Loading...
SR-505-004 (15)~/+ ^ . ~ ~;tyof City Council Report Santa Monica City Council Meeting: November 14, 2006 Agenda Item: ~ To: Mayor and City Council From: Craig Perkins, Director - Environmental and Public Works Management Subject: First Modification to Professional Services Agreement with Psomas to Investigate Mitigation Measures of Ponding Water at the Pier Storm Drain Diversion Site Recommended Action Staff recommends that the City Council: 1. authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a modification to Professional Services Agreement #1270 with Psomas to add Pier Storm Drain Analysis to the contract scope of work in the amount of $20,000 for a new agreement total not to exceed $73,730; and 2. authorize the City Engineer to issue any necessary modifications to complete additional work within budget authority. Executive Summary Engineering consulting company Psomas is currently working with City staff to assess the physical and environmental operation of the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Reclamation Facility (SMURRF) and its associated diversion pump system at the Pico Kenter stormdrain to identify any deficiencies or needed improvements. City staff has recently identified an additional environmental issue of ponding water under the Pier 1 related to the Pier storm drain. Analysis of this additional area is needed to develop design alternatives to mitigate the standing water under the Pier. The cost of the additional services will not exceed $20,000. With this amendment, the total amount of the agreement will be $73,730. Discussion At various times throughout the summer, the City has been notified by the Los Angeles County Department of Health regarding high levels of bacteria in the surf line beneath the Santa Monica Pier. Additional testing of the water and the sand indicates that an area of ponded water located beneath the Pier at the end of the Pier storm drain is the likely source of the bacteria. Sand build up beneath the Pier over the years has resulted in the outfall of the storm drain being at a lower elevation than the sand to the seaward side of the outFall. This results in ponding of any runoff that flows down the storm drain during the dry weather months. The pond is also occasionally replenished by seawater during high tide events. High bacteria levels in the ponded water pose a potential public health hazard and expose the City to potential fines from the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board for non-compliance with new urban runoff regulations. On June 14, 2006, the City entered into a sole-source agreement with the engineering consulting firm Psomas to assess the physical and environmental operation of the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Reclamation Facility (SMURRF) to identify any deficiencies or needed improvements. 2 Prior to execution of the agreement, the City also contacted CH2MHILL, the original design consultants of the SMURRF plant, to perForm the assessment because of their knowledge of the project, its various components and operational requirements. However, they were unable to commit to the task due to workload issues. Subsequently, the City approached Psomas whose staff was part of the original design team and responsible for the preparation of the feasibility study during the preliminary design. Psomas was selected for their knowledge of the plant and familiarity with the facility's unique plant operation and components. It is recommended that the scope of work for that agreement be expanded to include a review of the configuration of the existing Pier storm drain system, an assessment of the causes of the ponding, and identification of design alternatives to correct the drainage issue and eliminate the water that currently collects under the Pier. Many of the components of the SMURRF system and the Pier storm drain system are interconnected, so expanding the scope of work will allow a more thorough review of the system with limited extra cost, and will allow for a more comprehensive and cost- effective approach to mitigation of the ponding problem. Budqet/Financial Impact Funds in the amount of $20,000 are available for this project in account number C340427.589000 "Pier Storm Drain Upgrade Feasibility Study." 3 Prepared by: Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer Approved: Forwarded to Council: ~ , Craig Pe~ins Director - Environmental and Public Works Management Department P,rC~iont Ewell ~it~/Manaaer 4 e erence on rac o. .