SR 08-23-2011 3J~;~Y o. City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: August 23, 2011
Agenda Item: .~ ~'J
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director of Public Works
Subject: Professional Services Agreement for Groundwater Assessment
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a professional services agreement with Richard C. Slade and Associates LLC,
a California-based company, in the amount of $89,870 (includes a 10% contingency) to
perform a groundwater assessment.
Executive Summary
One of the strategies to be employed in pursuing the City's goal of water self-
sufficiency by the year 2020 is the investigation of available groundwater in local basins.
Richard C. Slade and Associates, LLC is recommended to conduct a groundwater
assessment in the amount of $89,870.
Background
In a study session at the March 8, 2011 City Council meeting, staff presented the
concepts and principles involved in achieving the City's goal of 100% water self-
sufficiency by the year 2020. Santa Monica presently meets approximately 70% of the
community's water demand from local groundwater production, with the balance
purchased from the Metropolitan Water District. Among the options presented for
supply side enhancements was the assessment of the groundwater basins from which
the-City currently pumps, in order to determine.the feasibility of increasing groundwater
production. To that end, proposals were solicited from qualified groundwater geologists
to conduct a comprehensive groundwater assessment.
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Discussion
The Santa Monica Groundwater Basin is bounded by the Santa Monica Mountains to
the north, the Ballona Escarpment to the south, the Inglewood Fault to the east, and the
Pacific Ocean to the west. The City of Santa Monica derives its groundwater from sub-
basins in the Santa Monica Groundwater Basin. Extensive faulting within the Santa
Monica Basin divides the basin into the following five Sub-basins: the Arcadia Sub-
basin, the Olympic Sub-basin, the Coastal Sub-basin, the Charnock Sub-basin, and the
Crestal Sub-basin. The study area is comprised of the Santa Monica Basin and its Sub-
basins, depicted in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1 -- Santa Monica Basin and Sub-basins
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The groundwater assessment would include the development of a groundwater basin
and sub-basin conceptual flow model to provide a better understanding of the long-term
yield characteristics. The goal is to maximize the sustainable use of local groundwater
supplies in support of the City's. established goal of attaining water self-sufficiency by
the year 2020. Included among the tasks in the scope of work are an assessment of
historical groundwater level, quality, and production data, volumetric assessments of
basins. to quantify groundwater availability, development of a groundwater budget in
consideration of present and future water demands, and proposed locations and
anticipated yields of new municipal water supply wells.
Consultant Selection
On May 18, 201.1, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to perform a
groundwater assessment. The RFP was issued to six pre-qualified firms and two
proposals were received on June 15, 2011. Proposals were reviewed by Public Works
staff. Each proposal was evaluated based on specific criteria including technical
competence, past performance record, financial stability, previous projects of
comparable complexity, staffing capability, and cost of services. Richard C. Slade and
Associates LLC (RCS) provided the lower proposed cost of services among the bids
received. Staff recommends RCS as the best bidder to perform the groundwater
assessment. RCS is a consulting groundwater geologist with substantial experience in
municipal water supply wells and local groundwater assessments, having recently
completed groundwater assessments for the cities of Beverly Hills and Inglewood.
References were contacted and they reported that the work of RCS was on schedule,
within budget, and project deliverables were of good quality.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The professional services agreement to be awarded to Richard C. Slade and
Associates, LLC is $89,870 (includes a 10% contingency). Funds are included in the
FY2011-12 budget in account 25671.555060.
Prepared by: Gil Borboa, P.E., Water Resources Manager
Approved:
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Martin Pastucha
Director of Public Works
Forwarded to Council:
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Rod Gould ~
City Manager
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Reference Contract No.
9451 (CCS)