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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2c - Revised Enhanced Watershed Management ProgramPSA for Enhanced Watershed Management Program September 5, 2017 Page 1 of 4 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 Page 2 of 4 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 Page 3 of 4 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 Page 4 of 4 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