TITLE
Recommendation to certify Negative Declaration for the River Avenue Drain Project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and approve a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA);
Adopt Plans and Specifications No. R-6796 for the River Avenue Drain Phase II, award the project, and authorize City Manager to execute all documents necessary to enter into a contract with Vasilj Inc., the lowest responsible bidder, in an estimated amount of $1,021,675, plus a
25 percent contingency of $255,419 if necessary, and execute any necessary amendments; and
Increase appropriations in the Capital Projects Fund (CP 201) in the Department of Public Works (PW) in the amount of $1,479,200 representing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-R) funds from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that have been dedicated to this project. (District 7)
DISCUSSION
As a result of several flooding incidents that have impacted residents on and adjacent to Arlington Avenue, including damaged homes and vehicles, the City of Long Beach contracted with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, Storm Drain Division, to conduct a drainage study of the area. The report prepared in 2007 concluded that the 50-inch storm drain pipe that collects storm water from the Arlington Street area, as well as the adjoining Southern California Edison Company (SCE) property, and carries these storm water flows to the Dominguez Channel, is undersized, providing less than a five-year protection level. The proposed project to bring the flood protection in this area to a full ten-year protection level consists of the construction of a parallel storm drain system on River Avenue, north of Arlington Street connected to an underground storage (detention) basin on the SCE property that would temporarily hold two acre-feet of storm water during heavy flows, and then release them as the storm abates and the downstream pipe is no longer flowing full. The project consists of the following elements:
* Construction of 1021 feet of 48-inch reinforced concrete pipe in River Avenue, from Arlington
Street to Wardlow Road.
* Modification of five street level catch basins on River Avenue, including the installation of trash
and bacteria filters.
* Construction of six new street level catch basins on River Avenue, including the installation of
trash and bacteria filters.
* Construction of a detention system consisting of five 84-inch corrugated metal pipes each 430
feet in length to be located within a dedicated easement on property owned by the SCE in order
to retain two acre-feet of storm drain flows.
* Modification of a surface inlet on SCE's property with a debris deflector.
* Construction of connecting pipes from the existing storm drain system to the detention system.
* Existing weep holes in the block wall to the north of the proposed detention system will be
modified with installation of flap gates
Because the project includes the usage of both federal and local funds, environmental documents were prepared pursuant to the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As a result of these studies, a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) were issued for this project (attached).
Permits for construction access to SCE property have been secured and documents related to the permanent easements are in the process of being executed. Construction is anticipated to commence in November and be completed within six months.
City Council adoption of the plans and specifications and award of a contract to the lowest responsible bidder are being recommended concurrently to expedite the project implementation. The project was advertised on June 25, 2009 and bids were opened on July 29, 2009. Information regarding Vasilj, Inc. is provided on the attached contract awards document.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Linda Trang on August 13, 2009, and by Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on August 24, 2009.
SUSTAINABILITY
The water quality mitigation improvements in the project will significantly reduce trash, debris, green waste, sediment, bacteria and pollutants, by including bacteria filters and catch basin screens. In addition, all excavated soils will be retained by SCE for use on future planned improvements to their substation significantly reducing truck trips and the associated air pollution.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on September 8, 2009, to authorize commencement of this Public Works project. Construction is anticipated to begin in November 2009 and should take approximately six months to complete.
FISCAL IMPACT
Total project costs are estimated to be $1,479,200, of which $1,021,675 is for the requested contract services. The funding for this project is American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-R) funds from federal Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD). Since these funds are not yet appropriated, an appropriation of $1,479,200 increase is requested in the Capital Projects Fund (CP 201) in the Department of Public Works (PW).
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MICHAEL P. CONWAY
DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
|
APPROVED: |
|
|
|
|
|
PATRICK H. WEST |
|
CITY MANAGER |