TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Stephanie Katsouleas, Public Works Director
Shawn Igoe, Maintenance Division Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution Approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the Cities of Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach and Los Angeles County Flood Control District for Updating the Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP) and Reasonable Assurance Analysis (RAA) for the Beach Cities Watershed Management Group (Public Works Director Katsouleas).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 20-0137
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:ody
Staff recommends that City Council adopt Resolution No. 20-0137 approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the Cities of Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District for Updating the Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP) and Reasonable Assurance Analysis (RAA) for the Beach Cities Watershed Management Group.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
If the attached MOU is approved, Manhattan Beach will be responsible for $85,287, which represents the City’s share to update the previously approved EWMP and RAA. Sufficient funds are available in the Storm Drain Maintenance Fund.
BACKGROUND:
In 2013, The cities of Manhattan Beach, Torrance, Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District formed the Beach Cities Group to develop an Enhanced Watershed Management Program (EWMP) to comply with the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board's (Regional Board) 2012 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4 Permit). The Beach Cities Group then entered into an MOU in 2013 to cost share in the development of the EWMP and Coordinated Integrated Monitoring Plan (CIMP). The Beach Cities EWMP was submitted to the Regional Board on February 9, 2016, and was approved by the Executive Officer of the Regional Board via a letter dated April 18, 2016. The Beach Cities Group was subsequently directed by the Regional Board to immediately begin implementation of the EWMP, including construction of identified capital projects.
The revised EWMP MOU updates the actions, roles and responsibilities previously identified the 2016 EWMP and Reasonable Assurance Analysis (RAA), and oversight of the EWMP will be administered by the City of Redondo Beach with assistance from Geosyntec, which is the consultant currently performing the monitoring activities outlined in the CIMP and modeled in the original RAA for the Beach Cities EWMP. Geosyntec’s familiarity with the Beach Cities EWMP and CIMP makes it highly qualified to continue performing this work, and Redondo Beach received approval from its City Council to proceed with this MOU. The MOU also includes implementing feasibility studies that will identify projects to replace the Hermosa Beach Greenbelt Infiltration Project, the previous storm water pollution reduction project that was cancelled in 2019.
This updated MOU was circulated between the EWMP group member agencies for approval, and the version attached here is the final draft for City Council Consideration.
DISCUSSION:
The MS4 Permit requires that Permittees submit an updated EWMP with an updated RAA by June 30, 2021. The Updated EWMP and RAA must incorporate both water quality data and control measure performance data, and any other information regarding the adaptive management process gathered through December 31, 2020. The new EMWP will also include and consider the following:
• Any new information or lessons learned from the group’s implementation thus far of the EWMP. As such, the group’s monitoring data and planned or constructed projects will be assessed and incorporated into the updated RAA.
• Revisions to sections of the existing EWMP to reflect current guidance from the Regional Board.
• Incorporation of new feasibility studies to identify regional storm water projects to ensure the group meets the pollutant reduction goals outlined in the existing EWMP.
• Inclusion of alternative storm water diversion projects to address the canceled Hermosa Greenbelt Infiltration Project, of which the City of Hermosa Beach will provide an additional $160,000 toward feasibility studies.
• A request to the Regional Board for a time extension on pollutant reduction goals as the group’s deadline for compliance by 2021 approaches.
The cost sharing breakdown associated with this action are included in the tables provided as Exhibit “A” in the EWMP MOU, which show the City of Manhattan Beach’s total cost share is $85,287. The MOU also includes language stating that any party defaulting or unilaterally withdrawing from the MOU will be responsible for any fines, penalties or interest that may be levied due to the withdraw.
Therefore, staff recommends that City Council adopt Resolution 20-0137 approving the attached EWMP MOU and associated cost sharing allocations.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
No public outreach was conducted regarding approval of this MOU. Public outreach will occur at the appropriate time as plans are developed and we near bidding and construction for any applicable projects.
ENVIROMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 Class 1 of the State CEQA Guidelines.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 20-0137
2. Memorandum of Understanding
3. Geosyntec EWMP Proposal