TITLE
Recommendation to adopt resolution authorizing City Manager, or his designee, to submit a grant application to the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy for the planning and design of Long Beach Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment Recycle Facility; and execute all documents and agreements necessary to apply for grant funds.
(Districts 1,2,6,7,8,9)
DISCUSSION
The RMC program provides funding for projects that involve water sustainability/resiliency; serves disadvantaged communities; preserves, restores enhances and adapts management of coastal wetlands habitat; urban greening along the San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers; creation, expansion, and/or improvement to public open space throughout the region by improving water quality supply, and/or restoring an important species and habitat. The RMC has approached the City of Long Beach for projects that meet the above criteria and which could be funded through its grant program. The City of Long Beach has identified the Long Beach Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment (LB-MUST) project as meeting the requirements of the RMC.
The City has been exploring the potential for constructing a facility similar to the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF) in Long Beach. SMURRF is a successful state-of-the-art recycling facility that recycles dry weather urban runoff. SMURRF was constructed in December of 2000 and began operating in 2001. The facility uses conventional and advanced treatment systems to remove sediments, oil, grease, and pathogens from non-stormwater runoff, and uses the treated non-stormwater runoff to replace potable water. While the design of the SMURRF was groundbreaking in 2000, it had limitations. Based on the location of the SMURRF, it was not economical to construct multiple treatment trains for every possible end-use. As a result, the SMURRF facility did not meet the reclaimed water requirements under Title 22 of the California Code of Regulation, California Department of Public Health’s Recycle Water Regulations and Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations for recycle water funding.
Staff has examined the limitations of the SMURRF’s inability to construct multiple treatment trains and has produced a conceptual study that confirms that a facility such as the SMURRF could be constructed in Long Beach meeting Title 22 requirements for recycled water production and qualify for Title 16 recycled water funding. Long Beach’s proximity to the Los Angeles River, available park space near the Shoemaker Bridge, and recent advancements in technology make the City an ideal location to build an urban runoff and recycling facility. If constructed, the LB-MUST project would treat diverted non-stormwater runoff that would otherwise discharge into the Los Angeles River. By treating non-stormwater runoff, the LB-MUST project will help reduce non-stormwater pollution, provide a new source of recycled water to replace potable water used to irrigate Long Beach parks. The treated non-stormwater runoff could potentially be used to meet other public uses as well.
Additionally, the LB-MUST project will improve recreational water quality, which, in turn, is beneficial to aquatic life by intercepting water runoff, and reducing and/or eliminating pollution causing metals, bacterial and hydrocarbons that would otherwise discharge into the Los Angeles River and spread onto City beaches and ocean waters. Recycled water produced by the LB-MUST project, could be used in the Drake/Chavez Greenbelt Wetlands project to create and sustain the proposed wetlands while providing a storage basin for the recycled water to be used in place of potable water for the irrigation of parks, parkways and riparian habitat within the park complex. The recycled water would also be used for the creation and support of urban greening along the Lower Los Angeles River. This project meets all of the requirements of the RMC planning grant application for planning money.
If the City is awarded the grant for planning and design, funds will be used towards the design of the LB-MUST Project. The City would seek other additional funds for the construction of the project.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on November 24, 2015 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on December 1, 2015.
SUSTAINABILITY
Once fully implemented, the LB-MUST project will restore and protect the recreational water quality of the Los Angeles River, the Los Angeles River estuary and City’s beaches. Educational features will be incorporated along the facility’s grounds and buildings, and within the future wetlands to inform the public of the consequences of trash and bacteria in sediment that enters the storm drains and pollute the City’s waterways. The benefits of having clean water on City beaches will also be highlighted in the educational features.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on December 15, 2015 in order to submit the grant application to the RMC by the submittal deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost for the design phase of the LB-MUST project is estimated at $5,120,000. Staff is requesting $2,000,000 through the RMC program grant, and no matching funds or in-kind services are required. If awarded, the RMC program grant will allow the City to initiate a portion of the design phase of the project. The City will seek additional funding to complete the design phase. Total design and construction project costs are preliminarily estimated at $25,915,000 and additional funding will be sought to support subsequent phases of the project. Ongoing operational costs of the LB-MUST facility are not yet known. Approval of this recommendation may result in a positive impact on the local economy.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,
ARA MALOYAN, PE
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER