SR-091608-8ACity Council Meeting: September 9, 2008
Agenda Item: ~`"'
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Lee E. Swain, Director -Department of Public Works
Subject: Design Approval for the -Bicknell Avenue "Green Street" Demonstration
Project
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the. final design concept for the Bicknell
Avenue Demonstration "Green Street" Project.
Executive Summary
The Bicknell Avenue "Green Street" Project (Project) is a partially grant-funded
demonstration project intended to provide water quality improvements by reducing
impervious street surface and installing landscaped biofilter swales and infiltration areas
to improve the quality and reduce the quantity of stormwater runoff. The project is
located on a one block area of Bicknell Avenue between Ocean Avenue and Neilson
Way. Three conceptual options for the project were previously presented to the
community and to City Council. After further development of the preferred option and
additional community outreach, staff recommends City Council approve the final design
concept as described in this report.
Background
Federal, State, and local regulations require the City to reduce urban runoff pollution
from storm drain discharges into the Santa Monica. Bay. The Bicknell Avenue "Green
Street" project is intended to improve water quality and maintain the beneficial uses of
the Santa Monica Bay, as well as improve the street's aesthetics. This project will
assist the City in complying with regulatory requirements imposed by the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and Total Maximum Daily Loads mandates.
On January 10, 2006, City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a .grant agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board from
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Proposition 50, for $450,000 for the construction of the Bicknell Green Street Project.
Then, in August 2007, a professional services agreement was executed with Kimley-
Horn and Associates, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $34,000 to conduct a community
meeting and to develop preliminary design concepts for the Project. On March 11,
2008, City Council reviewed the three preliminary concept designs and provided input
on the project. Thereafter, on March 25, 2008, City Council approved a modification to
the professional services agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in an
amount not to exceed $106,000 for design services required for the implementation of
the project.
Discussion
The project is located on a one block area on Bicknell Avenue between Ocean Avenue
and Neilson Way. The existing street is wide (56-foot curb-to-curb), allowing a
reduction to the width of the street to install improvements without affecting traffic and
parking. Additionally, several blocks bf the surrounding area drain to this location and
stormwater runoff is collected into a subsurface storm drain system at the west end of
the street near Ocean Avenue. Construction of the improvements at this location will
allow stormwater runoff to be collected, which improves water quality from a larger area
of the city beyond the one block of Bicknell Avenue.
The proposed "Green Street" project includes the reduction of impervious street surface
by implementing landscaped infiltration strips adjacent to the existing curbs and gutters.
The landscaped infiltration strips will collect runoff as it flows along the gutter. Collected
runoff will be stored in chambers below the landscaped strips and will slowly infiltrate
into the soil thus reducing the quantity and improving the quality of stormwater runoff
discharged into Santa Monica Bay, and promoting more sustainable streetscapes.
In developing options for this project, several constraints were identified. The proposed
project area has twelve existing on-street permit parking spaces that needed to be
preserved. Any reduction to the width of the street must consider traffic flow and
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emergency vehicle access. Additionally, operations such as street sweeping, trash
collection, utility access and landscape/tree maintenance must be maintained. The final
design (Attachment 1 and 2) is able to adhere to each of these constraints and will
include the installation of 6-foot wide landscaped infiltration strips adjacent to both the
north and south curbs.
The landscaped infiltration strips will include a variety of drought tolerant landscaping
and street trees as shown on the plant palette (Attachment 3). The proposed
landscaping and street trees were recommended by the Landscape Architect, reviewed
by the community and the City's Landscape Maintenance staff. The .proposed
landscaping includes "processors" for water quality benefits as well as plant materials to
provide visual interest. The proposed street trees were selected to preserve the ocean
view corridor. The palm trees located in the existing parkway will remain. Existing
parking will be relocated to the new curb face and the number of on-street parking
spaces will remain the same. The street is narrowed by approximately 12-feet, but
sufficient width is maintained for parking and emergency vehicle access. The estimated
construction cost for the recommended design is approximately $800,000.
Public Outreach
Public workshops were conducted to solicit ideas and concerns from the community and
to build a consensus on the final design. Two public workshops were held, one at the
Ken Edwards Center on November 29, 2007 and the second at the Ocean Park Library
on May 12, 2008. The following media sources were used to inform the residents and
property owners about the public workshops:
Bilingual (English/Spanish) meeting flyers were mailed to approximately 350
residents adjacent to the project area to notify the community of the upcoming
public meetings.
^ Phone calls were made prior to the second meeting to each of the attendees
whom left contact information at the first community meeting.
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At the first community meeting, residents indicated that although street parking is limited
on this block, there was no desire to add additional parking, as there is sufficient parking
available on Ocean Avenue. At the second meeting, the final design was unveiled.
Residents indicated a concern for site-distance from the driveways to the traveled way.
This concern has been discussed with Transportation Management and the project's
consultant. During design, staff will ensure that site-distance is in compliance with all
current engineering codes and practices. At both meetings, the community members
overwhelmingly supported the concept of constructing the demonstration project.
Environmental Analysis
The proposed project is a minor alteration of an existing street and associated
sidewalks in a one block area that will not result in any expansion of the existing use.
Therefore, the project is categorically exempt from the provisions of the California
Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15301 [Existing Facilities]; Class 1(c) of
the CEQA Guidelines. In addition, the proposed project .will have beneficial
environmental effects as the quantity of stormwater runoff will be reduced and improved
in quality before being discharged into the Santa Monica Bay.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
Construction of the project will be partially funded by the State Water Resources Control
Board through a Proposition 50 grant for $450,000. The grant funding for construction
expires on March 31, 2009. In order to preserve the $450,000 of grant funds, the
project must be substantially completed by this date. During the final design process,
staff will confirm funding options for the amount in excess of the available grant funds:
At this time, the source of additional funds is likely to be Measure V (as adopted by
Council on September 25 2007).
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Prepared by:
Mark Cuneo, P.E., Principal Civil Engineer
Approved: Forwarded to Council:
Lee E. Swain, Director ~P.nont Ewell --~ ~~
Department of Public Works Cify Manager
Attachment 1. Bicknell Avenue Plan
Attachment 2. Bicknell Avenue Cross-Section
Attachment 3. Bicknell Avenue Plant Palette