SR 06-25-2019 3Q
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: June 25, 2019
Agenda Item: 3.Q
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Karen Ginsberg, Director, Community & Cultural Services
Susan Cline, Director, Public Works Department
Subject: Los Angeles County Transfer Agreement for the Santa Monica Beach Bike
Trail
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a Transfer and Relinquishment Agreement with Los Angeles County for th e
Santa Monica Beach Bike Trail. The term of the transfer agreement is in perpetuity, with
the provision for annual payment by the County of the prorated Transportation
Development Act Article 3 fund allocation amount to maintain the Bike Trail for an initial
term of ten years, which may be extended by the County upon request by the City.
Summary
Los Angeles County (County) is proposing to relinquish and transfer all rights to the
portion of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail within the City limits to the City of Santa Monica.
The City assumed responsibility for sweeping the trail in 2015 as a way to increase the
frequency of cleaning and to change the type of equipment to eliminate scraping of the
bike path markings. The County continued to make repairs to the bike trail pavement.
The City has always had ownership and maintenance responsibility for the existing
pedestrian sections along the beach trail. Now that the City is preparing to construct the
North Beach Trail Improvements, which will include a pedestrian path along the
expanded bike path for the full 3 miles of the beach trail, it would be most efficient and
cost effective for the City to assume ownership and maintenance responsibility for both
the pedestrian and bicycle portions of the trail. The County will continue its annual
reimbursement of approximately $27,000 for sweeping the path; costs for repairs to the
pedestrian and bicycle portions would be funded by the Beach Fund, which has
sufficient funding.
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Discussion
Los Angeles County built the 19-mile continuous bicycle trail, currently known as the
Marvin Braude Bike Trail (Bike Trail) in 1972, beginning at California Avenue in Santa
Monica and extending southward to Via Rivera in Torrance. The City of Santa Monica
extended the bike trail to the northern City limits in 1989. The County has had
responsibility for maintaining and repairing the bike trail since it was built. The City and
County executed a Cooperation Agreement in 2015, which shifted responsibility for
sweeping the bike path to the City. At that time, the City hired an Equipment Operator II
and purchased a small heavy-duty dust-free sweeper that is the width of one lane of the
bike path. Sweeping frequency has increased from two or three days a week under the
County’s management to seven days per week.
During the design process for the North Beach Trail Improvement Project, which
includes the widening of the existing bike trail from 14 to 16 feet and the addition of a
12- foot walking path adjacent to the bike trail, a number of issues were raised by the
County regarding design changes. The City and County had been in discussions about
the project beginning in January 2018 and the City submitted a 90% design set in July
2018. The County provided comments in September 2018 that requested significant
changes, including thickening the pavement edges on both sides of the trail and
removal of Pier pilings in order to widen the trail under the Pier Bridge. The City
estimated that these changes would add approximately $3.2 million to the Project’s
cost, would significantly delay implementation, and would be unnecessary given the
non-vehicular uses of the trail. An additional consideration for review of the
maintenance arrangement is the addition of a new pedestrian path along the length of
the beach trail, which would not be covered by the Cooperation Agreement since the
County maintains the bike trail only, and the new pedestrian path would be the City’s
responsibility to sweep and repair. It would be most efficient and cost effective for the
City to maintain both the pedestrian and bike portions of the Beach Trail.
In light of the requested design changes that would result in higher costs and delays,
and the inherent challenges of dual responsibility for parallel paths, staff consulted with
Supervisor Kuehl’s office and initiated discussions with the County to transfer
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responsibility for maintenance of the bike path to the City. County staff supports the
change and has agreed to continue the annual reimbursement of Transportation
Development Act (TDA) funds from the State that go to the County for maintenance of
the Santa Monica portion of the bike trail. These funds are approximately $27,000 per
year. The agreement provides for a term of ten years for the annual reimbursement,
which the County may extend upon request from the City. The transfer of responsibility
from the County to the City eliminated the need for continued County review and the
issuance of a permit for the North Beach Trail Improvement Project.
The transfer of responsibility for repairing the bike trail would result in more efficient
responses to repairs and a more consistent method of repair. While the County has
been responsive to calls for repairs, there is still lead time needed to contact the County
and then arrange for repairs to be made. Over the years, most minor repairs have been
made with asphalt, which has caused unevenness on the bike trail. Since almost all of
the two-mile section of bike trail from the Pier to the north City limits will be rebuilt as
part of the North Beach Trail Improvement Project, most of the bike trail will be in good
condition and may not require major repairs for at least the next ten years. The County
did a major repair last year on a section near Ocean Park Boulevard that was damaged
by tree roots; the rest of the section from Bay Street to the south city limits is in good
condition. The Streets Division of Public Works would take over responsibility for
inspecting and repairing both the pedestrian and bike portions of the Beach Trail. Funds
for repairs would be covered by the Beach Fund’s operating budget.
Since the bike trail was constructed, claims for injuries and accidents on the bike trail
were made to both the City and County, although the County had ownership. The
transfer may result in increased litigation against the City but is not expected to result in
increased liability for the City. The bike trail is a recreational trail and in accordance with
CA Government Code Section 831.4, better known as “trail immunity,” public entities
are generally immune from liability for injuries caused by a condition of a trail used for
recreational purposes. The immunity was enacted to encourage public entities to allow
the use of public property for recreation without the burden and expense of litigation
stemming from alleged injuries on the trails used for recreational activities.
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Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
3.24.16
(attachment A)
Approval of Cooperation Agreement with Los Angeles
County for bike trail sweeping
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of
recommended action. The annual reimbursement from the County for sweeping costs is
included in the current and proposed budget . Funding for major repairs would be
proposed in future CIP budgets.
Prepared By: Judith Meister, Beach Manager
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. MBBT SM SWP AGr exeuted
AGREEMENT
THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT (hereinafter referred to as AGREEMENT) is
made and entered into by and between the CITY OF SANTA MONICA, a municipal
corporation and charter city in Los Angeles County (hereinafter referred to as CITY) and
the COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, a political subdivision of the State of California
(hereinafter referred to as COUNTY):
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, COUNTY and CITY are empowered by law to acquire, construct,
maintain, and operate public facilities and improvements, such as public bicycle trails;
and
WHEREAS, in 1972, by Agreement 20389, the COUNTY was awarded funds from
the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to develop the continuous
19 miles of bicycle trail, starting at California Avenue in Santa Monica State Beach and
proceeding southward to Via Riviera in the City of Torrance, formerly called the
South Bay Bike Trail and currently called the Marvin Braude Bike Trail; and
WHEREAS, CITY extended the Marvin Braude Bike Trail to CITY's northern limits
in 1989; and
WHEREAS, COUNTY currently has responsibility for maintaining the
Marvin Braude Bike Trail, including the portion as extended by CITY; and
WHEREAS, COUNTY receives an annual supplemental allocation of
Transportation Development Act Article 3 funds to cover the maintenance cost on seven
predetermined regionally significant Class 1 bicycle facilities, including the Marvin Braude
Bike Trail, and for Fiscal Year 2015-16 the prorated amount of the allocation for
maintenance of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail along the CITY's beach frontage is Twenty-
Four Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty-One and 00/100 Dollars ($24,831.00) in accordance
with Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, COUNTY and CITY now desire to have CITY perform sweeping and
sand removal maintenance on a 2.9 mile segment of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail along
the CITY's beach frontage, (hereinafter referred to as BIKE TRAIL), and to remit to the
CITY the prorated Transportation Development Act Article 3 funds for BIKE TRAIL,
subject to the terms and conditions of AGREEMENT; and
WHEREAS, CITY began maintenance of BIKE TRAIL at their own expense,
commencing on July 1, 2015, under a permit issued by COUNTY; and
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual benefits to be derived by both
CITY and COUNTY and of promises herein contained, it is hereby agreed as follows:
(1) COUNTY AGREES:
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a. To notify CITY of the prorated Transportation Development Act Article 3 fund
allocation amount to maintain BIKE TRAIL (MAINTENANCE BUDGET) in
accordance with Exhibit A by July 1st of each year.
b. To pay MAINTENANCE BUDGET funds to CITY for each fiscal year within
thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of CITY's invoice.
c. To address pavement repairs reported by CITY within ten (10) business days,
as reasonably determined to be necessary by the COUNTY.
d. To respond to reports from CITY of immediate safety hazards on BIKE TRAIL
within forty-eight (48) hours.
(2) CITY AGREES:
a. To provide COUNTY with an invoice for MAINTENANCE BUDGET after
November 30th of each year. COUNTY is not required to pay funds in excess
of the MAINTENANCE BUDGET to the CITY for CITY'S maintenance of the
BIKE TRAIL.
b. To maintain BIKE TRAIL in good condition to the extent that sufficient funds
are available in the MAINTENANCE BUDGET. Such maintenance shall
include the duties described in Exhibit B, Bike Trail Motor Sweeping
Maintenance Guidelines, and the maintenance area limits described in Exhibit
B and depicted in Exhibit C attached hereto. CITY shall notify COUNTY within
four (4) business days of any significant change to maintenance frequency, as
identified in Exhibits B and C.
c. To notify COUNTY's Road District 233 Office at (310) 649-5123 of the need for
pavement repairs to BIKE TRAIL within forty-eight (48) hours of notice of such
need.
d. To provide COUNTY with prompt notice of any immediate safety hazard to the
public along BIKE TRAIL and to place warning signs or other protective
measures to protect the public.
(3) IT IS MUTUALLY UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED AS FOLLOWS:
a. Neither COUNTY nor any officer or employee of COUNTY shall be responsible
for any damage or liability occurring by reason of any acts or omissions on the
part of CITY under or in connection with any work, authority or jurisdiction
delegated to or determined to be the responsibility of CITY under this
AGREEMENT. It is also understood and agreed that pursuant to Government
Code Section 895.4, CITY shall fully indemnify, defend, and hold COUNTY and
their respective officers, employees, and agents harmless from and against,
any claims, demands, liability, damages, costs, and expenses including,
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without limitation, involving bodily injury, death, or personal injury of any person
or property damage of any nature whatsoever, arising from or related to any
acts or omissions on the part of CITY under or in connection with any work,
authority or jurisdiction delegated to or determined to be the responsibility of
CITY under this AGREEMENT, except to the extent caused by the active
negligence or willful misconduct of COUNTY. This provision shall survive
termination or expiration of this AGREEMENT.
b. Neither CITY nor any officer or employee of CITY shall be responsible for any
damage or liability occurring by reason of any acts or omissions on the part of
COUNTY under or in connection with any work, authority or jurisdiction
delegated to or determined to be the responsibility of COUNTY under this
AGREEMENT. It is also understood and agreed that pursuant to Government
Code Section 895.4, COUNTY shall fully indemnify, defend, and hold CITY and
their respective officers, employees, and agents harmless from and against,
any claims, demands, liability, damages, costs, and expenses including,
without limitation, involving bodily injury, death, or personal injury of any person
or property damage of any nature whatsoever, arising from or related to any
acts or omissions on the part of COUNTY under or in connection with any work,
authority or jurisdiction delegated to or determined to be the responsibility of
COUNTY under this AGREEMENT, except to the extent caused by the active
negligence or willful misconduct of CITY. This provision shall survive
termination or expiration of this AGREEMENT.
c. If CITY retains contractor(s) to perform BIKE TRAIL maintenance as described
in Exhibit B, CITY shall require such contractor and/or subcontractor to provide
insurance coverage and indemnity for the COUNTY to the same extent as CITY
in the contract for the work.
d. The term of this AGREEMENT shall be for ten (10) years initial term
commencing upon execution by CITY and COUNTY.
e. COUNTY, upon receipt of a written request from CITY six (6) months prior to
the end of the initial term, may extend the term of this AGREEMENT beyond
the initial term (up to a period of ten (10) years) subject to such terms and
conditions as mutually agreed upon by CITY and COUNTY.
f. Notwithstanding paragraph (3) d. above, COUNTY and CITY in their sole
discretion by providing sixty (60) calendar days prior written notice, shall each
have the right to cancel this AGREEMENT and terminate CITY's maintenance
of BIKE TRAIL.
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g. Any correspondence, communication, or contract concerning this
AGREEMENT shall be directed to the following:
CITY: Ms. Susan Cline
Director of Public Works
City of Santa Monica
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401-3295
COUNTY: Mr. John T. Walker
Assistant Deputy Director
Programs Development Division
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Works
P.O. Box 1460
Alhambra, CA 91802
h. INSURANCE:
1. Without limiting CITY's indemnification of the COUNTY, CITY shall
procure and maintain, in full force and effect during the term of
this AGREEMENT, and require any contractors performing work
undertaken pursuant to this AGREEMENT to procure insurance policies
providing for the following insurance coverage:
i) Comprehensive general liability and property damage coverage with
a combined single limit liability in an amount of not less than Two
Million and 00/100 Dollars ($2,000,000.00) per occurrence.
ii) Workers compensation coverage in such amount as willfully comply
with the laws of the State of California and which shall indemnify,
insure, and provide legal defense for both COUNTY and CITY
against any loss, claim, or damage arising from any injuries or
occupational diseases occurring to any worker employed by, or any
person retained by, CITY in the course of carrying out the work or
services contemplated in this AGREEMENT.
iii) Automobile Liability Insurance: CITY shall procure such policy with
coverage of not less than One Million and 00/100 Dollars
($1,000,000.00) per accident.
2. COUNTY, its governing board, officers, agents, contractors, and
employees shall be named as additional insured on all policies of liability
insurance. CITY shall furnish to COUNTY a policy of insurance
evidencing CITY's insurance coverage no later than ten (10) calendar
days after execution of AGREEMENT, but before CITY commences
maintenance sweeping of BIKE TRAIL. Upon renewal of said policy,
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CITY shall furnish to COUNTY a certificate evidencing CITY's continued
insurance coverage as required herein. CITY shall provide notice to
COUNTY of any change of CITY's insurance policy and shall not permit
any lapse in required insurance coverage.
3. COUNTY may accept, should CITY elect to provide, a certificate of self-
insurance. The limits of such self-insurance coverage shall meet or
exceed those stated herein.
i. This AGREEMENT may be amended or modified only by mutual written
consent of CITY and COUNTY. Amendments and modification of a
nonmaterial nature (including notification and billing details) may be made by
the mutual written consent of the parties' Directors of Public Works or their
delegates.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this agreement to be
executed by their respective officers, duly authorized, by the CITY OF St$NTAI MONICA
on 6,.„1, / 2 , 2016, and by the COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES on 04-?-1 ,
2016.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
MARY C. WICKHAM
County Counsel
By
Deputy
COUN
By
ES
[rector of Public Works
CITY OF ANTA MONICA
By
Date
ATTEST:
By
City Manager
keatilL4oluwikiireue&
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
By
Page 6 of 8
City
es\
torney
EXHIBIT A
Transportation Development Act Article 3 Fund Allocation
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) Board
manages the Transportation Development Act (TDA) Article 3 bicycle and pedestrian
funds and allocates funds to local agencies annually. A total of $7,551,412 of TDA Article
3 funds is available to local agencies in the County for Fiscal Year 2015-16.
Fifteen (15%) percent of the annual local allocation amount of TDA Article 3 funds is
designated toward maintenance of seven predetermined regionally significant
Class I bike paths as determined by LACMTA policy. This portion is divided in a ratio of
30 to 70 percent to the CITY and the COUNTY. The remaining 85 percent is allocated to
all Los Angeles County cities and the COUNTY based on population shares. In June
each year, LACMTA Board approves fund allocation for TDA Article 3 funds for the next
fiscal year (July 1st through June 30th).
For Fiscal Year 2015-16, the COUNTY received $792,898 to cover maintenance costs
for the following 92.6 miles of predetermined regionally significant Class I bike paths:
• Marvin Braude Bike Trail (16 miles)
• San Gabriel River Bike Trail (31.4 miles)
• Los Angeles River/LARIO Bike Trail (25 miles)
• Upper Rio Hondo Bike Trail (9.2 miles)
• Coyote Creek (with North Fork) Bike Trail (5.7 miles)
• Laguna Dominguez Bike Trail (4.5 miles)
• Ballona Creek Bike Trail (0.84 miles)
The prorated supplemental allocation for the 2.9 mile segment of the Marvin Braude Bike
Trail to be remitted to CITY for Fiscal Year 2015-16 is $24,831 using a proration factor of
0.031317. The proration factor is the quotient of the 2.9 miles of the Marvin Braude Bike
Trail divided by the 92.6 miles of regionally significant Class I bike paths.
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EXHIBIT B
Bike Trail Motor Sweeping Maintenance Guidelines
Sweeping Specifications:
Bike trail sweeping typically requires two passes to clean the entire trail. If significant
accumulation of sand (greater than 3-inches thick) is deposited on the Marvin Braude
Bike Trail, the CITY will use a loader to remove excess sand and place it on the seaward
side of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail.
Sand from Sweeper and Loader:
The sweeper operator will empty the sand from the sweeper's hopper onto the beach
sand seaward of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. Sand removed with the CITY's loader will
be likewise deposited on the seaward side of the Marvin Braude Bike Trail. The piles will
be knocked down by CITY's beach maintenance staff (either with the loader or beach
sanitizer).
Frequency:
• 5 times a week (Monday to Friday)
Limits of Bike Trail Maintenance work:
The southern boundary is Venice Beach.
The northern boundary is the access ramp adjacent to the Beach Club at 14730 Pacific
Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA 90402.
P: \pdpubTederal \BIKE \BL\SMsweepMBBIlMarvin Braude-Enclosure A.docx
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REFERENCE:
Contract No. 10874
(CCS)