SR 10-24-2023 5D
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: October 24, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.D
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Water Resources
Subject: Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Application for Grant Funds from the
The U.S. Department of Interior - Bureau of Reclamation FY 2024
WaterSMART Drought Response Program for the Santa Monica Groundwater
Well SM-4 Replacement Project
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15302 (Class 2 –
Replacement/Reconstruction) of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Adopt the attached resolution authorizing the application for grant funds in the
amount of up to $2,375,000 from the U.S. Department of Interior - Bureau of
Reclamation for the SM-4 Groundwater Well Replacement Project in the Public
Works Department.
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to apply for the
grant, accept the grant, if awarded, and accept all grant renewals, if awarded.
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Summary
The City of Santa Monica’s Olympic Well Field is the city’s second largest source of
groundwater after the Charnock Well Field. One of the groundwater production wells in
the well field, Santa Monica Well No. 4 (SM-4), is over 40 years old and needs to be
replaced as it has lost over 70% of its production capacity. Replacing groundwater
production well SM-4 would restore pumping capacity at the Olympic Well Field and
maintain groundwater remediation activities at the well field. The well replacement of
SM-4 is eligible for grant funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior - Bureau of
Reclamation. Staff is requesting authorization to apply for grant funding to help offset
50% of the well replacement cost.
Discussion
The U.S. Department of the Interior - Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Drought
Response Program provides grant funding for projects that build resiliency to drought by
increasing the reliability of water supplies, improving water management, and/or
providing benefits for fish and wildlife and the environment. The replacement of
groundwater production well SM-4 at the Olympic Well Field meets the objectives under
Task B of the grant opportunity - Increasing the Reliability of Water Supplies Through
Groundwater Recovery. Restoring the production capacity at the Olympic Well Field
would enhance local water supply reliability. Pumping contaminated groundwater for
advanced treatment at the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant, will aid the remediation of
the contamination plume at the Olympic Well Field. The project would include drilling
and constructing a replacement groundwater well and equipping the well with a new
pump, chemical feed system, and metering equipment after the well is constructed.
Production of local groundwater has historically been 30% cheaper than purchasing
imported water supplies for potable use in the city. Replacing the aging groundwater
production well would assist the city in enhancing its drought resiliency by maximizing
groundwater production within sustainable yield limits. In doing so, this reduces the
city’s reliance on imported water supplies, where its availability and reliability has been
impacted during prolonged droughts. The replacement well would be located in the
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Olympic Well Field, approximately 50 feet east of SM-4 near the intersection of Olympic
Boulevard and Stewart Street.
The estimated cost of the project is $4,750,000. The grant requires a 50 percent local
match, which would come from an existing CIP for design and construction oversight of
the replacement well and a future CIP as part of the FY2024-2026 biennial budget.
Construction is anticipated to begin in April 2025 and end in September 2026. The term
of the grant is from October 31, 2024, through October 31, 2026. On-going operation
costs would be paid for out of the operating budget for the Water Fund. There would be
no further operational costs associated with SM-4 as it will be destroyed after the
replacement well is placed in operation.
Environmental Review
The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to
Section 15302 (Class 2 – Replacement/Reconstruction) of the CEQA Guidelines.
Section 15302 exempts Class 2 projects which “consists of replacement or
reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be
located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same
purpose and capacity as the structure replaced”. The replacement well would be
designed to the original design capacity of SM-4 in the same general location and would
not represent an increase in the City’s groundwater production capacity. Therefore, the
replacement well is categorically exempt from CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action. The grant is reimbursement-based and requires a 50% match by
the City. Staff would return to Council with budget changes if the grant is awarded.
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Prepared By: Sunny Wang, Water Resources Manager
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Resolution
B. PowerPoint Presentation
C. Resolution (Clean Version)
D. Resolution (redline)
5.D
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Page 1 of 2
City Council Meeting: October 24, 2023 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR A UNITED
STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WATERSMART
DROUGHT RESPONSE PROGRAM: DROUGHT RESILIENCY PROJECTS FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2024, AND TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT
WITH THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND ANY AMENDMENTS
THERETO
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation has
allocated grant funding for projects pursuant to the WaterSMART Drought Response
Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (“Grant Program”); and
WHEREAS, California’s Water Supply Strategy and the City’s Sustainable Water
Master Plan recognize that a sustainable and secure water future must include the use
of locally available water resources; and
WHEREAS, the City seeks to apply for grant funds in the amount of up to
$2,375,000 from the Grant Program to further the City’s sustainable water supply
objectives to improve drought resiliency, increase water supply, and enhance the
flexibility in the management of the City’s water resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES
HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Recitals above are incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. The City of Santa Monica City Manager, or designee is hereby authorized
5.D.a
Packet Pg. 57 Attachment: Resolution [Revision 1] (5989 : Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Application for Grant Funds)
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and directed to prepare and file an application for funding for the WaterSMART Drought
Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, to the United
States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and take such other actions necessary
or appropriate to obtain grant funding.
SECTION 3. The City of Santa Monica City Manager, or designee is hereby
authorized and directed to execute the funding agreement with the United States Department
of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and any amendments thereto.
SECTION 4. The City of Santa Monica City Manager, or designee is hereby
authorized and directed to submit any required documents, invoices, and reports
required to obtain grant funding.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution of the
City Council, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DOUGLAS SLOAN
City Attorney
5.D.a
Packet Pg. 58 Attachment: Resolution [Revision 1] (5989 : Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Application for Grant Funds)
Item 5D – New Groundwater Production Well Location 5.D.b
Packet Pg. 59 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (5989 : Adopt Resolution Authorizing the
Page 1 of 2
City Council Meeting: October 24, 2023 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS) (City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WATERSMART
DROUGHT RESPONSE PROGRAM: DROUGHT RESILIENCY PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, AND TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation has
allocated grant funding for projects pursuant to the WaterSMART Drought Response
Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (“Grant Program”); and
WHEREAS, California’s Water Supply Strategy and the City’s Sustainable Water
Master Plan recognize that a sustainable and secure water future must include the use
of locally available water resources; and
WHEREAS, the City seeks to apply for grant funds in the amount of up to
$5,000,000 from the Grant Program to further the City’s sustainable water supply
objectives to improve drought resiliency, increase water supply, and enhance the
flexibility in the management of the City’s water resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES
HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Recitals above are incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. The City of Santa Monica City Manager, or designee is hereby authorized
5.D.c
Packet Pg. 60 Attachment: Resolution (Clean Version) (5989 : Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Application for Grant Funds)
Page 2 of 2
and directed to prepare and file an application for funding for the WaterSMART Drought
Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, to the United
States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and take such other actions necessary
or appropriate to obtain grant funding.
SECTION 3. The City of Santa Monica City Manager, or designee is hereby
authorized and directed to execute the funding agreement with the United States Department
of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and any amendments thereto.
SECTION 4. The City of Santa Monica City Manager, or designee is hereby
authorized and directed to submit any required documents, invoices, and reports
required to obtain grant funding.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution of the
City Council, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DOUGLAS SLOAN City Attorney
5.D.c
Packet Pg. 61 Attachment: Resolution (Clean Version) (5989 : Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Application for Grant Funds)
Page 1 of 2
City Council Meeting: October 24, 2023 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER (CCS) (City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS FOR A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WATERSMART
DROUGHT RESPONSE PROGRAM: DROUGHT RESILIENCY PROJECTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, AND TO NEGOTIATE AND ENTER INTO A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation has
allocated grant funding for projects pursuant to the WaterSMART Drought Response
Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 (“Grant Program”); and
WHEREAS, California’s Water Supply Strategy and the City’s Sustainable Water
Master Plan recognize that a sustainable and secure water future must include the use
of locally available water resources; and
WHEREAS, the City seeks to apply for grant funds in the amount of up to
$2,3755,000,000 from the Grant Program to further the City’s sustainable water supply
objectives to improve drought resiliency, increase water supply, and enhance the
flexibility in the management of the City’s water resources;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES
HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Recitals above are incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. The City of Santa Monica City Manager, or designee is hereby authorized
5.D.d
Packet Pg. 62 Attachment: Resolution (redline) (5989 : Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Application for Grant Funds)
Page 2 of 2
and directed to prepare and file an application for funding for the WaterSMART Drought
Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, to the United
States Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and take such other actions necessary
or appropriate to obtain grant funding.
SECTION 3. The City of Santa Monica City Manager, or designee is hereby
authorized and directed to execute the funding agreement with the United States Department
of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation and any amendments thereto.
SECTION 4. The City of Santa Monica City Manager, or designee is hereby
authorized and directed to submit any required documents, invoices, and reports
required to obtain grant funding.
SECTION 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution of the
City Council, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DOUGLAS SLOAN City Attorney
5.D.d
Packet Pg. 63 Attachment: Resolution (redline) (5989 : Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Application for Grant Funds)