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CC - Approval of the Final Plans and Specifications and Authorization to Publish a Notice Inviting Bids for the Washington Boulevard Stormwater and Urban Runoff Diversion Project, PR001.
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Meeting Date: August 23, 2021
Contact Person/Dept: Sean Singletary/Public Works - EPO
Phone Number: 310-253-6457
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [x] General Fund: Yes [] No [x]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (08/18/21)
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer (07/28/2021)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the plans and specifications and authorize the publication of a Notice Inviting Bids for the construction of the Washington Boulevard Stormwater and Urban Runoff Diversion Project, PR-001.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On December 28, 2012, the Los Angeles County Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4 Permit) became effective in accordance with the Clean Water Act. The Los Angeles MS4 Permit covers unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District, and 84 cities within Los Angeles County, including the City of Culver City. Various milestones were set for the treatment of pollutants in stormwater. 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 as a whole and proposes Best Management Practices (BMPs) for responsible jurisdictions to complete.
The City mostly drains to the Ballona Creek watershed, but a small portion of the City drains to the Marina Del Rey watershed. The proposed Washington Blvd Stormwater Project was identified as one of 23 regional projects in the Marina Del Rey EWMP. 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 Marina Del Rey Harbor making Culver City in full compliance with the NPDES Permit within the Marina Del Rey watershed.
The project will capture stormwater and urban runoff from approximately 42 acres of drainage area in the vicinity of Washington and Lincoln Boulevards (including Costco). This drainage area is primarily commercial and residential. The project will capture, treat, and retain the 85th percentile, 24-hour storm event into large storage chambers under Washington Boulevard along the Costco frontage, and under Glencoe Avenue between Washington Boulevard and Zanja Street. 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. The design includes piping, additional treatment and storage for water used to irrigate the proposed Washington Boulevard median project.
The project is an innovative public-private partnership with Costco as it addresses discharges from the City within the Marina del Rey Watershed and the runoff from the redevelopment and expansion of Costco’s parking lot. Local agencies are often constrained by limited space for stormwater project construction in the public right-of-way, and there are difficulties for private entities such as Costco to build and maintain stormwater treatment facilities to comply with Low Impact Development (LID) regulations. By contributing $2,150,000 toward this project, Costco complies with the LID requirements. This successful public-private partnership is being monitored by the Regional Water Quality Control Board and other agencies as a unique example of stormwater compliance collaboration. On October 10, 2016, City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Costco to contribute funding toward the project.
On May 30, 2017, City Council approved a professional services agreement with California Watershed Engineering for civil design for the Washington Boulevard Stormwater and Urban Runoff Diversion Project, and approved an amendment to such agreement on November 18, 2019 to redesign the project based on public feedback about impacts to traffic and parking in the project area.
Public Outreach
On November 8, 2018 and April 30, 2019, community outreach meetings for Washington Boulevard Stormwater Diversion Project were held at Coeur d’Alene Avenue Elementary School Auditorium. Based on feedback from these meetings and meetings held with local business owners, the project was redesigned to lessen impacts to Washington Boulevard parking and traffic operations. A public meeting was held virtually on April 8, 2021 to present the final design. Invitations to the public meeting were distributed to the immediate Culver City and City of Los Angeles businesses, residences, and local schools via letter and email subscribers through our City’s GovDelivery system, and Social Media outlets (Nextdoor, Twitter, and Facebook).
Once a contract has been awarded, staff, along with the construction manager and contractor representative, will coordinate an additional public outreach meeting in late 2021 to discuss the construction schedule, construction hours, and traffic impacts, as well as distributing project information pamphlets and meeting one on one with business owners and/or managers located within the project limits along Washington Boulevard.
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 June 22, 2020, the Notice of Intent (NOI) to Adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration was published through County of Los Angeles Recorder’s Office in Norwalk, and Culver City News and provided 30-day public review and comments on the IS/MND document were accepted up to July 21, 2020. City Council adopted a resolution approving an Amended Mitigated Negative Declaration on August 10, 2020.
Plans and specifications for the project have been completed, and staff is prepared to publish a Notice Inviting Bids for implementation. The 100% plans can be viewed from this link: <https://www.culvercity.org/files/assets/public/documents/agenda-files/washington_blvd_urban_runoff_stormwater.pdf>.
Subject to City Council approval, the Notice Inviting Bids along with a copy of the Plans and Specifications will be posted on the City’s website. During the bidding period staff will release a request for proposal for construction management and construction inspection services for the project.
Funding Sources
The project was awarded Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District issued Proposition A Grant funding in August 2015 for $767,137.35. The Proposition A grant program’s Santa Monica Bay category makes funds available for projects that restore and improve Santa Monica Bay by reducing the toxicity and/or pollutant load in urban runoff to the Bay.
In November 2018, Los Angeles County voters approved Measure W, Los Angeles County’s Safe Clean Water Program to improve water quality, increase local water supply, and enhance communities. The program provides local dedicated funding through a parcel tax to increase local water supply, improve water quality, and protect public health. Public Works Environmental Programs & Operations Division (EPO) applied for Measure W Regional Infrastructure Funds in the amount of $3,600,000 for this project, and funding was approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on October 13, 2020.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact at this time. Staff will return to Council to award the construction contract.
The project is funded by Safe Clean Water (Measure W) Regional Funds, LA County Open Space & Parks Grant, public/private partnership funds with Costco Wholesale Corporation, and local funds.
Estimated Project Expenses:
Design - CWE (Encumbered) $ 652,693
Estimated Construction Cost $8,000,000
Estimated Construction Management/Inspection Services $ 500,000
Estimated Geotech. Construction Services (Observation & Testing) $ 50,000
Total Estimated Project Expenses $9,202,693
Proposed Project Budget:
Washington Boulevard Diversion CIP (43480000.730100.PR001) $2,685,557
Costco Wholesale Corporation $2,150,000
La County Open Space & Parks Grant $ 767,136
Safe Clean Water Regional Funds $3,600,000
Total Proposed Project Budget $9,202,693
ATTACHMENTS
None
MOTION
That the City Council:
Approve the Final Plans and Specifications and authorize the publication of a notice inviting bids for the Washington Boulevard Stormwater and Urban Runoff Diversion Project, PR001.