TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

FROM: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

DATE: FEBRUARY 20, 2007

SUBJECT: WATER QUALITY FLOOD PROTECTION PROGRAM UPDATE

RECOMMENDATION

1. Accept this Presentation and Update on the Water Quality and Flood Protection Program.

2. Support the appropriation of adequate resources for the Water Quality and Flood Protection Program including moving up the funding component for the McCarrell Canyon Storm Drain Improvement Project to fiscal year 2007-2008 and by directing staff to include additional plan costs in the FY 2007-2008 draft budget.

FISCAL IMPACT

The ultimate improvements to the McCarrell Canyon storm drain system are scheduled to be completed in 2016 per the WQFP Rate Model. The anticipated changes to the design and construction schedule will require additional funds that will be discussed in detail during the budget process and will require additional General Fund monies.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION

The City of Rancho Palos Verdes has identified the need to spend at least $25million for the repair of existing storm drains and to construct 38 known projects. Voters approved a storm drain user fee to partially finance the Water Quality and Flood Protection program on August 30, 2005.

The City Council allocated $4.9 million of General fund reserves to kick start the program’s “early action projects”, which included undertaking storm drain repairs, lining and construction projects.

In accordance with NPDES requirements, the City has undertaken extensive videoing of storm drains to assess their conditions and have completed all of the large capacity pipelines. This process has shown that about 80% of the corrugated metal pipelines (CMP) require lining, repair, or replacement, with many of the pipelines being in poorer condition than previously thought. With this information the City has instituted a drain lining program and has completed $1.3 million in projects, which represents about 15% of the needed storm drain lining projects.

As part of the $4.9 million noted above, the City has undertaken $1.6 million in other emergency storm drain projects as detailed below:
- McCarrell Canyon Interim Improvements – Gabion and Timber Walls
- Western Avenue/Delesonde Avenue Repair
- Tarapaca Storm Drain Improvements
- Pontevedra Storm Drain Rehabilitation
- Martingale Drive Storm Drain Repairs
- Menominee Place Repairs
- PVDrive South between Clipper & Seacove Storm Drain Rehabilitation
- PVDrive South Outlet Structure Improvements
- PVDrive West Catch Basin Improvements
- Barkentine & Seacove Catch Basin Improvements
- Bronco Drive Storm Drain Improvements
- Nonbleview Canyon Inlet Improvements
- Crest to Crestridge Storm Drain Rehabilitation
- Silver Arrow to Hawthorne Storm Drain Rehabilitation
- Hawthorne east of Silver Spur Storm Drain Rehabilitation
- Stonegate Storm Drain Repairs
- Bay Club Storm Drain Rehabilitation

The General fund subsidy also provided about $900,000 for acquisition of land which was based upon the appraised value in conformance with California real estate law. It is possible that additional funding will be required to complete the land acquisition transaction, which would increase the amount that has been budgeted for that acquisition. The land acquired within McCarrell Canyon will enable the City to adequately design storm drain facilities in that area.

Projects currently being designed include the Via Colinita and Roan Road Storm Drain Projects, Phase III Storm Drain Lining, which will be advertised later in the year. Revisions to the Sunnyside Ridge Storm Drain Project are being completed and this project will be re-advertised during the spring. To accommodate traffic and minimize impacts, construction will most likely be scheduled to begin after the 2006/07 school year. The McCarrell Canyon storm drain system has been scoped, and Design firms have been interviewed.

The Water Quality and Flood Protection Program identified the need for one full time staff person to administer the program. The position is temporarily being staffed through CBM Consulting, Inc. until the permanency of program funding is decided at the November 2007 general election.

5-Year Plan
The 2006 5-year plan for the WQFP includes: construction of the Sunnyside Ridge storm drain system, the Via Colinita projects & Roan Road project, lining storm drains, and the beginning of design for the McCarrell Canyon system improvements. Staff is on target to accomplish these goals, however future years should be modified to accomplish the McCarrell Canyon system improvements. Left unchanged, the
McCarrell Canyon system improvements would be completed in the year 2016. Staff recommends pushing ahead with an aggressive design and environmental schedule that could have the project ready to begin construction in the Spring of 2008. If the City Council approves this additional funding with the FY 2007-2008 draft budget and the Storm Drain User Fee is not repealed, future funding originally planned for McCarrell Canyon will be re-programmed for other high priority storm drain improvements. Construction of a slant drain leading to the beach below Seacove Drive would be the first order of work followed by the installation of additional piping and the construction of a modified inlet structure that would be designed to accommodate heavy winter flows. As shown in the recommended five-year plan for WQFP, Staff also recommends including an additional $150,000 for storm drain lining and $52,500 for miscellaneous drainage improvements to the draft FY06-07 WQFP budget. These additions would require an additional General Fund subsidy.

Funding in the amount of $2,428,651 will be required to expedite improvements of this high exposure storm drain system. Additional funding for storm drain lining and miscellaneous drainage improvements are also recommended. Staff is recommending the consideration of these funds during the FY 2007-2008 draft budget process at this time to ensure funding for completion of the projects.

CONCLUSIONS
The Water Quality and Flood Protection Program is responsible for the repair of several damaged storm drains throughout the city. Projects are being designed, filtration devices are being installed and system maintenance is being aggressively pursued. In short, much work has been accomplished, and many more system repairs and improvements are needed.

It is recommended that the City Council: accept this presentation and update on the Water Quality and Flood Protection Program; and support the appropriation of adequate resources for the Water Quality and Flood Protection Program including moving up the funding component for the McCarrell Canyon Storm Drain Improvement Project to fiscal year 2007-2008 and by directing staff to include additional plan costs in the FY 2007-2008 draft budget.

Respectfully submitted:

Jim Bell
Director of Public Works

Reviewed

Paul D. Bussey
City Manager