HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2c - Revised Enhanced Watershed Management ProgramPSA for Enhanced Watershed Management Program September 5, 2017
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DATE: September 5, 2017
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Tom Tait, Public Works Services Director
Prepared by: Vanessa Hevener, Environmental Services Officer
SUBJECT: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH TETRA TECH, INC.
FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REVISED ENHANCED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM PLAN FOR THE RIO
HONDO/SAN GABRIEL RIVER WATER QUALITY GROUP IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $391,000
Recommendation: Approve SUMMARY
In May 2013, the Cities of Arcadia, Bradbury, Duarte, Monrovia, and Sierra Madre, as
well as the County of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County Flood Control District,
collectively known as the Rio Hondo/San Gabriel River Water Quality Group (“RH/SGR WQG”), entered a Memorandum of Understanding for the cost sharing and
development of the Enhanced Watershed Management Program (“EWMP”). The City
of Arcadia has been acting as the “lead agency” for managing and awarding
professional agreements on behalf of the group.
Since the approval of the EWMP by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control
Board, the RH/SGR WQG has been working diligently to evaluate alternative
implementation strategies that make more sense, and would ultimately cost
considerably less. As part of this effort, the City approved a Change Order to the
original contract with California Watershed Engineering, Inc. (“CWE”) in November 2016 to evaluate alternative implementation strategies and to revise the EWMP. However,
CWE has regrettably underperformed and missed several deliverable deadlines outlined
in the contract extension. In consultation with members of the RH/SGR WQG, the City
terminated the contract with CWE in July 2017 and sought other engineering firms that
are familiar with the EWMP plan and stormwater regulations. As a result, Tetra Tech, Inc., has been selected as the preferred firm to take over this work. Tetra Tech has had
experience with working on EWMP plans, and worked as a sub-consultant on the
original EWMP. They have agreed to continue with the scope of services outlined in the
CWE Professional Services Agreement for the same cost.
PSA for Enhanced Watershed Management Program September 5, 2017
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It is recommended that the City Council approve, and authorize and direct the City
Manager to execute, a Professional Services Agreement with Tetra Tech, Inc. in an
amount not to exceed $391,000.
BACKGROUND
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
System Permit (“MS4 Permit”, Order No. R4-2012-0175) establishes the waste
discharge requirements for stormwater and non-stormwater discharges within the watersheds of Los Angeles County. The MS4 Permit was adopted by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region (“Regional Board”), on
November 8, 2012, and became effective on December 28, 2012. The MS4 Permit
includes provisions that allow permittees the flexibility to customize their stormwater
programs to achieve compliance over time through the development of Enhanced Watershed Management Program (“EWMP”) Plans on a watershed scale utilizing customized strategies, control measures, and Best Management Practices (“BMPs”).
The Rio Hondo/San Gabriel River Water Quality Group (“RH/SGR WQG”) approved
EWMP identified ten (10) regional projects (two are located in the City of Arcadia) and 436 lane miles of “green streets” (e.g., bioretention, biofiltration and permeable pavement systems within the street right-of-way that are designed to reduce runoff and
improve water quality) to be completed over the next two decades. The estimated cost
to implement the EWMP is $1.4 billion; Arcadia’s share is approximately $357 million.
Funding remains a significant challenge for the stormwater program. There is a limited amount of grants available - they are generally highly competitive and give deference to
disadvantaged communities, require matching funds, and cover only capital costs.
Given the financial burden faced by the RH/SGR WQG to comply with stormwater regulations, the RH/SGR WQG Oversight Committee revisited the EWMP to determine whether a modified set of alternative projects could possibly serve as a more achievable
and reasonable path towards compliance. As such, the Oversight Committee engaged
in a direct dialogue with the Regional Board staff to propose alternative projects to
achieve the necessary volume and load reductions at a greatly reduced cost. The main focus of the proposal would be to utilize the area around the Peck Road Water Conservation Park (“Peck Park”) as a single point of treatment rather than installing
numerous “green street” projects. Additionally, another project is located at the Los
Angeles County Arboretum that includes diverting stormwater and non stormwater flows
from the Arcadia Wash to a groundwater recharge/wetlands facility. These cost savings concepts require the development of a revised EWMP to review, evaluate, and analyze projects deemed necessary to meet load and volume reductions.
PSA for Enhanced Watershed Management Program September 5, 2017
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As part of this effort, the City approved a Change Order to the original contract with California Watershed Engineering, Inc. (“CWE”) in November 2016 to evaluate
alternative implementation strategies and to revise the EWMP. The Regional Board has
been very supportive of the concepts proposed, but has required the Group to submit
revised proposals on an agreed-upon schedule. DISCUSSION
Regrettably, CWE has underperformed and missed several deliverable deadlines
outlined in the scope of services. While the Regional Board has been cooperative in extending some deadlines, time is of the essence in moving the Revised EWMP forward.
In consultation with the RH/SGR WQG, the City of Arcadia terminated the contract with
CWE in July 2017, and engaged other engineering firms that are familiar with EWMP plans and stormwater regulations. Tetra Tech, Inc. was chosen as the preferred firm to continue CWE’s efforts. The selection of Tetra Tech, Inc. was based on their
recognized expertise in the area of stormwater management including MS4 Permit
compliance, expertise and experience developing similar plans, their existing
relationships with the Regional Board Staff, Board members, and key stakeholder groups. Tetra Tech, Inc. is also well versed with the Rio Hondo/San Gabriel watersheds. Attached is a copy of the proposed Professional Services Agreement.
Tetra Tech, Inc. will resume the scope of work identified in the CWE Professional
Services Agreement for the same cost. Any work tasks previously completed by CWE will be reviewed by Tetra Tech, Inc. for accuracy and relevancy.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The Professional Services Agreement with Tetra Tech, Inc. is not considered a project as defined by California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) Section 15378; as a service contract of this nature is considered ministerial.
FISCAL IMPACT
The original value of the Professional Services Agreement was $521,682.50 and Arcadia’s portion was approximately $150,000. The remaining total value of the
Professional Services Agreement is not to exceed $391,000. Funding for the revised
EWMP was budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2016-17 Capital Improvement Program. There
is no fiscal impact for transferring the agreement to Tetra Tech as the funds have been already allocated in the Fiscal Year 2016-17 Capital Improvement Program. Tetra Tech, Inc. contract cost is the sum of the remaining balance from the previous
consultant.
PSA for Enhanced Watershed Management Program September 5, 2017
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve, and authorize and direct the City
Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Tetra Tech, Inc. for the
revised Enhanced Watershed Management Program Plan for the Rio Hondo/San Gabriel River Water Quality Group in an amount not to exceed $391,000.
Attachment: Proposed Professional Services Agreement