5 Hutton Centre Drive
Suite 300
Santa Ana, CA 92707
Tel 714.751.7373
www.Psomas.com
October 9, 2024
Jenn Howell, PE
Associate Engineer
CITY OF LOMITA
24300 Narbonne Ave.
Lomita, CA 90717
Subject: Proposal for Change Order 2 - City of Lomita Sewer System Master Plan/Harbor Hills (Agreement No. 2023-33)
Dear Jenn:
It has been a pleasure working with you and the City on the preparation of the City’s Sewer System Master Plan and Change Order 1 (CO 1) related to investigation, preparation of a technical memorandum, and communication with the County relative to the Harbor Hills situation where in the process of preparing the master plan it was determined that the City’s public sewer system is discharging through a private sewer system owned by Los Angeles County Housing Authority, now Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), and then back into a public City sewer system in Western Avenue.
Having completed the work related to CO 1, we now have a recommended direction forward from communication with Los Angeles County Public Works and Los Angeles County Consolidated Sewer Maintenance District (CSMD). CSMD indicated that the private sewers and manholes on LACDA property would need to be CCTV inspected per NASSCO requirements (and reviewed by both the City and CSMD staff) to determine if they are in acceptable condition for taking ownership and maintaining, respectively. Then LACDA would have to grant easements to the City for maintenance purposes. While not a County condition, there should also be an agreement prepared and executed by both LACDA and the City of Lomita transferring ownership of these sewers to the City.
It is Psomas’ recommendation that the CCTV inspection and easement preparation should be the responsibility of LACDA as a condition of the City’s taking ownership as well as future maintenance responsibilities for the sewer lines in question. However, this is an unusual situation and these items could be negotiated between the City and County.
It should also be noted that through the investigation portion of this work, Psomas has determined that the City already owns the 251-foot sewer segment from the manhole in Via Marquette downstream to the next manhole in LACDA’s Harbor Hills development and has an easement for the first 174-foot segment through the dedication of Tract No.
Jenn Howell
October 9, 2024
Change Order 2 – Sewer System Master Plan/Harbor Hills
25201, but still needs an easement for the remaining 77-foot segment of that sewer and five other sewer segments totaling approximately 770 linear feet plus four manholes in LACDA property (total linear footage of six segments, including portion in Tract 25201, is approximately 1,020).
Psomas would propose to continue working with the City and the County agencies to get the above recommendations accomplished in support of City staff. The major tasks envisioned to be accomplished by Psomas would be:
1. Continue communication and coordination with County agencies and City staff.
This is more complicated than it seems due to the fact that, even though it’s all Los Angeles County we’re dealing with, there are multiple County agencies involved including Public Works (engineering), CSMD (maintenance), and LACDA (property ownership). Since the County is turning over property (sewers and manholes) and granting easements this may even involve other agencies of the County. This task is envisioned to involve meetings and numerous emails with various County agencies throughout this process, which could take many months.
Cost: $11,600
2. Prepare a memorandum, on behalf of the City, requesting that LACDA cause to have the sewer segments and manholes in question CCTV inspected per NASSCO specifications and provide the videos and logs of such inspections to the City and County Public Works (on behalf of CSMD) for review. That memo will also request that LACDA prepare a document transferring ownership of the sewers in question along with a 20-foot wide easement granted to the City for access and maintenance purposes.
Cost: $4,000
3. Review the CCTV videos and logs on behalf of the City and compile a list of improvements needed, if any, to bring the sewers up to acceptable standards for City acceptance. Review County Public Works’ comments on their review of the videos and coordinate both sets of recommended improvements, if any.
Cost: $4,800
4. If improvements are needed such as root or calcium removal, point repairs, and/or lining, review the post-construction videos to ensure the improvements are acceptable.
Cost: $2,000
Jenn Howell
October 9, 2024
Change Order 2 – Sewer System Master Plan/Harbor Hills
5. Review and provide comments on easement and ownership transfer documents.
City to have separate legal counsel review, as necessary.
Cost: $2,500
Optional services Psomas could provide would be preparation of the easement legal descriptions and conducting the CCTV inspections of the sewers and manholes using a subconsultant. However, as stated earlier, our initial position is that these tasks should be the responsibility of LACDA, in exchange for getting these sewers off their books as far as future maintenance and replacement.
We propose to accomplish this work effort on a time and materials basis in accordance with our current contract (Agreement No. 2023-33 dated July 18, 2023), for a total fee of $24,900, which will not be exceeded without prior approval from the City.
We would also request that the term of the subject agreement be extended for a period of three (3) years to December 31, 2027.
Please feel free to contact me at (714) 481-7979 or on my cell at (949) 683-5812 if you have any questions regarding this proposal.
Sincerely,
Michael D. Swan, P.E.
Vice President
Senior Project Manager