title
CC - CONSENT ITEM: Approval of a Professional Services Agreement with CWE for Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Capture Project Design and Environmental Services in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $1,200,000.
body
Meeting Date: May 26, 2026
Contact/Dept: Sean Singletary/Public Works - EPO
Phone Number: (310) 253-6457
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Notification: Email: Meetings and Agendas - City Council (05/21/2026)
Dept Approval: Yanni Demitri, Director of Public Works/City Engineer (03/05/2026)
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a professional services agreement with CWE for Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Capture Project Design and Environmental Services in an amount not-to-exceed $1,200,000.
BACKGROUND
The City of Culver City’s stormwater pollution efforts are driven by the Los Angeles County Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4 Permit), which became effective on December 28, 2012, in accordance with the Clean Water Act. The City addresses compliance through minimum control measures such as enhanced street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, business inspections, outreach events, as well as capital projects such the Culver Boulevard Stormwater Project. Syd Kronenthal Park was identified as the top priority capital project location in the City’s Stormwater Quality Plan due to its siting along Ballona Creek. The Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Project was added to the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) in Fiscal Year 2021-2022 as PW-004, and the City applied for and received regional Measure W funding for a feasibility study for the project, overseen by the County of Los Angeles.
The feasibility study showed that the site was suitable for a large stormwater project. The project will consist of a large subsurface stormwater storage gallery beneath the existing ballfields at the Park. Diversions from three local storm drains will be captured to feed into the chamber, controlled by gravity and outfitted with a pretreatment unit (hydrodynamic separator or similar device) to screen trash and remove grease, solids, and sediment-associated pollutants. Additionally, there is an opportunity to capture drainage from upstream of the site, to address partial wet-weather pollutants from an additional 6,785 acres.
Ballona Creek is managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and the project will require several specialized permits that can take over a year to attain from US Army Corps, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, and Los Angeles County Flood Control District.
This project has an estimated construction cost of $22 million. Staff has been seeking funding in preparation for the construction phase. Caltrans has programmed approximately $11 million in funding in the Caltrans 2024 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) for the construction phase of this project. It is anticipated that the California Transportation Commission will review and approve the proposed 2024 SHOPP Project List funding for Program Year 2026-2027, including the funding for the City of Culver City’s project, in August 2027. Additionally, an application for design funding was submitted to the Los Angeles County Safe Clean Water Program (Measure W) and on April 7, 2026, the project was recommended to be added to the 2026-27 Stormwater Investment Plan (SIP) for an amount of $500,000. In order to address the construction phase shortfall, staff will continue to investigate local, state and federal grant sources and local partnerships, as well as projected revenues from local Measure W and CW stormwater funding. By completing the design phase through this contract effort, the project will be eligible for ‘shovel-ready’ funding sources.
DISCUSSION
On January 8, 2026, the City posted Request for Proposals (RFP) #2655 for Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Capture Project Design and Environmental Services. When the RFP closed on February 12, 2026, five submittals were received. Staff reviewed the proposals to gauge project understanding, approach, and experience and shortlisted three proposals that were the most qualified. Staff interviewed the remaining three firms to discuss project experience, schedule, fees, and other elements, and found CWE to be the most qualified consultant within the project budget. CWE has designed the City’s Mesmer Low Flow Diversion and Washington Boulevard Urban Runoff and Stormwater Diversion projects, and has demonstrated strong technical expertise with innovative design concepts at reasonable prices.
Staff recommends that Council approve a professional services agreement with CWE for Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Capture Project Design and Environmental Services in an amount not-to-exceed $1,200,000.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 includes sufficient funding in the amount of $1.2 million for the proposed agreement with CWE in Capital Improvement Project No. PW004 (Culver City Safe/Clean Water Protection Fund 434 Account No.43480000.730100.PW004) which can be found on page 593 of the Budget Book.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
recommended action
MOTIONS
1. Approve a professional services agreement with CWE for Syd Kronenthal Park Stormwater Capture Project Design and Environmental Services, in an annual amount not-to-exceed $1,200,000;
2. Authorize the City Attorney to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.