TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to amend the City’s Feasibility Cost Share Agreement (FCSA) with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to contribute up to $50,000 in existing authorized local-sponsor funds for the purposes of rescoping the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration feasibility study; authorize City Manager to further amend the FCSA to accelerate a revised local-sponsor amount of $1.5 million and allow the City to contribute $750,000 to fulfill a portion of the Army Corps’ federal-cost share; and authorize City Manager to enter into the revised agreement with the Army Corps to implement the rescoped feasibility study. (Districts 2,3)
DISCUSSION
In November 2010, the City of Long Beach and the Army Corps entered into a Feasibility Cost Share Agreement (FCSA) to formalize funding obligations of both parties for the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration feasibility study, formerly known as the “Breakwater Study.” The feasibility study will identify a pragmatic and economically feasible option for restoring the East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem based upon three planning objectives: (1) restore the ecosystem; (2) improve water quality; and (3) increase recreation, including the possibility of wave activity. The study considers feasible restoration options as those that will protect existing homes, maritime operations, and infrastructure in the East San Pedro Bay.
The City and the Army Corps previously agreed to share the original feasibility study cost, of $8.3 million, equally and concurrently, over a period of at least four years. The City Council authorized up to $3,320,700 of Tidelands funding to meet the City’s feasibility study cost-share obligation, and City staff was prepared to provide an additional $825,000 in non-cash in-kind services.
In 2012, the Army Corps issued new feasibility study guidelines, known as the 3x3x3 feasibility study model. This model requires feasibility studies to cost no more than $3...
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