title
CC - (1) Adoption of Resolution Approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Culver Blvd Realignment Project and Stormwater Treatment Project; (2) Approval of the Final Plans and Specifications and Authorization to Publish a Notice Inviting Bids for the Culver Blvd Realignment Project and Stormwater Treatment Project; (3) Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Entering into a Funding Agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board for Prop 84 and Prop 1 Grant Funding; and (4) FOUR FIFTHS VOTE REQUIREMENT: Approval of a Budget Amendment to Appropriate Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Prop 84 and State of California Prop 1 Grant Funding in the Amounts of $3,300,000 and $4,478,796, Respectively.
body
Meeting Date: January 28, 2019
Contact Person/Dept: Mate Gaspar and Lee Torres/PW Department
Phone Number: (310) 253-5602 and 6457
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [x] General Fund: Yes [] No [x]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [x]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/23/19);
Department Approval: Charles Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer (01/21/19)
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
(1) Adoption of Resolution approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Culver Boulevard Realignment Project, PZ460, and Stormwater Treatment Project, PR002 (collectively “Project”); (2) approval of the Final Plans and Specifications and Authorization to Publish a Notice Inviting Bids for the Project; (3) adoption of a Resolution authorizing entering into a funding agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board for Prop 84 and Prop 1 grant funding; and (4) approval of a budget amendment to appropriate Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Prop 84 and State of California Prop 1 grant funding in the amounts of $3,300,000 and $4,478,796, respectively, for this Project (requires a four-fifths vote).
BACKGROUND
Culver Boulevard Realignment Project
On December 11, 2017, the City Council approved the conceptual plan for the final design of the Culver Boulevard Realignment Project, PZ-460, between Sepulveda Boulevard and Elenda Street. The City Council also directed staff to create a resident advisory committee to ensure a commitment to communication and outreach to make the project inclusive of the community and perform additional community outreach meetings during the final design process.
On March 26, 2018, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Tetra Tech, Inc. for the final design of the Culver Boulevard Realignment Project, and creation of a citizens advisory committee and appointed members thereto. The citizens advisory committee was comprised of residents from the north and south side of Culver Boulevard adjacent to the project limits. Tetra Tech worked with city staff and the citizen advisory committee and obtained public input via multiple community meetings. Tetra Tech developed the final design for the Culver Boulevard Realignment Project and the Stormwater Treatment Project.
The December 11, 2017, City Council agenda report contains a detailed background of the history of the project and is attached to this report (Attachment 1).
Stormwater Regulation
On December 28, 2012, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LARWQCB) adopted R4-2012-0175, a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4 Permit). This latest MS4 Permit establishes waste discharge requirements for stormwater and non-stormwater (urban runoff) discharges within the watersheds of Los Angeles County.
The Ballona Creek watershed is approximately 123 square miles in area and is comprised by the Cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, and portions of the Cities of Los Angeles, Inglewood, Culver City, and Santa Monica as well as unincorporated areas of the County of Los Angeles. Culver City makes up approximately 3,125 acres, which is about 4% of the total Ballona Creek watershed drainage area. The Ballona Creek watershed is subject to a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for metals and bacteria. The final compliance with metals and bacteria TMDLs is required by 2021.
To comply with the NPDES MS4 Permit, the City Council approved the development and implementation of an Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP). The EWMP reviews the watershed as a whole and proposes Best Management Practices (BMPs) for responsible jurisdictions to complete. Furthermore, construction of regional projects that capture, infiltrate, treat and/or reuse storm flows and urban runoff from an 85th percentile storm event or roughly 1.1 inch of rain is also required.
Stormwater Treatment Project Scope of Work
The Public Works Department’s Environmental Programs and Operations Division (EPO) is proposing a Stormwater Regional Project (Regional Project) that will consist of a retention basin and filtration system to capture and treat stormwater/urban runoff from approximately 297 acres of drainage area. This Regional Project proposes to utilize this opportunity to construct a retention basin and a filtration system underneath the new landscaped median and bikeway between Sepulveda Boulevard and Harter Avenue which is part of the aforementioned Culver Boulevard Realignment Project. A portion of the captured run-off is proposed to be stored in an underground retention basin and will be used to supplement the required irrigation for the proposed landscaping along Culver Boulevard. The excess captured run-off will be filtered and discharged back into the Harter Avenue storm drain downstream of the project as treated water.
Originally, the EWMP had identified the drainage area for this Regional Project to also include 477 acres from the City of Los Angeles. The original scope had a maximum total volume of approximately 30 ac-ft. However, due to the City of Los Angeles’ inability to financially commit to the project, staff decided to move forward and designed the project to capture the required stormwater/urban runoff volume for Culver City’s drainage area only.
DISCUSSION
Stormwater Treatment Project
During the design, it was determined that the proposed Stormwater Treatment Project can capture and treat up to 19.51 acre-feet of stormwater in a 24-hour period. The run-off volume required for treatment within the Culver City’s 297 acre drainage area is 13.05 AF, which represents 100% of the 85th percentile, 24-hour storm. The Stormwater Treatment Project can treat an additional run-off volume of up to 6.46 acre-feet.
|
BMP Type |
Design Volume (acre-ft.) |
|
Filtration System |
11.42 |
|
Capture and Reuse (subsurface retention basin) |
8.01 |
|
Bio-Swales |
0.08 |
|
Total Project Capacity |
19.51 |
|
Culver City Required Treatment |
13.05 |
|
Excess Capacity |
6.46 |
Stormwater Grants & Credit of Structural BMP Capacities
In September, 2016, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (SMBRC) recommended approval of $3,300,000 Prop 84 grant funding for the Project. Staff was informed by the granting authority that due to the loss of a regional partner and reduction of proposed treatment volume, the City would lose the awarded grant funds. Staff initiated discussions with the City of Los Angeles, City of Beverly Hills, and Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board) concerning the substitution of a project partner for the Culver Boulevard Stormwater Treatment Project.
Staff met with the City of Beverly Hills officials to discuss purchasing credit based on volumetric capacity from the Culver Boulevard Stormwater Treatment Project.
On December 5, 2017, a formal request letter was sent to the Regional Board to consider approval of this credit trading concept. On May 14, 2018, the Regional Board accepted the proposed credit of structural capacities to City of Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills’ Public Works Department advised that a commitment of $3,500,000 to the Project would be requested for approval by the Beverly Hills City Council.
SMBRC staff was notified of Regional Board’s decision to allow the trading credit of structural capacities. On July 10, 2018, SMBRC recommended approval of the Prop 84 grant award based on the new scope of work. On August 30, 2018, the State Water Board officially approved the grant award in the amount of $3,300,000.
In July 2016, staff applied for Prop 1 stormwater Grant funds for the Culver Boulevard Stormwater Treatment Project but the funding was denied. On June 18, 2018, Public Works was notified of another opportunity to re-apply for the Prop 1 Stormwater Grant Program. The grant application was resubmitted based on the revised scope and on September 24, 2018, the State Board notified the City of the Prop 1 grant award in the amount of $4,478,796.
The State Board requires a City Council resolution authorizing the City to enter into a funding agreement (Attachment 2).
Project Partner
On January 10, 2019, Beverly Hills’ Public Works Staff presented the Project to their Public Works Commission (PWC) for support of the trade concept and the Commission recommended approval to the Beverly Hills City Council. The PWC voted 4-1 in support of the partnership and cost-sharing. Beverly Hills’ Public Works Staff is scheduled to present to their City Council to seek final approval in February 2019. If approved, staff will coordinate with Beverly Hills to develop the MOU.
Culver Boulevard Realignment and Public Outreach
Public outreach for the Culver Blvd Realignment and Stormwater Project, PZ460 and PR002 was performed through a combined effort. The citizens advisory committee met with staff and Tetra Tech as plans were developed to provide input on the Stormwater Project, adherence to the Culver Boulevard realignment conceptual plan and various design elements including pathways, street crossings, landscaping, site amenities and street tree preservation. Subsequent to each citizens advisory committee meeting, community meetings were held to update property owners, residents and businesses of the final design progress and obtain additional community input. Attendance at community meetings was typically between 30-45 people.
Staff met with the citizens advisory committee and Tetra Tech on April 26, June 18, July 2, and September 18, 2018.
Community meetings were held on May 15, July 17 and October 2, 2018, at the Senior Center.
All the input from the meetings were integrated into the final design of the Culver Blvd Realignment and Stormwater Treatment Projects.
The final roadway and streetscape design includes:
• Separation of Culver Boulevard eastbound and westbound traffic with a raised 8 foot median. New median will contain new trees and landscaping.
• Creation of a 5 foot wide buffer with colored pavers between parked vehicles and traffic on the south side of Culver Boulevard.
• New traffic signals at the intersections of Harter Avenue and Huron Avenue.
• Improved access for pedestrians crossing Culver Boulevard at Harter Avenue and Huron Avenue.
• New curb extensions and high visibility crosswalks at Harter Avenue and Huron Avenue.
• New streetlights along Culver Boulevard and “Little” Culver Boulevard.
• Improved access for motorists turning left onto and from “Little“ Culver Boulevard.
Bicycle and pedestrian pathway design elements include:
• Preservation of 35% of existing trees (80 of 208). Many of the removed trees are palms, poor quality or non- native.
• New native and drought tolerant trees and shrubs will be planted. Corridor trees such as pines are to be planted at the westerly end and shade trees to be planted at street crossings. All trees are selected from the Urban Forestry and Parkway Guidelines. Flowering Native Plants are used to provide seasonal color and evergreen shrubs are used to provide definition of spaces and pathways.
• Water collection was incorporated by grading with low points to collect, treat and infiltrate water through water tolerant plants and trees (bioswales).
• Separated pedestrian and bicycle paths with bollard lighting.
• Elenda Urban Plaza - designed to enhance student commute at street crossings with added seating and scooter parking area.
• Huron Cultural Plaza - gathering and seating area that highlights former Culver City Hall building relics creating a cultural plaza.
• Harter Water Plaza - An area that tells the water story by showcasing the stormwater treatment occurring underground including seating and unique design elements creating the water plaza.
• Sepulveda Gateway - Create a green entry to the project with evergreen pine trees.
CEQA
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines, an Initial Study (IS) prepared for the project determined that the project will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment with mitigation incorporated and that a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) finding is appropriate.
On December 13, 2018, the Notice of Intent (NOI) to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration was published through County of Los Angeles Recorder’s Office in Norwalk, submitted to State Clearinghouse, and Culver City News. The NOI was also emailed to subscribers of the City’s GovDelivery system. Per CEQA guidelines, the public review period for the Project is 30 days and comments on the IS/MND document were accepted up to January 14, 2019.
A digital copy of the proposed IS/MND as well as other documents concerning the project were available for public review on the City’s website under City Projects. A hard copy of the IS/MND is available for review by the public at the Engineering Division Counter, City Hall and Culver City Julian Dixon Library.
Staff received comments from Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation, Department of Toxics Substances Control, South Coast Air Quality Management District, Department of Transportation - District 7, and Metro Water District. (See Attachment 3 for a summary of the comments.) All comments and responses were incorporated into the final MND which did not alter the significance findings of the MND. Final MND is available for review on the City’s website under City Projects and at the Engineering Division Counter, City Hall.
Staff recommends City Council adopt the proposed Resolution adopting the Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Culver Blvd Realignment and Stormwater Treatment Project, PZ460 and PR002 (Attachment 4).
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Culver Boulevard Realignment Project
The project is funded by City Funds, Metro Prop C funds, West LA College Mitigation funds and Playa Vista Mitigation Funds.
|
Estimated Project Expenses |
|
Design - Tetra Tech (Encumbered) |
$525,147 |
|
Estimated Construction Cost with contingency |
$6,000,000 |
|
Estimated Construction Management/Inspection Services |
$150,000 |
|
Estimated Geotech. Construction Svcs (Observation & Testing) |
$50,000 |
|
Total Estimated Project Expenses |
$6,725,147 |
|
Proposed Project Budget |
|
Culver Boulevard CIP (420800000.730100.PZ460) |
$1,913,000 |
|
Prop C Funds (Metro) |
$2,855,776 |
|
West LA College Mitigation Funds |
$ 880,000 |
|
Playa Vista Mitigation Funds |
$1,080,000 |
|
Proposed Project Budget |
$6,728,776 |
Stormwater Treatment Project
The project is funded by Safe & Clean Water Protection Fund, Prop 1 Grant, Prop 84 Grant, and City of Beverly Hills.
|
Estimated Project Expenses |
|
Design - Tetra Tech (Encumbered) |
$566,920 |
|
Estimated Construction Cost |
$14,200,000 |
|
Estimated Construction Management/Inspection Services |
$650,000 |
|
Estimated Geotech. Construction Svcs (Observation & Testing) |
$160,000 |
|
Total Estimated Project Expenses |
$15,560,920 |
|
Proposed Project Budget |
|
Culver Boulevard CIP (43480000.730100.PR002) |
$2,950,000 |
|
Prop 1 Grant |
$4,478,796 |
|
Prop 84 Grant |
$3,300,000 |
|
City of Beverly Hills (Project Contribution Pending) |
$3,500,000 |
|
Proposed Project Budget |
$14,228,796 |
|
|
|
|
Additional Funds Needed |
$1,335,000 |
|
Proposed funding request during the FY19-20 Budget |
$600,000 |
|
Proposed funding request during the FY20-21 Budget |
$735,000 |
ATTACHMENTS
1. December 11, 2017, City Council Report
2. Resolution Authorizing Funding Agreement with State Board
3. Summary of public comments to MND
4. Resolution Adopting Mitigate Negative Declaration (including MND)
Due to the size of the files, the Plans and Specifications are available on the City website under City Projects at the following link: https://www.culvercity.org/city-hall/city-maps/city-projects
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Adopt a Resolution Approving a Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Culver Blvd Realignment and Stormwater Project, PZ460 and PR002; and
2. Approve the plans and specifications and authorize the publication of a notice inviting bids for the Culver Blvd Realignment and Stormwater Project, PZ460 and PR002; and
3. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City to enter into a funding agreement with the State Board for Prop 84 and Prop 1 grant funds; and
4. Approve a Budget Amendment to Appropriate Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Prop 84 and State of California Prop 1 Grant Funding in the Amount of $3,300,000 and $4,478,796, respectively for this Project (requires a four-fifths vote).