TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Regional Water Management Joint Powers Authority (GWMA) for Administration and Cost Sharing to Prepare and Implement a Coordinated Compliance Monitoring and Reporting Plan (CCMRP) for the Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors Waters Toxic Pollutants Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), for a five-year term; and
Increase appropriations in the Tidelands Fund (TF) in the Public Works Department (PW) by $151,070. (District 2)
DISCUSSION
On May 5,2011, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Dominguez Channel and Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors for metals and toxic pollutants. The City of Long Beach is identified in the TMDL as a responsible party. The TMDL became effective upon approval of the US EPA, which occurred on March 23, 2012, and requires the development and subsequent implementation of a monitoring plan. Subsequently, this TMDL was recently incorporated into the City of Long Beach (City) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, on March 28, 2014, and is enforceable through the Federal Clean Water Act.
Cities identified in this TMDL are Bellflower, Lakewood, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Paramount, Rancho Palos Verdes, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Signal Hill, County of Los Angeles Flood Control District, and the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. These agencies drain directly to the greater harbor and are required to develop and implement a monitoring plan that includes: sediment. testing, water column testing and analysis of fish tissues. Representatives of the agencies subject to the greater harbor provisions of this TMDL have been working together in an effort to reduce the cost of working independently. This group is referred to as the Regional Monitoring Coalition (RMC) and has developed the Coordinated Compliance Monitory and Reporting Plan (CCMRP), which has been submitted to the Regional Board. This monitoring plan calls for the collection of wet and dry weather water samples at 22 locations annually, sediment samples collected every 2 to 3 years at the same 22 locations, and fish tissue samples from within four bodies of water within the Greater Harbors collected biennially.
The preparation and implementation of the CCMRP will be a multi-agency effort. The total cost for the five-year program will be $2.2 million, to be allocated to the cities in the RMC. Each participating agency equally shares a flat base rate fee and the balance is based on their percentage of area within the TMDL limits. The actual cost of sample collection and analysis varies from year to year due to the differences in the water, sediment and fish tissue sampling schedules (or changes in the monitoring plan ordered by the Regional Board), but at the request of the responsible parties, the participation costs have been averaged over a five-year period. The FY14 participation cost for the City is $151 ,070. The City's participation costs for FY 14 to FY18 is a total not to exceed $855,350. These costs include both annual monitoring costs of $151,070, as well as an estimated FY15 cost of $100,000 to develop a Watershed Management Plan.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy Webber on May 14,2014, and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on May 22, 2014.
SUSTAINABILITY
Various TMDLs have been established for setting a maximum limit for specific metals and bacteria that can be discharged into a water body without exceeding water quality standards and impairing beneficial uses. Participation in this MOU will help to isolate and abate these pollutants, which will lead to improved water quality.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action on this item is requested on June 10, 2014, to secure the City's participation in the development of the CCRMP Watershed Management Programs to reduce the amount of pollutants and improve water quality in Long Beach.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City's FY14 share of the costs for development of CCMRP is $151,070. An increase in appropriations in the amount of $151 ,070 is requested in the Tidelands Operation Fund (TF 401) in the Public Works Department (PW). Funding for FY15 to FY18 will be addressed as part of the annual budget preparation process. There are no local jobs impacted by this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
ARA MALOYAN, PE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER