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CC - Adoption of a Resolution (1) Adopting the Stormwater Quality Master Plan (SWQMP) to Help the City Comply with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit Issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA RWQCB); and (2) Finding the SWQMP is Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
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Meeting Date: August 23, 2021
Contact Person/Dept: Chanel Kincaid/Public Works EPO Division
Phone Number: 310-253-6445
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (08/18/21);
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer (08/11/2021)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a Resolution (1) adopting the Stormwater Quality Master Plan (SWQMP) to help the City comply with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit Issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA RWQCB); and (2) finding the SWQMP is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
BACKGROUND
On March 18, 2019, City Council approved a professional services agreement with Blue Ocean Consulting for the development of the SWQMP. The MS4 permit requires Culver City to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) that would improve water quality in the Ballona Creek Watershed. To join with regional efforts, Culver City joined the Ballona Creek Watershed Management Group (BC WMG) along with the cities of Beverly Hills, Inglewood, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, West Hollywood, and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. To meet water quality requirements, the BC WMG drafted the Ballona Creek Enhanced Watershed Management Plan (BC-EWMP) which addresses water quality issues by implementing institutional and infrastructure BMPs such as green streets and regional projects. Green streets and regional projects are designed to capture and treat runoff from all drainage areas in the Ballona Creek Watershed. Under the Ballona Creek Enhanced Watershed Management Plan, Culver City is responsible for capturing 99 acre-feet of stormwater.
DISCUSSION
The objective of the SWQMP is to provide a short-term (5-year) and long-term (10-year) planning tool to identify potential regional, green streets, and Low Impact Development (LID) projects to collectively meet the City’s water quality compliance goals.
Culver City’s planned projects, GIS data, and the Los Angeles Region Imagery Acquisition Consortium (LARIAC) were used to generate planimetric data, land use, hydrology, historical high groundwater levels, storm drain and sanitary sewer systems to determine project opportunities. Based on the data collected, over 400 potential project opportunities were identified to help manage runoff volumes in the SWQMP. Based on these metrics, the consultant was able to prepare “recipes” for compliance that included concept plans for top ranked multi-benefit priority projects. Projects were prioritized based on budget, cost-effectiveness, and multi-benefit metrics. For example, Syd Kronenthal Park was identified as a top priority project in concept design due to its location and environmental features. Syd Kronenthal Park is ideally situated to combine Culver City Capital Improvement Projects, multi-jurisdictional coordinated projects, and multi-benefit water quality projects.
The SWQMP also features a web-based dashboard tool to facilitate collaboration within Culver City to increase efficiency and to track compliance progress. Concept plans, construction phases of a project and project costs can be entered into the dashboard tool. Based on planning estimates, it would cost approximately $140M to implement all of these potential projects.
Culver City staff in conjunction with consultants developed a Public Outreach Plan and hosted two community workshops on June 8, 2021 and June 24, 2021. The City requested public comment to be added to the draft. The City received no public comment and proceeded to finalize the plan.
Environmental Review
The adoption of the SWQMP is exempt from further environmental review under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (common sense exemption) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the SWQMP will have a significant effect on the environment; therefore, it is not subject to CEQA. The SWQMP is a planning tool to identify potential regional, green streets, and Low Impact Development (LID) projects to collectively meet the City’s water quality compliance goals. Projects identified under the SWQMP will need to undergo separate environmental review.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There are no costs associated with adopting the Stormwater Quality Master Plan.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Copy of the Culver City Stormwater Quality Master Plan www.culvercity.org/files/assets/public/documents/public-works/stormwater/stormwater-quality-master-plan-2021-final.pdf <http://www.culvercity.org/files/assets/public/documents/public-works/stormwater/stormwater-quality-master-plan-2021-final.pdf>
MOTION
That the City Council:
Adopt a Resolution (1) adopting the Stormwater Quality Master Plan (SWQMP) to help the City comply with the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit Issued by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (LA RWQCB); and (2) finding the SWQMP is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).