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. .