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Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all documents necessary to enter into an agreement with Moffatt & Nichol Engineers for engineering design services for the Colorado Lagoon Restoration Project, in an amount not to exceed $1,050,985, including any required amendments to the contract to extend the term and 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 (Exhibit A). It serves three main functions: 1) hosting sensitive estuarine habitat; 2) providing public recreation (including swimming); and 3) retaining and conveying storm flows. The Lagoon is used by hundreds of visitors from communities within and surrounding the City of Long Beach (City).
The water and sediment quality within the Lagoon has degraded over time. The Lagoon is currently listed on California's 303(d) list of impaired water bodies due to elevated levels of lead, zinc, chlordane, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the sediment and frequent high-bacterial levels in the water. Contaminants of concern have also been found in fish and mussel tissue. While swimming remains a popular activity at the Lagoon, beach closures due to unacceptable bacterial levels is a common problem. Current pollutant levels and the limited tidal flushing in the Lagoon aggravate these adverse recreational conditions.
The purpose of the Colorado Lagoon Restoration Project is to restore the site's ecosystem, enhance recreational opportunities, and improve water and sediment quality while adequately managing storm water flows. In 2005, with grant funding from the California Coastal Conservancy, Moffatt & Nichol Engineers (M&N) prepared a Restoration Feasibility Study (Study) for the City that evaluated and recommended feasible opportunities to restore the marine ecosystem, support safe recreation, improve water and sediment quality, and manage storm water from the local watershed.
Since the completion of the Study, the City has secured funding from various local, state, and federal sources in the total amount of $5,608,868 for specific restoration components. Current project funding has been received from the:
· State Water Resources Control Board - Prop. 40 Clean Beaches Initiative (CBI)
$3,823,868 million (awarded)
· U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Estuary Habitat Restoration Program - $900,000
(awarded)
· State Coastal Conservancy - Resource Enhancement Program - $500,000 (awarded)
· Rivers & Mountains Conservancy - Urban Rivers and Tributaries, Urban Core Program -
$150,000 (awarded)
· Port of Long Beach - Funding for the Project's Environmental Assessment $235,000
Staff continues to explore additional grant opportunities to advance the project. In addition, further Port of Long Beach involvement continues to be explored.
Staff is requesting Council authorization to enter into a professional services contract with M&N to begin the engineering design phase. Design plans and construction specifications will be consistent with the project's environmental assessment. Starting the design phase based on the results of the Study and incorporating the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that is currently being prepared by LSA Associates will ensure adherence to all grant requirements, including a strict project schedule with the State Water Board's Clean Beaches Initiative (CBI) grant. In accordance with the $3.8 million CBI grant, staff is required to complete the engineering design phase by October 2008. Due to this significant time constraint, Staff recommends a sole-source professional services agreement with M&N.
Currently, M&N is a part of LSA Associate's environmental assessment team and, as discussed above, developed the original Study. M&N's current and past involvement with the Lagoon project and with similar projects in the region makes them the foremost candidate to prepare the engineering design work. Comparable projects that M&N has worked on include: the Bolsa Chica Lowlands Restoration, Fairview Park Riparian Habitat Restoration, Huntington Beach Wetlands Restoration, and the Carpinteria Marsh Restoration project. Due to M&N's unique qualifications and their extensive involvement with the Lagoon project, staff recommends M&N for the design work. By moving forward with M&N, staff expects to achieve considerable cost- and timesavings, which are essential due to the scarce availability of resources and current grant funding timelines, including the CBI grant schedule.
Staff proposes to work with M&N to develop engineering design plans for the following restoration components:
· Storm drain treatments installation
· Underground culvert improvements
· Western arm bioswale construction
· Western Lagoon arm dredging
· Central Lagoon dredging
· Side slope recontouring
· Non-native vegetation removal
· Native vegetation planting
· Appian Way divider demolition and re-Iandscaping
· North shore changes
· Western Arm/Park Avenue berm construction
· Perimeter trail and signs construction
· Viewing platform/pier construction
· Termino Avenue Drain Project (abandoned) storm drain outlets demolition
The current request does not include design work for the proposed open-channel. Staff may return to the City Council at a later date to request authorization to expand the contract, depending on funding availability and the results of the environmental assessment.
This report was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Richard F. Anthony on May 20,2008 and Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on May 22, 2008.
SUSTAINABILITY
According to the 2005 Restoration Feasibility Study, the ecological health of the Colorado Lagoon has declined over the past several decades. The goal of the Colorado Lagoon Restoration Project is to restore the site's ecosystem, enhance recreational opportunities, and improve water and sediment quality while adequately managing storm water flows. Once restored, the Lagoon will have improved water and sediment quality. This will lead to enhanced recreational opportunities, a more diverse invertebrate and fish population, and increase the potential for the Lagoon to support a variety of plant and animal species. All project engineering design plans will be consistent with applicable local, state, and federal guidelines and with the California Environmental Quality Act.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on June 10, 2008, to expeditiously proceed with the project's planning efforts and ensure staffs adherence to grant funding timelines, including the State Water Resources Control Board's CBI grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
Current funding sources for the design phase in the amount of $1,050,985 will be covered by the State Water Resources Control Board's Clean Beaches Initiative $3.8 million grant and the State Coastal Conservancy's $500,000 grant. Sufficient funds are currently appropriated in the Capital Projects Fund in the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine.
There is no impact to the General Fund.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dennis J. Thys,
Director of Community Development
Phil T. Hester
Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine.
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PATRICK H. WEST |
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CITY MANAGER |