TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to amend Contract No. 30889 with Bellingham Marine Industries, Inc., for an additional $135,000 for unanticipated costs of the Alamitos Bay Marina rebuild project, related to eelgrass mitigation and mercury disposal issues. (District 3)
DISCUSSION
On August 12, 2008, the City Council authorized Contract No. 30889 with Bellingham Marine Industries, Inc. (Bellingham), for the engineering design of the Alamitos Bay Marina, in an amount not to exceed $1,490,000 (Attachment). During the environmental analysis and review process, it became apparent that, in order to complete the engineering design and meet the requirements of the regulatory agencies, it would be necessary to address the unanticipated issues related to eelgrass mitigation and mercury disposal.
As a result of dredging inherent in the rebuild, the City of Long Beach (City) is required by the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the California Department of Fish and Game, to complete the requirements of the eelgrass mitigation policy. The City identified an eelgrass habitat, which is capable of sustaining these perennial flowering plant meadows, and which, in turn, supports a complex web of interrelated creatures, such as algae, juvenile finfish, and shellfish. An area of approximately 10,000 square feet at the northeast shore of Marine Stadium will be converted into an eelgrass meadow to ensure the viability of the ecosystem in Alamitos Bay Marina.
During the course of the environmental analysis, Bellingham uncovered the existence of elevated levels of mercury in Basin 1. Although mercury imbedded in the sediment poses no health concerns, it will require a disposal plan other than ocean disposal. The source of the mercury was unidentifiable, however, a detailed site sediment sampling revealed that 41,000 cubic yards of sediment will need to be disposed of in a confined site. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine has been working with the Port of Long Beach to dispose of this sediment, as part of its Middle Harbor fill project.
Both of these issues were settled to the satisfaction of the regulatory agencies. However, it resulted in an additional cost of $135,000. City Council authorization is requested to amend Contract No. 30889 to cover the additional work.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on February 3, 2011, and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on February 10, 2011.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on March 1, 2011, in order to amend the contract and transfer the funds.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for these additional costs is budgeted in the Marina Fund (TF 403) in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PR). There is no impact to jobs associated with the recommended action.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
GEORGE CHAPJIAN
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER