SR-08-12-2014-3NCity Council Meeting: August 12, 2014
Agenda Item: a- (E
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Dean Kubani, Manager - Office of Sustainability and the Environment
Subject: Sole Source Agreement with Heal the Bay
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council
1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a sole source professional
services agreement with Heal the Bay, a California -based non - profit organization,
in an amount not to exceed $150,000 for educational consulting services and
programming for students at public and private schools located in Santa Monica
over a five year period with future year funding contingent on Council budget
approval; and
2. Approve the attached resolution supporting California Coastal Cleanup Day 2014
by providing volunteers with complimentary parking at City -owned beach parking
lots between 7:00 am and 2:00 pm on September 20, 2014.
Executive Summary
Since its adoption in 1994, the Santa Monica Sustainable City Program has recognized
the importance of education in fostering a sustainable community. The City has a
history of funding educational programs to K -12 schools designed to raise awareness of
coastal geography and the ocean environment while teaching science, conservation,
pollution prevention and personal responsibility through stewardship. Heal the Bay,
through the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, has been an essential partner in developing
and delivering this educational programming tailored to Santa Monica's long -term
sustainability goals.
Heal the Bay has also coordinated Santa Monica's participation in California Coastal
Cleanup Day, including organizing volunteers, handling media and marketing, and
providing data on volunteer participation rates and the amount of waste collected. Staff
recommends a sole source agreement with Heal the Bay to continue educational
programming and Coastal Cleanup Day activities for the next five years. Staff also
recommends allowing volunteers associated with California Coastal Cleanup Day 2014
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to park in select city -owned beach parking lots at no cost between the hours of 7:00 am
and 2:00 pm on September 20, 2014.
Background
On September 20, 1994 (staff report not available online), Council adopted the Santa
Monica Sustainable City Program, and the initial iteration of the Santa Monica
Sustainable City Plan (SCP). Council later adopted updates to the SCP on February 11,
2003, October 24 2006, and January 14, 2014. Each update recognized the critical
role public outreach and education play in achieving the goals of the SCP. The
provision of quality, environmentally - focused programs and curriculum to school -aged
children is an important step in achieving a more sustainable community and a better
quality of life for years to come.
On May 10, 2005, Council approved a contract with Heal the Bay to provide educational
and outreach services for K -12 public and private schools located in Santa Monica. A
review of the services provided over the last eight years by the Office of Sustainability
and the Environment found that Heal the Bay had adequately developed programs and
curriculum that directly relate to the Sustainable City Plan goals. On September 14,
2010, Council again approved a contract with Heal the Bay to continue to provide
educational and outreach services for K -12 public and private schools located in Santa
Monica through 2014. This contract was the result of a request for proposals, to which
Heal the Bay was the sole responder.
Santa Monica has also partnered with Heal the Bay to coordinate services for the City's
involvement in the California Coastal Cleanup Day. On July 10, 2012, Council
approved a resolution establishing parking rates and permit fees for all City parking
facilities and resources. A resolution is recommended to allow volunteers associated
with California Coastal Cleanup Day 2014 to park in select city -owned beach parking
lots at no cost.
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Discussion
Santa Monica's Sustainable City Plan is the City's guiding document in making
decisions related to sustainability and environmental conservation. Among other things,
the SCP recognizes the importance of education in building a sustainable community.
Likewise, the SCP highlights the necessity to foster relationships with community
partners to realize the City's sustainability goals. Partnering with Heal the Bay to
provide K -12 education services and coordinate Santa Monica's portion of California
Coastal Cleanup Day 2014 would further both of these goals.
K -12 Education
One of the nine goal areas of the Sustainable City Plan is Community Education and
Civic Participation. Education of Santa Monica's school children is a key part of fulfilling
this goal. In the past, Heal the Bay has provided trainings, workshops and field trips for
approximately 2,500 Santa Monica's K -12 students each year. Programs are designed
to teach science, conservation, pollution prevention, and personal responsibility through
stewardship by raising awareness of coastal geography and the ocean environment.
These trainings emphasize the importance of resource conservation, environmental and
public health, civic participation, and environmental justice.
California Coastal Cleanup Day
California Coastal Cleanup Day is a statewide event coordinated by the California
Coastal Commission. The County of Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, and the City
of Long Beach, among others, participate. In the past, Heal the Bay has coordinated
the Santa Monica portion of the event, which draws approximately 4,000 volunteers
each year. These volunteers remove plastic and other debris and receive education on
how such materials affect the Santa Monica watershed and tidal wetlands, and how
they can take steps to prevent future pollution. Heal the Bay has promoted the event,
organized volunteers and reported on the impacts of the program, including the number
of volunteers on Santa Monica beaches and amount of debris removed. To help
encourage participation, and to be consistent with the County of Los Angeles and the
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City of Long Beach, who have historically waived parking fees at for Coastal Cleanup
Day participants, staff recommends that the Council approve the attached resolution,
which would waive parking fees in beach parking lots for event volunteers on Saturday,
September 20 between 7:00 am and 2:00 pm. Approximately 1,350 parking spaces are
needed as many volunteers carpool or take alternative transportation to the event. The
maximum beach parking lot rate is $12.00. Therefore, the City may realize a reduction
in revenues of up to $16,200.
Contractor /Consultant Selection
Heal the Bay, as operator of the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, is in in a unique position
to provide environmental educational trainings and programming to local school children
and coordinate Coastal Cleanup Day. For many years, staff has worked closely with
Heal the Bay to tailor environmental education programs and curriculum so they directly
relate to Sustainable City Plan goals. Last year, over 14,000 students from across Los
Angeles County, including 2,500 Santa Monica school children, visited the aquarium
and benefited from educational training and programming. Likewise, Heal the Bay has
proven to be a trusted partner in coordinating Santa Monica's efforts for Coastal
Cleanup Day. A sole source agreement is recommended in order to leverage the City's
existing investment in educational programming, continue to provide programs at the
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, and manage the Santa Monica portion of Coastal
Cleanup Day.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The agreement to be awarded to Heal the Bay is $150,000. Funds in the amount of
$30,000 have been included in the FY 2014 -15 budget in division 226; the contract will
be charged to account number 01226.555060.55123W. Budget authority for
subsequent budget years will be requested in each budget for Council approval. Future
funding is contingent upon Council approval and budget adoption. Waiving parking fees
for California Coastal Cleanup Day 2014 may decrease annual revenues by $16,200 at
account 01417.400310.
Prepared by: Christopher Smith — Principal Administrative Analyst
Approved:
Dean Kubani
Sustainability Manager, Office of
Sustainability and the Environment
Attached: Resolution
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Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
Reference:
Agreement No. 9950
(CCS)
E'?1
Resolution No. 10830
(CCS)