capability to meet the desired
time frames and cost of services.
Based on the proposals and interviews, the selection committee unanimously agreed
that Psomas, and its sub-consultant GeoSyntec, had an exceptional project team with
better technical expertise, a clearer understanding of the project's scope, and a well
defined approach to the work. Consequently, the selection committee recommends
Psomas to develop the Airport Sub-Watershed Evaluation.
Psomas and its sub-consultant GeoSyntec have extensive experience in the
preparation of watershed management plans and in the evaluation of structural BMPs to
mitigate urban runoff. Psomas and GeoSyntec have worked with the City of Los
Angeles over the past 10 years on a number of activities related to the City of Los
Angeles' obligations under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
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program and permit, including the creation of their storm drain Geographic Information
System (GIS) databases and associated pollutant loading model, and most recently a
BMP planning tool. Psomas has also won a number of engineering achievement
awards for their innovative approach to storm water management for the Arroyo
Trabuco Golf Course, and has provided wetland planning and design for the Ballona
wetlands restoration and Ballona freshwater marsh.
GeoSyntec is currently providing engineering guidance and technical evaluation on an
American Society of Civil Engineers led project as part of a multi-disciplinary team to
develop a scientifically-based approach and tools for evaluating the effectiveness of
structural BMPs worldwide. GeoSyntec is also the technical lead in a cooperatively
funded project involving Heal the Bay, the City of Los Angeles, and the County of Los
Angeles to develop a comprehensive GIS based methodology to prioritize
implementation of structural BMPs throughout the County of Los Angeles to maximize
their operational and cost effectiveness. Their experience developing and implementing
this methodology and tool will be extremely valuable on this project.
BudgetlFinancial Impact
The total cost of this professional services agreement is not to exceed $88,600. Funds
in the amount of $88,600 are available in the following account:
Account Name Account Number Amount
Environmental Programs Operating Fund 31662.555060 $88,600
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Prepared by:
Allan Sheth, Civil Engineering Associate
Approved:
Craig Perkin
Director - vironmental and Public
Works Management Department
Forwarded to Council:
~~mont Ewe
y Manager
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