TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Adopt Resolutions in Support
of the Submission of a Grant Proposal to the California Integrated Waste Board
for an Urban Runoff Treatment System in the Centinela Storm Drain
Introduction
This report recommends
that the City Council adopt two resolutions supporting the submittal of a grant
application to obtain a matching grant from the California Integrated Waste
Board for urban runoff treatment systems in the City’s storm drain system.
Background
Many federal,
state and local regulations and standards require the City of Santa Monica to
curb urban runoff pollution from storm drain discharges into Ballona Creek and
the Santa Monica Bay. (The eastern
portion of the City drains through the Centinela storm drain into the City of
Los Angeles, the Sepulveda Channel and into Ballona Creek see Attachment A
& B). Recent changes in these
regulations and standards have shifted the management strategy for urban runoff
control from an end-of-pipe approach to a sustainable watershed approach, where
the entire watershed or storm drainage area is considered. The watershed approach promotes reduction
and prevention of urban runoff pollution as guiding principles.
The City has
adopted a watershed approach in managing its urban runoff flows through the
storm drain system into Ballona Creek and the Bay. This approach is consistent with the City’s Sustainable City
Program (SCP). Guiding Principle 2 of
the City’s SCP states “Santa Monica is committed to protecting, preserving and
restoring the natural environment. City
decision-making will be guided by a mandate to maximize environmental benefits
and reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts.” One of the four major policy areas to
support this principle is Pollution Prevention and Public Health Protection,
and one of the supporting programs is urban runoff pollution control. The Centinela Storm Drain treatment project
is one project in support of this program and Guiding Principle.
To implement
this watershed approach, government regulations and policies promote the
installation of structural treatment systems within storm drain systems, called
best management practices (BMPs), to remove pollutants from urban runoff before
it enters a receiving water body. This
approach and its treatment systems have been and continue to be implemented by
the City to protect the health and preserve natural resources of Ballona Creek
and the Bay. In addition, the City is
expanding an existing monitoring program to evaluate the effectiveness of these
treatment systems in achieving the targets of the City’s SCP.
Prior funding
sources received by the City, which have benefited our efforts to improve urban
runoff quality, include the installation of three Continuous Deflective
Separation units (CDSs), 485 catch basin inserts and screens, five StormTreat
systems and the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility. Each of these grants has been received from
federal, state and county funding sources.
Discussion
Recently, the City learned of a program at the California Integrated Waste Board to reduce pollutants such as trash and debris, which are commonly found in urban runoff. After discussions with the Board, the City was encouraged to submit a matching grant proposal to install a treatment device in an area subjected to runoff pollution. The City has submitted grant proposals to other agencies for the Centinela Storm Drain urban runoff treatment system and proposes to request funds from the Board for that endeavor.
The installation of the Centinela treatment system will help protect Ballona Creek and Santa Monica Bay watersheds, and will help restore and protect the water quality and environment of our State’s coastal waters, estuaries and bays.
Budget/Financial
Impact
The
implementation of the Centinela Storm Drain treatment project is contingent
upon at least two grant awards. In the
event the City does not receive grant funding sufficient to cover the total
cost of the proposed project (less the City’s matching contribution, explained
below), it is unlikely that the project would be initiated in the foreseeable
future. A maximum $750,000 matching
grant will be requested from the Board.
The Centinela urban runoff treatment project has an estimated price of
$1.7 million. Staff is seeking funding
from Propositions 12 and 13 to cover the $950,000 balance. Propositions 12 and 13 grant programs
require a 15% or less City match. This
match is anticipated to be satisfied via City-provided in-kind design and
engineering services, monitoring, operation and maintenance costs and other
grants.
At such time
that grant funds are awarded, staff will return to Council with a full
explanation of project funding and budget impact, as well as a recommendation
to negotiate and execute a contract with the funding agency.
Recommendation
Staff
recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolutions in support of a
state Integrated Waste Board matching grant.
Attachments: Resolution of the City Council of the
City of Santa Monica in Support of a Grant from the California Integrated Waste Board for an Urban Runoff Treatment
System in the Centinela Storm Drain.
Resolution
form of the California Integrated Waste Board.
Maps
(2)
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director,
Environmental & Public Works Management
Brian Johnson,
Manager, Environmental Programs Division
Neal Shapiro,
Senior Environmental Analysis, Water Resources Section
City Council Meeting 09-11-01
Resolution
Number ________ (CCS)
(City Council
Series)
Resolution of
the City Council of the City of Santa Monica in Support of
A Grant from the California Integrated Waste Board for an Urban Runoff Treatment System in the Centinela Storm Drain
WHEREAS, Santa Monica Bay is a
treasured local, state and national resource that was nominated and accepted by
Congress for inclusion in the Clean Water Act’s National
Estuary Program in 1988; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica
has served as a member of the Santa Monica Bay Watershed Council, working with
other stakeholders to develop and implement a comprehensive conservation and
management plan, known as the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Plan, to restore and
protect Santa Monica Bay; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica
has a drainage basin that drains urban runoff into Ballona Creek and the Santa
Monica Bay, carrying with this flow many pollutants of concern that have
negative impacts on our natural resources; and
WHEREAS, the California Integrated
Waste Board has allocated funding for grants to local agencies for trash
removal from designated sites for enhancement, restoration and protection of
estuarine and coastal resources, and wildlife habitat; and
WHEREAS, such grants provide needed
funding to carry out activities, such as the implementation of best management
practices in storm drain systems to reduce urban runoff pollution, which are
vital to protecting and restoring the health of Santa Monica Bay and its
natural resources;
NOW THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Santa Monica hereby formally endorses the City’s
efforts to obtain a grant from the state Integrated Waste Board for the express
purpose of reducing urban runoff pollution from the Centinela Storm Drain,
which flows into Ballona Creek and the Santa Monica Bay, thus helping to
restore the health of Santa Monica Bay and our State’s precious
coastal and natural resources.
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution,
and henceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
MARSHA JONES MOUTRIE
City Attorney
City Council Meeting 09-11-01
Resolution
Number ________ (CCS)
(City Council
Series)
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL AND
CODISPOSAL SITE CLEANUP PROGRAM
(For Local Government Matching Grants)
Resolution of the City Council of Santa Monica approving the application for grant funds from the Solid Waste Disposal Site Cleanup Trust Fund for the following site cleanup project: the removal of trash and debris from the Centinela Storm Drainage Basin of eastern Santa Monica as a best management practice to improve water quality leaving the City of Santa Monica and entering Ballona Creek via the City of Los Angeles storm drain system, resulting in improve water quality and better protection of the beneficial uses of Ballona Creek and the Santa Monica Bay, and helping to meet the requirements of the LA Regional Water Quality Control Board’s TMDL for trash and other pollutants of concern in future TMDLs for this drainage area.
WHEREAS, the people of the State of California have
enacted Assembly Bill 2136 that authorizes the California Integrated Waste
Management Board (the Board) to initiate and administer a program for cleanup
of solid waste disposal sites and for cleanup of solid waste at co-disposal
sites where the responsible party either cannot be identified or is unable or
unwilling to pay for timely remediation, and where cleanup is needed to protect
public health and safety or the environment; and
WHEREAS, said procedures established by the Board
require the applicant to certify by resolution the approval of application
before submission of said application to the State of California; and
WHEREAS, the applicant will enter into an agreement
with the State of California for the site cleanup;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The City of Santa Monica approves the filing
of an application for the cleanup of solid waste using grant funds from the
Solid Waste Disposal Site Cleanup Trust Fund for the project specified above;
and
SECTION 2. The City Clerk certifies that said
applicant has or will have matching funds for the project; and
SECTION 3. The City Clerk certifies that said
applicant has or will have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the
project; and
SECTION 4. The City Council appoints the City Manager as agent of the City Council to conduct all negotiations, execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to applications, grant agreements, amendments, payment requests and so on, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned project.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________________
MARSHA JONES MOUTRIE
City Attorney
and Adopted this
_11th day
of __September__, 2001_.
I the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution Number _______________________
was duly adopted by the City Council following roll call
Maria Stewart, City Clerk