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CC - Adoption of a Resolution Adopting an Amended Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Washington Boulevard Stormwater Diversion Project, PR001
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Meeting Date: August 10, 2020
Contact Person/Dept: Kim Braun, PW
Phone Number: 310-253-6421
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [x] General Fund: Yes [] No [x]
Public Hearing: [x] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [x] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (08/05/2020);
Department Approval: Charles Herbertson, PW Director/City Engineer (07/20/2020)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a Resolution adopting an Amended Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Washington Boulevard Stormwater Diversion Project, PR001.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
In order to comply with the MS4 Permit, the City Council approved the development and implementation of an Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP). The EWMP reviews the watershed and proposes Best Management Practices (BMPs) for responsible jurisdictions to complete.
The proposed Washington Blvd Stormwater Project was identified as one of 23 regional projects in the MdR EWMP.
On May 30, 2017, Council approved the professional services agreement for civil design for the Washington Boulevard Stormwater Diversion Project, PR-001. On January 28, 2019, Council Approved a resolution to Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for this project.
The Public Works Department’s Environmental Programs and Operations Division (PW-EPO) is proposing a Diversion System Project (Project) to capture stormwater and urban runoff from approximately 42 acres of drainage area (including Costco). This drainage area is primarily commercial and residential. The City originally proposed to capture, treat, and retain the 85th percentile, 24-hour storm event into large storage chambers under Washington Boulevard between Glencoe Avenue and Redwood Avenue. Seventy-two hours following the end of a rain event, the captured volume will then be pumped into an existing sanitary sewer system conveying the runoff to the City of Los Angeles’ Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant for treatment. This Project will also divert all dry weather run-off from the drainage area for treatment.
Several public outreach meetings were conducted during calendar years 2018 and 2019 concerning this Project. Impacts to residents and businesses during construction was the highlighted discussion. Several business owners met with City staff to discuss parking and traffic impacts along Washington Boulevard. In addition, staff were contacted by Los Angeles City Council Member Bonin’s office and the DelRey Neighborhood Association concerning traffic impacts in the surrounding area of the City of Los Angeles.
In the original design, 88 parking spaces along Washington Boulevard were temporarily removed during the construction phase. And, traffic flow on Westbound Washington Boulevard to Southbound Glencoe Avenue was prohibited. Culver City residents were very concerned of traffic flowing on residential streets in order to avoid the construction and business owners were concerned of the loss of parking for their clients and customers throughout the construction of the Project, which is estimated to be one year. As a result of these meetings, staff determined it was necessary to revise the original design of the stormwater diversion project to address these concerns. On November 18, 2019, City Council approved an amendment to the existing civil design consultant’s contract for the revisions.
The revised design consists of constructing an underground stormwater storage chamber on Washington Boulevard between the two driveway entrances to the Costco property. The revised design removes the second storage chamber on Washington Boulevard at Glencoe east to Redwood Avenue. This chamber is now relocated to the western sidewalk and parking lane on Glencoe Avenue north of Washington Boulevard. This redesign maintains all 88 parking spaces and allows for the continuation of traffic to flow on westbound Washington Boulevard to southbound Glencoe Avenue.
When implemented, this Project will treat all dry weather run-off and the Permit required wet weather run-off volumes that would have discharged to MdR Harbor providing Culver City full compliance with the NPDES Permit within the MdR watershed.
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 was appropriate. Since the redesign, a few elements included in the original MND needed to be amended. On June 22, 2020 the Notice of Intent (NOI) to Adopt an Amended Mitigated Negative Declaration was published through County of Los Angeles Recorder’s Office and Culver City News. In addition, the NOI was also mailed out to the Culver City businesses and residences. A copy of the proposed amended IS/MND, as well as other documents concerning the Project, were available online for the required public review period of 30 days, from June 22, 2020 through July 21, 2020. Due to COVID-19, City Hall is closed to the public and therefore the document can only be reviewed online at www.culvercity.org/city-hall/city-government/city-projects/washingtonboulevard-stormwater-and-urban-runoff-project <http://www.culvercity.org/city-hall/city-government/city-projects/washingtonboulevard-stormwater-and-urban-runoff-project>.
No public comments were received during the review period.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact associated with the City Council’s adoption of the Resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2020-08-10_ATT_Resolution Adopting the Amended Mitigated Negative Declaration
MOTION
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution approving an Amended Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Washington Boulevard Stormwater Diversion Project, PR001;