Santa Monica Bay Competitive Grant Program - Approval of Application

Recommendation:

It is recommended that City Council:

1. Adopt Resolution 97- approving the application for grant funds from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works Santa Monica Bay Competitive Grant Program for the Valley Park Detention Basin and Eco-System Project.

Background:

Los Angeles County Proposition A, which voters approved on November 3, 1992, allocated grant funds for the purpose of improving the safety of recreation areas, preventing gangs, planting trees, and acquiring, restoring and preserving beach, park, wildlife, and open space resources. $4 million of these grant funds are to be awarded for the purpose of restoring and improving the Santa Monica Bay by measurably reducing the toxicity and/or pollutant load in the urban runoff to the Bay. These grants, collectively are known as the Santa Monica Bay Competitive Grant Program.

Over the past few months the Public Works Department has been working with the Environmental Programs Division of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to develop a pilot project that could both decrease storm drain deficiencies and urban runoff pollutant levels within the City of Hermosa Beach.

The City's recently completed Master Plan of Drainage describes the City's requirements with regard to flood control and prioritizes it's needs for storm drain improvements. This plan determined that the Sixteenth Street Storm Drain is deficient to provide adequate protection during a major storm event and is the City's number one priority for storm drainage improvement. The preferred alternative for mitigating this deficiency, the proposed construction of detention basins, one in Valley Park and one in the Hermosa Valley School playfield, could be designed to fulfill this duel role of flood control and non point source pollution control.

In August 1996 City Council passed Resolution No. 96-5821 approving application for this grant funding. Unfortunately the 16th Street Strom Drain Project was not approved for funding by the review committee in 1996. The reapplication for grant funds requires that a new resolution be passed.

Analysis:

The project proposed under this grant application would develop the Valley Park detention basin as called for in the approved Master Plan of Drainage. This would help relieve flooding which occurs in the Hermosa Valley area as well as provide additional capacity at the Sixteenth Street Drain for flows from Upper Pier Avenue and northeast portions of the city. These improvements would represent the first important step towards the "flood-proofing" of Hermosa Beach. Because this basin would indeed detain upstream flow in the park thereby delaying concentration at the Sixteenth Street Drain the park itself would occasionally flood for limited periods during large storms. As the downstream drain becomes able to accommodate flow the park/basin would slowly drain.

Chronic drippings from automobiles, trucks and other equipment accumulate on paved surfaces and become incorporated into the stormwater runoff. Residues from pet droppings, pesticides and fertilizers also find their way into the storm drain system. Sewer system blockages and failures can put untreated human waste into the street and then into the storm drain. Accidental spills of chemicals can also occur. These waste streams must be stopped and treated before they are allowed to discharge. As a beach city Hermosa has the most to gain from the control of urban runoff pollution because it is our beaches that end up being the dumping ground for these pollutants from cities far upstream. It is our children that end up playing in the polluted hollows left in the sand after a storm. It is to our advantage therefor to lead the way in development of a pilot project that shows that flood control and environmental protection can go hand in hand.

The sandy nature of Hermosa Beach's soil lends itself for use as a natural filtration system. Some of the water that would collect in the park would infiltrate using a leaching system into the well draining soil, providing an environmental as well as flood control benefit. There may be some other side benefits as well. Park irrigation could be reduced during the winter months and infiltrated storm water would help to recharge the ground water aquifer. But the primary benefit is that heavy metals, oils, grease, detergents and bacteria would be filtered into the soil rather than being deposited into the ocean. In order to keep concentrations of these types of pollution to a minimum a series of prefilters would be constructed which would treat low-flow street runoff. These Stormtreat systems are 9.5 foot diameter tanks which will be installed below grade. The center part of the tank is an enclosed chamber in which sedimentation and filtration of flows from the storm drain occur. The outer portion of the tank is an artificial wetland area, or open area of gravel and sand with vegetation growing in it which naturally absorbs pollutants from the drainwater. After passing though the Stormtreat flows are returned to the storm drain. During heavy storms flows would be bypassed to the detention basin. A preliminary plan of the proposed Valley Park Detention Basin and Eco-system Project is attached for City Council's information. This project is innovative because it shows that with careful planning a storm drain facility can be made enviromentally friendly. It can serve as an example to other municipalities, industries and agencies that the technology is available and that it can be implemented for a reasonable cost.

Fiscal Impact:

The cost to construct the Valley Park Detention Basin and Eco-system Project is estimated to be $680,000. If this project is selected for grant award the City will be asked to participate 20% or $136,000. Maintenance and cleaning of the eco-systems are estimated to cost the City $2,000 per year.

RESOLUTION NO. 97-

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA APPROVING THE APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS SANTA MONICA BAY COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE VALLEY PARK DETENTION BASIN ECO-SYSTEM PROJECT.

WHEREAS, the people of the County of Los Angeles on November 3, 1992, enacted Los Angeles County Proposition A, Safe Neighborhood Parks, Gang Prevention, Tree-Planting, Senior and Youth Recreation, Beaches and Wildlife Protection (the Proposition), which, among other uses, provide funds to public agencies in the County for the restoration and improvement of the Santa Monica Bay by measurably reducing the toxicity of and/or pollutant load in the urban runoff to the Bay: and,

WHEREAS, the Proposition has authorized the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (the Department) to administer said funds; and,

WHEREAS, the Department has set forth the necessary procedures governing applications for grant funds under the Proposition; and,

WHEREAS, Section 8.a.6 and 14 of the Proposition have allocated funds for capital outlay projects for the purpose of restoring and improving the Santa Monica Bay; and,

WHEREAS, said Project does not include mitigation activities required under Federal or State laws; and,

WHEREAS, said Project is not exclusively for the purpose of flood control; and,

WHEREAS, the City of Hermosa Beach has entered into an agreement with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works to perform the above Project; and,

WHEREAS, the Department's procedures require the City of Hermosa Beach to certify, by resolution, the approval of the application before submission of said applicant to the Department; and,

WHEREAS, any applicant selected for a grant award will be required to enter into an agreement with the Department for the performance of the project as described in the application; and,

WHEREAS, said agreement will contain assurances that the City of Hermosa Beach must comply with, including an assurance to provide any additional funds that may be required to complete the project if the grant funds required are insufficient and an assurance to maintain the property;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Does hereby approve the filing of an application with the Department for funds allocated under Section 8.a.6 of the Proposition for the above named project; and,

SECTION 2. Certifies that the City of Hermosa Beach understands that it will be required to provide additional funding for the above named Project if the requested grant funds are insufficient to complete said project; and,

SECTION 3. Certifies that the City of Hermosa Beach has, or will have, sufficient funds to operate and maintain the property; and,

SECTION 4. Appoints the Director of Public Works as the agent of the City of Hermosa Beach to conduct all negotiations, and to execute and submit all documents including, but not limited to, applications, agreements, amendments, pay requests, and so forth, which may be necessary for the completion of the aforementioned Project; and,

SECTION 5. Certifies that the City of Hermosa Beach and the Department agree to indemnify, defend, and save harmless the other party against any and all liabilities, expenses, and claims arising from or connected with the work, authority, or justification of the respective party.

PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED this ______day of July, 1997.

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