1 TO: City Council
FROM: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Carla Dillon, P.E., Director of Public Works MEETING DATE: March 21, 2023
SUBJECT: Monthly Report for the Public Works Department RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and file the monthly report for the Public Works Department.
BACKGROUND:
Water Division Updates
Cypress Water Production Facility (CWPF) and Distribution System Update Well No. 5 remains offline due to the detection of benzene and the construction project to upgrade the CWPF. The State’s Division of Drinking Water (DDW) and the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) have been investigating possible sources of benzene, and information is available at https://www.lomitawater.com/news/.
In February 2023, the City pumped 0.0 acre-feet of groundwater from Well No. 5. All drinking water was supplied with imported water from West Basin MWD. In February 2023, the City imported 126.0 acre-feet from West Basin MWD. Monthly water reports can be found at www.lomitawater.com/oversight/water-quality-reports/.
The City resumed its water tours at the Cypress Water Production Facility in Summer of 2022 after a two-year hiatus. A tour was hosted in February for four community members.
Residents who are interested in touring the facility may sign up for a monthly tour at https://www.lomitawater.com/water-tours/. Staff also hosted a tour of the facility by the City of Manhattan Beach to learn about the City’s experience with the Green Sand Filter.
Item No. 7g
CITY OF LOMITA
CITY COUNCIL REPORT
2 Water Division Performance Measures:
Main Breaks/Leak Repairs 1
Service Connection Breaks/Leaks 2
Water Outages 1
Water Service Requests 110
USA Dig-Alert Tickets 89
Dead-end Fire Hydrant Flushing 51
Meter Maintenance 11
Inspection of Water Facilities Daily
Water Quality Complaints 0
Engineering/PW Administration Division Updates
In February, Public Works began using the services of a contract engineer to assist in executing Capital Projects. While Public Works Engineering Division typically takes on two or three capital projects per year, the approved CIP Master Plan had 23 projects programmed for FY22-23. In addition, the Division has been short-staffed due to two of five full-time employees on leave and the departure of its Engineering Intern for full-time employment. Twelve of the projects are currently underway. The design for the Appian Way Pump Station Roof and the Traffic Calming Toolkit Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were released in February.
Cypress Water Production Facility (CWPF) Upgrade Project The City’s contractor RC Foster, with the oversight of the contract manager, AKM Consulting Engineers, is progressing on construction. Hazen and Sawyer continue to provide submittal and request for information (RFI) review as well as documentation and support for the permitting with the Division of Drinking Water (DDW). Project completion is expected in late March or early April 2023.
Progress As of February 28, 2023
Percent Project completion 98%
Overall Project, invoiced/approved $4,026,851
Overall Project budget (approved contracts) $4,768,453
The City shares project updates on https://www.lomitawater.com/ as new information is available. In addition, a short video describing the GAC project and treatment process is available here: https://www.lomitawater.com/infrastructure/granular-activated-carbon/. 3 Street Reconstruction – Zone C & F Project
This project consisted of overlaying and reconstructing certain streets in Zones C & F (just north and south of Lomita Blvd and west of Eshelman Ave). This project included significant repairs and resurfacing of streets where slurry seal would not have been sufficient to extend the life of the street.
Sequel Contractors began construction in April 2022, and the majority of field activities were completed by August 2022. The contractor finished the punch list items and some re-work in February 2023. The design firm, David Evans & Associates, have recently finalized the project’s as-built drawings. It is anticipated that in April 2023, the Project Notice of Completion will be presented to Council for approval.
Progress As of February 28, 2023
Percent Project completion 99%
Overall Project, invoiced/approved $2,603,632
Overall Project budget $3,192,672
Street Reconstruction – Zone G
This project consists of overlaying and reconstructing certain streets in Zones G (just north and south of Lomita Boulevard and east of Eshelman Avenue), as detailed in the Pavement Management Program (PMP). This project includes significant repairs and resurfacing of streets where slurry seal would not be sufficient to extend the life of the street.
Design of the project was awarded to David Evans and Associates in July 2022 and is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2023. Extensive field investigation and sampling have taken place to evaluate the road condition on the 17 streets included in this project. The City has received these technical reports. Construction of the project is programmed for Spring 2024.
Progress As of February 28, 2023
Percent Project completion 20% (of design)
Overall Project, invoiced/approved $36,481
Overall Project budget $1,200,000
247th Street Area Watermain Project
This project consists of abandoning a watermain that runs north and south within private properties crossing 246th Street, 247th Street, 247th Place, and 248th Street. The proposed new water main will extend from 246th Street beyond the City boundaries, looping within the City of Los Angeles right of way and along Western Avenue (which is Caltrans right of way), and connecting back to the City of Lomita along 247th Street, 247th Place, 248th Street and Lomita Blvd. This project consists of constructing approximately 3,300 linear feet of PVC water pipeline and appurtenances (fire hydrants, valves, services, and fittings). The existing pipeline located in private property will be abandoned. 4 Design of the project was awarded to Onward Engineering in November 2021. The permit from Caltrans was approved in September 2022. The encroachment permit and traffic control plans were approved by the City of Los Angeles in December 2022. Onward Engineering is working to schedule their subconsultant to complete potholing. The final design of the project has been submitted to the City for final review.
Progress As of February 28, 2023
Percent Project completion 85% (of design)
Overall Project, invoiced/approved $102,248
Overall Project budget $1,499,916
Emergency Generator
This project consists of the selection and design of an emergency generator that will be capable of servicing the Appian Way Pump Station as needed. The design of this project was awarded to AEPC Group in July 2022 and is scheduled to be completed in March 2023. Construction of the project is scheduled for Summer 2023.
For the month of February 2023, City staff reviewed and provided comments for the 90% design package for the project. Due to the long lead time for generators (~60 weeks), AEPC Group the consultant is looking into alternative generators to rent to ensure the City has a backup power source for the Metropolitan Water District shutdown scheduled to begin in November 2023.
Progress As of February 28, 2023
Percent Project completion 40%
Overall Project, invoiced/approved $38,123
Overall Project budget $76,365
Narbonne Avenue Water Replacement and Street Rehabilitation Project This project consists of constructing approximately 1,600 linear feet of PVC water pipeline on Narbonne Avenue from PCH to the southern end of the City of Lomita. Per the proposed 2015 Water Master Plan, the proposed watermain will be a new 8-inch PVC water main to provide improved flow, pressure, and fire protection. This new water main will replace the existing 1928 6-inch and 8-inch water mains.
Design of the project was awarded to David Evans and Associates in December 2022 and is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2023.
Progress As of February 28, 2023
Percent Project completion 1%
Overall Project, invoiced/approved $0
Overall Project budget $199,940
5 New Groundwater Well Feasibility Study
The purpose of this study is to identify preliminary locations where construction of a new groundwater well is feasible. The installation of a new well would minimize the City’s longterm reliance on imported water and provide a contingency well in case of future adverse impacts to Lomita Well No. 5. The City currently has groundwater rights of 1,352-acre feet (ac-ft) in the West Coast Basin, and in its last year of normal operations, CY 2018, Well No. 5 only produced 561 ac-ft of groundwater.
This study was awarded to Stetson Engineering, Inc. in February 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in June 2023.
Progress As of February 28, 2023
Percent Project completion 0%
Overall Project, invoiced/approved $0
Overall Project budget $63,135
Encroachment Permit Review/Approval
For the month of February 2023, staff received and reviewed five encroachment permit applications from various utility companies and contractors. Five encroachment permit was issued. Public Works now has an on-line portal for encroachment permitting, available at https://lomitaca.viewpointcloud.com/categories/1081.
Public Safety and Traffic
Public Safety and Traffic Commission (PS&TC) met in February to discuss upcoming changes to the Drug Free Walk and changes to signal timing on Lomita Boulevard. The Technical Traffic Advisory Committee met in February and discussed four new traffic investigations. A Request for Proposals (RFP) was released in February for assisting Lomita in developing a Traffic Calming Toolkit. The Toolkit will provide tools for the City to utilize in addressing traffic concerns across the City.
All new requests for traffic issue investigations are accepted through the on-line OpenGov portal and may be submitted here: https://lomitaca.viewpointcloud.com/categories/1081.
Public Works Field Operations Division (Parks/Street/Trees) Updates In February, Public Works Field Operations crew assisted in water main repairs, rain preparations, and equipment maintenance. Heavy rain and storms lead to the removal of downed trees and branches throughout the City.
Streets and Trees Division:
Trees Trimmed (by Crew) 46
6 Trees/Stumps Removed 10
Graffiti Locations Cleaned 69
Sidewalk Maintenance 260
Curb/Gutter Maintenance 51
City Drains Cleaned 32
Street Signs Replaced or Repaired 43
Potholes Filled / Patches 58
New work order requests 22
Backlog of work orders 15
Parks Division:
Mowed Park Grounds, number of times 11
Playground Safety Inspections 8
Raised Median/Planter Weeding 8
Park Grounds Fertilize 0
Museum/City Hall Grounds Maintenance 7
Sprinkler Repair/Replacement 4
Trimmed Hedges/Trees (City grounds) 12
Reviewed by: Approved by:
Gary Y. Sugano Ryan Smoot
Assistant City Manager City Manager
Prepared by:
Carla Dillon, PE
Public Works Director