TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an amendment to Agreement No. 30773 between the City of Long Beach and Moffatt & Nichol Engineers for engineering professional services for the Colorado Lagoon Restoration Project, in an amount not to exceed $79,293, and any amendments to the contract necessary to extend the term, amend the scope of work or adjust the fee schedule of hourly rates for inflation for any term extensions. (District 3)
DISCUSSION
The Colorado Lagoon (Lagoon) is a 28.3-acre tidal lagoon located in the middle of a suburban neighborhood (map attached). It serves three main functions: 1) hosting sensitive estuarine habitat; 2) providing public recreation (including swimming); and 3) retaining and conveying storm flows. Unfortunately, the water and sediment quality within the Lagoon has degraded over time. To improve the conditions of the Lagoon, a Master Restoration Plan has been developed and is being implemented in accordance with funding availability.
On June 10, 2008, the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with Moffatt & Nichol for engineering design services. The design development phase was split into three main parts. Part 1 of the engineering design effort covers those project components that are being funded by the State Water Resources Control Board with federal Stimulus funds. Part 2 covers dredging of contaminated sediments, contouring of the side slopes to improve intertidal and transitional-zone wetland habitat, and to revegetate the impact areas with native plants. Part 2 project components are being funded, in part, by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Part 3 covers all other improvements that are not currently funded (e.g., removal of the North Arm restroom, parking lot and access road, revegetation, and walking trail installation). The Part 3 effort remains suspended until additional funding is identified. The engineering designs for Part 1 have been completed, and efforts are underway to complete Part 2. The current request will cover additional work necessary to finalize the Part 2 designs.
Because of the presence of contaminants, particularly lead, within the Lagoon sediments, additional sediment testing is necessary to better characterize the contaminants and to demonstrate to the Regulatory Agencies (e.g. U.S Army Corps, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Regional Water Quality Control Board) that mixing the dredged sediment with Portland cement will render the contaminants inert and thus stabilize them. The cement stabilization and solidification process has been successfully used in other parts of the United States. If successful here, the City will be eligible to utilize an approved Port of Long Beach site for disposal of the dredged sediments. If unsuccessful, the dredged sediments may need to be trucked to an approved Class 1 disposal facility, which would potentially increase project costs significantly.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney, Richard F. Anthony, on October 28, 2009 and Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on October 29,2009.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
It is requested that the City Council approve the proposed amendment with Moffatt & Nichol Engineers on November 17, 2009, in order to expeditiously proceed with the engineering design effort for Part 2.
FISCAL IMPACT
The full amount of the contract amendment, $79,293, will be paid for with grant funding from the State Coastal Conservancy, and from the LA County Chief Executive Office.
Sufficient funds are currently appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund (CP) in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine (PR), and in the Tidelands Operating Fund (TF) in the Department of Community Development (CD). There is no impact to the General Fund.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
DENNIS J. THYS
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVEOPMENT
PHIL T. HESTER
DIRECTOR OF PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE