HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/27/1996, 1 - CITY DRAINAGE PROGRAM CONT ��� ►�►i►u►IIIIIIIIIIp1"u�q��lll city of San wIS OBISpo
M.-iis COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
winter, crews observe the creeks and attempt to remove any debris or large trees that have fallen, to
prevent them from blocking the waterway.
Limitation to Maintenance and Construction: All work in any waterway must receive three permits: Fish
and Game, Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), and the U.S. Corps of Engineers (Corps).
Until recently, permits from these agencies took considerable time but were otherwise relatively easy to
obtain. The design parameters needed to obtain permits was understood and could be complied with. Last
year the RWQCB and Corps identified the need to "re-evaluate" how such projects are designed and
constructed. This is not surprising, as the entire industry is learning that creek projects cannot be built
without considering the affects on areas beyond the project. For the past 20 years, the City has been very
aware of environmental impacts of creek projects and have reported them and designed projects to
minimize them.
The latest concepts coming as a result of this re-evaluation recognize the waterway as an integrated system
that needs to be kept in balance to avoid the need to continually repair problems. Previous design
concepts focused on trying to protect and/or restore the habitat directly impacted by individual projects.
The new concepts are valid but lead to significant problems when trying to construct facilities to prevent
improved property built in a flood plain or below a perched stream from being flooded. Much of the
City's downtown is in a flood plain and most of our hillside flooding affects properties built below existing
creeks. The need to fully design on a systems' basis is at the heart of the Corps requirement to rewrite
the Flood Management Policy document (discussed later in this report).
Potential Projects
The City can only respond to collection system problems and major creek problems as the source
(hillsides) problems will always remain. Staff has prepared projects lists in these areas: a) highly
beneficial maintenance projects; b) FEMA 406 projects; and c) other projects.
a) Highly Beneficial Maintenance Projects
Eleven significant highly beneficial maintenance projects have been identified that should be completed
as soon as possible to eliminate routine flooding problems. These projects vary in size from $12,000 to
$250,000, and include the addition of new curb opening inlets to eliminate plugging of street drains caused
by leaves, the lining of existing corrugated metal pipes that are rusted out with plastic piping, and the
placement of new pipes and inlet structures where streets are flooded regularly and adjacent private
property is threatened.
Project estimates are preliminary and will be refined during the design.process.
Following is listing of proposed highly beneficial maintenance projects in order of priority.
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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
1. Flora and El Cerrito - Line existing metal pipe running between El $90,000
Cerrito to Floia Streets and correct substandard drop inlet.
2. Bridge Street - Construct storm drain from intersection of Beebee to $250,000
Higuera and on Higuera to South Street Channel culvert and make
street improvements in Higuera Street to eliminate ponding of water
north of Elks Lane.
3. Osos Street - Construct new storm drain to replace defective one $90,000
between Monterey Street and Higuera Street. This includes new
drop inlets.
4. Chorro Street at Rougeot - Reconstruct failed drainage pipes and $402000
inlet structures that carry water across the intersection.
5. Branch Street at King Street - Replace inlet structures with current $60,000
standard.
6. Morro Street at Islay Street - Replace inlet structures with current $15,000
standard.
7. Broad Street at High Street - Replace inlet structures with current $12,000
standard.
8. Leff Street at Santa Rosa Street - Replace inlet structures with $22,000
current standard and replace substandard drain pipe.
9. California Street at Stafford and Hathway Streets - Replace inlet $15,000
structures with current standard.
10. Del Sur, Del Norte and Ramona Intersection - Replace inlet $14,000
structures with current standard.
11. Cerro Romauldo and Tassajara - Replace and construct new inlet $60,000
structures.
Total
$668,000
b) FEWA 406 Projects
The following creek bank repair projects are listed in the City's FEMA 406 application. These projects
will be constructed as soon as approvals are obtained from the various Federal and State agencies having
jurisdiction over activities in the waterways and are currently on hold awaiting Army Corps of Engineers
approval of a revised Flood Management study.
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MiN COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Project Description Estimated Cost
Identification #
D5 81 Broad Street 5,400
D17 466 Dana Street 58,100
D18 3546 S. Higuera Street 87,200
D19 35 Prado Road 142,900
D59 3026 S. Higuera Street 113,000
D76 Prado Road Bridge 60,000
D94 236 Higuera Street 116,000
D96 a and b Golf Course 75,000
D98 Pistol Range 65,000
D99 Mariposa 114,000
D83 Nipomo and Peach 21200
Total $838,800
c) Other Projects
These projects should be considered for prioritization in the Flood Management Plan.
Project Name Project Location Project Cost
Flora Street Rock Catcher Bishop Creek East of Flora $75,000
Johnson Ave. Rock Catcher Bishop Creek East of Johnson 75,000
Spring Court Rock Catcher Alrita Creek East end of Bahia Ct. 75,000
Andrews to Conejo By-Pass Andrews Creek East of Conejo at 250,000
Storm Drain Cazadero
Toro Street By-Pass Storm Lizzie Creek - Toro to Leff 600,000
Drain
Bishop Creek By-Pass Storm Bishop Creek - Johnson Ave to Helena 1,000,000
Drain
Fairhaven Culvert Entrance Alrita Creek - Woodside to Southwood 50,000
El Paseo Catch Basins El Cerrito Creek at El Paseo 60,000
Mission Mobile Home Park- San Luis Obispo Creek - 500 block 2,000,000
Acquisition — _ Higuera
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Highway 101 Culverts Prefumo Creek, Highway 101 at Los 1,000,000
Osos Valley Road
Broad Street Sewer San Luis Obispo Creek at Broad Street 50,000
Marsh Street Bridge San Luis Obispo Creek at Marsh Street 1,500,000
Total $6,735,000
Flood Management Plan (Pink Book Revision)
Last fall, staff applied to the Corps for permits to repair bank erosion at 6 points on San Luis Obispo
Creek. The Corps and RWQCB refused permits unless we first provided them with an extensive study
of the creek system. This study is intended to identify how the creek system operates and to recommend
appropriate repair methods that are aesthetically, ecologically sensitive and effective. An initial request
for proposal to accomplish both this requirement and the "pink book" revision that was included in the
1995/97 CIP was prepared and sent to two engineering firms and the Corps for comment. The response
from the engineering firms was that the cost of this work was very expensive ($500,000) and that it may
not satisfy the Corps. The Corps response was to ask for more information. For this reason staff is
continuing to meet with the Corps in an attempt to scope the study and to come to agreement so that the
final report will meet their and our needs. Staff has brought the Land Conservancy and Community
Development into the process to ensure that all resources currently developed are fully utilized.
The budget of 1995-97 includes within the Capital Improvement Program an item labeled Flood Protection
Improvements (1995-97). This project is described as an update of the 1983 flood management policy
(pink book) and design of protection improvements for the highest priority projects recommended in the
revised policy. During the past 20 years the City and Zone 9, (County Flood Control Zone of Benefit),
have prepared several studies and reports. Because of the changing concerns and concepts now accepted
in the area of flood control, the basic tenants of these reports and the foundation of the "Pink Book" are
no longer valid.
Staff envisions that the rewrite of the Flood Management Policy document must include the following:
A. Re-evaluation of design standards and flood protection policies that recognize the various sources of
runoff. (Steep eroding hillsides vs developed and flat agricultural land.)
B. Mapping and identification of the entire drainage system, including identification of drainage
improvements and evaluation of their condition and capacity.
C. Identification and recommendations for kinds of systems and design standards to be used to construct,
repair and maintain the drainage system.
D. A listing and prioritization of the various maintenance needs and improvements that should be carried
out in the system. j
E. A recommendation for annual budgets to accomplish the goals.
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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
F. A recommendation of methods to raise financial support to pay for the needed improvements.
The extent of this work has not been finally determined. Staff will attempt to accomplish the work within
the funds available ($130,000). This may require that additional money be budgeted or the project be
broken into parts with additional work being funded and performed in future years.
Staffing/Consultant Issues
Council asked (October 17, 1995) staff to propose in this report what could be done right away to address
flooding problems. Staffs recommendation involves action in two different areas. First, staff recommends
that Council direct staff to design pivjects that can be built without delay and will benefit the community
immediately, and secondly proceed as fast as possible to complete the re-write to the Flood Management
Policy document.
Because flood prevention should be an ongoing program, and because of inability of current staff to take
on this work, Council should consider that it would be cost effective to hire a permanent engineering
assistant to carry out this work and to supervise the pink book revision. Permanent staff involvement will
insure that the program has continuity and is able to be more responsive to citizen concerns than if the
city must rely on consultants for everything. Existing engineering staff is heavily involved in preparing
plans for approved projects fqr the Utility, Recreation, and Public Works Departments. Two bridge
projects and an extensive project in Mission Plaza are coming up. A Pavement Management Program,
Transit Maintenance facility and Museum project make it unlikely the existing staff will be able to manage
or prepare plans for these drainage repair projects. Public Works staff will be recommending the addition
of another Engineering Assistant in the 1996-97 budget to help continue with this work.
Current Recommendation
Staff recommends that Council at this time authorize the hiring of a consultant ($20,000) to assist in the
preparation of the plans for projects 1 and 6-10 of the highly,,beneficial maintenance projects. Projects
6-10 are recommended to be done immediately because they,for the most part relatively small and can
be quickly accomplished. Project 1 is recommended because it is the highest priority project in this group
and has the greatest potential for causing property damage.
FISCAL EMPACT:
The current impact is the cost to have an engineering firm design some of the high maintenance projects.
This cost is estimated at $20,000. The construction cost is estimated at $168,000. If all projects are
approved it is estimated that $668,000 will be needed. Additional engineering and construction money
would be required if the Council wants all of the projects designed. These funds are in addition to those
already budgeted for the Pink Book update. Funds needed for the remaining FEMA 406 Projects are
budgeted through Zone 9. Design of the creek bank repair projects will require an estimated $100,000.
This should be reimbursable from FEMA if the projects are approved by them. If FEMA reimburses the
City, Zone 9 will be also reimbursed for whatever it has spent. Of the $165,000 allocated for 1995-96
storm drain systems improvements, $100,000 has already been expended toward the purchase of the
Mathews property for future storm drainage protection benefits. The remaining $65,000 allocated to rewrite
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city of San tins OBISPO
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
the Flood Protection Policy has been matched by another $65,000 from Zone 9. Staff will return to
Council when the RFP has been finalized and a clear cost estimate emerges.
Funds available:
Zone 9-Projects (FEMA 406) $545,000
Zone 9-Study 65,000
Zone 9-Maintenance (Debris Removal) 73,000
Capital Outlay Fund 95-97-Flood 165,000
Management Plan ($65,000 1995-6 ) ' .
and capital projects ($100,000 1996-7)
Total Funds Available $848,000
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