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CC - Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Submit an Application in the Amount of $6,000,000 for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Proposition 84 Grant for the Culver Boulevard Median Infiltration Project
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Contact Person/Dept: Kaden Young and Lee Torres / Public Works
Phone Number: (310) 253-6445 & (310) 253-6457
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Commission Name:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (12/30/15)
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson, Public Works Director/City Engineer (12/23/15)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application in the amount of $6,000,000 for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Proposition 84 Grant for the Culver Boulevard Median Infiltration Project.
BACKGROUND
The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission (SMBRC) is an independent, non-regulatory State entity charged with promoting comprehensive watershed and coastal resources management of Santa Monica Bay.
Proposition 84, the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006, was passed by the voters of California on November 7, 2006. Proposition 84 allocates $90 million to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) for coastal water quality improvement projects pursuant to the Clean Beaches Program (PRC §30915). Of this amount, $18 million were made available for projects that protect Santa Monica Bay beaches and coastal waters, including projects to prevent contamination and degradation of coastal waters and watersheds, and projects to protect and restore the Bay’s marine, freshwater, and terrestrial habitats. The SMBRC reviews proposals and its Governing Board recommends grant funds for appropriate projects to the State Water Board. Proposition 84 requires the SMBRC and State Water Board to work together to ensure that all projects are consistent with State requirements.
Approximately $7 million are available from this request for proposal, and a maximum of $6 million can be awarded to a single project. The deadline to submit the online grant application forms and a resolution is January 15, 2016.
Priority Projects
Consistent with the purpose of Proposition 84, the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Grant Program will recommend funding for capital projects that restore and protect the Bay’s water quality and help improve water quality through enhancement of current federal and state frameworks and collaborative efforts, integrated watershed wide planning and implementation. Priority will be given to projects identified in Enhanced Watershed Management Programs (EWMPs) or Watershed Management Programs (WMPs) per the new Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4 Permit), Order Number R4-2012-0175, NPDES Permit Number CAS004001, adopted on November 8, 2012 by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board.
DISCUSSION
During the EWMP planning and development phase, Staff from the Environmental Programs and Operation Division of the Public Works Department (EPO) reviewed current projects and available open space within public rights-of-way for possible opportunities to construct regional multi-beneficial projects that have the ability to retain all non-stormwater runoff and all stormwater runoff from the 85th percentile, 24-hour storm event.
EPO identified the Culver Boulevard Realignment Project (P-460), a roadway improvement project, currently in the planning phase, as, as a potential regional stormwater project. The proposed project is located between Elenda Avenue and Sepulveda Boulevard. The original project scope consisted of roadway widening and realignment of Culver Boulevard, installation of a traffic signal, sidewalk and curb/gutter replacement, new street lighting, bioswale, and redesign of the existing landscaped median with new bike and walking pathways.
After further study, it was determined that there are two existing storm drains, 87-inch and 66-inch, passing through the project site at Sepulveda Boulevard and Harter Avenue, respectively, that could be easily diverted. These storm drains convey run-off from a multi-parcel, multi-land use drainage area in Culver City and the City of Los Angeles (LA). The total drainage area is approximately 800 acres. The project site has a large landscaped median area that was being proposed for redesign between north and south Culver Boulevard. This area has excellent soil conditions that are favorable for infiltration and a relatively deep groundwater table.
The Culver Boulevard Realignment Project, P-460, is still in the planning phase, and incorporating an infiltration system to the project remains feasible. Therefore, it was decided to recommend the Culver Boulevard Median Infiltration Project as a regional multi-beneficial project and include it in the EWMP.
The project’s infiltration system would consist of pre-treatment devices, bioswales, drought tolerant landscaping, and low-flow drip irrigation, a run-off recycling system for irrigation, and interpretive signage that would be placed along median walkway to educate the public.
The project and grant application are joint efforts of Culver City and LA, with Culver City being the lead agency. Cost-sharing of the project will be based on the drainage area, which is approximately 40% Culver City and 60% LA.
If the grant application is successful, the final design and construction of the infiltration project will be integrated into the Culver Boulevard Realignment Project, PZ-460.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The amount being requested from the grant is $6,000,000 to partially cover cost for final design, construction engineering, and construction. The funds needed for preliminary engineering have already been budgeted in the City Council Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2015/2016.
Estimated Project Cost
Preliminary Engineering & Conceptual Design $ 30,000
Draft Environmental Initial Study $ 10,000
Final Engineering Design $ 600,000
Construction $15,500,000
Construction Engineering - Construction Management $ 450,000
and Inspection/Material Testing
Total $16,590,000
Estimated Project Cost Sharing - Funding Sources
Grant Amount Requested $6,000,000
Culver City 40% $4,236,000
City of Los Angeles 60% $6,354,000
Should the City receive the requested grant funds, Staff will incrementally request Culver City’s share of project cost beginning in Fiscal Year 2016/2017 through the budget preparation process.
Estimated City Matching Fiscal Year Account
Funds Required
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$ 500,000 2016/2017 To be requested
$1,500,000 2017/2018 To be requested
$2,236,000 2018/2019 To be requested
$4,236,000 (Total)
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Resolution
2. Location Map
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit an application for the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission Proposition 84 Grant for the Culver Boulevard Median Infiltration Project.