PowerPoint Presentation — Manhattan Beach City Council, September 5, 2023

“Note: This PowerPoint presentation is
intended solely as a visual aid to an oral
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In the event of any differences between the
presentation and the agenda report, the
information in the agenda report prevails.”

STORMWATER ASSESSMENT
SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
2CITY OF

MANHATTAN BEACH
“Note: This PowerPoint presentation is
intended solely as a visual aid to an oral staff
presentation of an agenda report topic. In
the event of any differences between the
presentation and the agenda report, the
information in the agenda report prevails.”

STORMWATER FUND
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
Purpose
Prevent flooding by diverting
storm water off streets;
prevent trash & debris from
reaching surface waters.

City currently maintains 7 full
capture systems to capture
runoff debris from storm
drains.

Requirements also limit
bacteria and metals.

3CITY OF

STORMWATER RECAP
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
 Stormwater Fund
• Fees have not changed
since 1996
• Fiscal Impacts
• General Fund
• Reserves
 Requires General Fund subsides estimated at
$11.6 million over the next 6 years
 On May 16, 2023, City Council authorized
obtaining an updated survey and engineer’s
report

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STORMWATER OPERATIONS
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
Source: FY 2024 Adopted Budget
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GENERAL FUND FORECAST
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
2,183,688 1,445,082 2,690,561 1,636,300 2,016,955 2,213,943 1,645,592 Stormwater Subsidies
Source: FY 2024 Adopted Budget
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STORMWATER PROJECTS
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
STORMWATER CIP BUDGET 2024‐2029 PROJECT COST
Annual Storm Drain Repairs $3, 622,073
Replace various sections of stormwater drain line.

Golf Course Storm Drain Lift Station Electrical Upgrades $350,00 0 Procure and replace the electrical elements at the Westdrift Golf Course Storm Drain Lift Station.

Peck Avenue Storm Drain Improvements $1,530,000
The project will construct a new storm drain line along 21st Street to the existing storm drains on Meadows Avenue and Peck Avenue.

Shelley Street Storm Drain Improvements $700,000
Construction of storm drain piping, and additional catch basins with water quality inserts to improve water quality.

Storm Drain Capital Best Management Practices (BMPs) $1,635,810 Installation of storm drain debris collection devices to prevent trash from entering storm drain pipes.

Beach Cities Green Streets $362,500
Multi‐jurisdiction project for a regional stormwater quality improvements project.

CCTV Storm Drain System $150,000
Use CCTV to perform an assessment of the City's storm drain system.

TOTAL PROJECT COSTS 8,350,383 $
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STORM DRAIN FEE REPORT
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
• City contracted with Harris and Associates
to provide an updated engineer’s report
titled the Storm Drain Utility Fee
• Annual escalator based on CPI
• Average SFR Rate of $129 based on:
 $0.04602 centers per impervious square footage
 Impervious square footage based on data LA County
users for Measure W
 Funds current operations and infrastructure
8CITY OF

PROPOSED STORMWATER FEES
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

9CITY OF

PROPOSED STORMWATER FEES
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

8/30/2023

STORMWATER FEE SURVEY

P REPARED FOR THE

C ITY OF M ANHATTAN B EACH

P RESENTED BY
T IMOTHY M C L ARNEY P H .D.
11 11
o How did we select property owners to survey?
o Stratified Random Sample of residential property owners using f ee categories, partisanship, and sub‐geographies
o Ensures balanced, representative sample of residential property owners – 1 per household
o How did we recruit participation?
o Personalized email, text, and telephone calls
o PINs to restrict access and ensure one complete per respondent o How were voters able to share their opinions?
o Secure, PIN‐protected website that scales to the device o Telephone (land line or mobile)
o What was the sample size?
o 423 completed interviews
o Overall margin of error of ± 4.7% @ 95% level of confidence METHODOLOGY OF STUDY
12 12
QUALITY OF LIFE
Not sure

0.4 Very poor

0.0Poor

0.7 Fair

6.9 Good

41.1 Excellent

50.9 13
13 OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH CITY SERVICES
Very satisfied

33.8 Somewhat
satisfied

52.7 Somewhat
dissatisfied

8.2 Very
dissatisfied

2.1 Not sure

3.1 14
14 INITIAL BALLOT TEST
In order to:
o Install and maintain devices in storm drains that keep trash an d pollution off our beaches and out of local waterways and the oc ean o Monitor, investigate, and prosecute illegal discharges of pollu tion o Reconstruct or replace aging storm drains that are at risk for collapse or failure
o Reduce flooding in neighborhoods
o And protect public health by removing pollutants, toxic chemica ls, and infectious bacteria from runoff that drains to the ocean Shall property owners in Manhattan Beach be assessed an annual fee for each property that they own? The fee for your property woul d be approximately: $<<Rate A>> per year . If the election were held today, would you vote yes or no on this measure?
15 15
INITIAL BALLOT TEST
Definitely yes

21.9 Probably yes

40.2 Probably no

10.1 Definitely no

19.6 Not sure

7.7 Prefer not to
answer

0.5 30%
62%
16 16
FEE THRESHOLD

37.3 30.9

24.5 10.9

10.6 8.4

21.8 19.5

18.0 5.643.5

31.4 21.9

7.6 8.1
0 1 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0 1 0 0
Rate A
Rate B
Rate C
% Respondents
Definitely yes Probably yes Probably no Definitely no Not sure 59% 33%
62%
68%
30%
26%
17 17
PROJECTS & PROGRAMS

61.9 63.1

51.5 63.3

55.4 55.5

50.2 42.4

41.9 38.2

32.1 25.3

22.7 32.6

20.7 26.5

25.3 25.9

28.3 26.4

27.7 33.0
0 1 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0 1 0 0
Reconstruct or replace storm drains that are identified by engineers as being at risk for collapse or failures
Install and maintain devices in storm drains that capture trash and pollution before they enter our waterways
Inspect and test storm water quality on a regular basis to ensure that it meets clean water standards
Keep trash and pollutants off our beaches and out of local waterways and the ocean
Capture, store and treat rainwater and storm water runoff to reuse for irrigation
Remove pollutants, toxic chemicals, and infectious bacteria from runoff
Reduce illegal discharges of pollution into water conveyances, such as storm drains, Polliwog Park, through improved monitoring, investigation, prosecution
Inspect and test storm water quality on a regular basis to ensure that it meets Federal and State clean water requirements
Infiltrate storm water runoff so that it never reaches the ocean or other waterways
Reduce flooding in neighborhoods
Educate students, residents and businesses on how they can reduce water pollution
% Respondents
Strongly favor Somewhat favor
18 18
POSITIVE ARGUMENTS

47.5 42.8

37.4 39.9

44.9 41.3

35.5 33.0

28.9 27.2

33.4 27.5

31.5 35.7

33.0 27.2

29.5 34.4

34.4 38.2

37.3 29.6
0 1 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0 1 0 0
Most of City’s storm drainpipes were installed 50+ yrs ago, are starting to fail, creating sinkholes, flooding that damage streets, private properties; measure provides funding needed to fix storm drains
It is a lot cheaper to fix a storm drain now than to pay for reconstruction, property damage and lawsuits when a pipe fails
By capturing rainwater, storm water runoff to be recycled for irrigation, we can reduce the impacts of future droughts, preserve fresh drinking water Storm water runoff carries tons of trash, infectious bacteria and toxic pollutants directly to ocean, local beaches; measure is one of best ways to protect ocean water quality, public health
By law, all of money raised by measure must be spent locally to protect water quality; it can’t be taken away by State, be used for other purposes Ev ery y ear, thousands of pounds of trash from streets washes up on local beaches; measure will help prevent, clean up trash, pollution before it ends up in water, on shorelines, beaches
Measure is needed to cov er actual costs of maintaining stormwater sy stem, which includes repairing, maintaining 24 miles of pipes, hundreds of catch basins, removing trash, pollutants before they reach ocean, local beaches By keeping local beaches and waterways clean, free of pollution, measure will help protect quality of life in Manhattan Beach
It’s our responsibility to take care of the environment, natural resources for future generations; measure will help improve quality of life as well as theirs The typical residential property owner in Manhattan Beach pays < $20 per yr to address stormwater pipes, infrastructure, pollution; the fee was established in 1996 (25+ yrs ago) has never increased
There will be a clear system of accountability including annual independent audits to ensure that money is spent properly
% Respondents
Very convincing Somewhat convincing
19 19
INTERIM BALLOT TEST
Prefer not to
answer

0.5 Not sure

6.0 Definitely no

20.8 Probably no

12.8 Probably yes

33.3 Definitely yes

26.7 34% 60%
20 20
NEGATIVE ARGUMENTS

31.4 37.2

23.2 22.9

37.0 27.8

34.3 26.8
0 1 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0 1 0 0
City of Manhattan Beach receives $400K each year
from County to fix the storm drain system; we don’t
need another storm drain fee
Property owners are already paying too many taxes -
incl school bonds, parcel taxes, local taxes; enough is enough; we can’t afford to keep raising taxes
Measure won’t make a difference; most of the water
pollution is coming from Los Angeles, other cities
Manhattan Beach is an expensive place to live,
especially for young families, seniors, those on fixed incomes; passing this tax will make it even less
affordable
% Respondents
Very convincing Somewhat convincing
21 21
FINAL BALLOT TEST
Definitely yes

25.5 Probably yes

33.2 Probably no

14.7 Definitely no

20.5 Not sure

5.5 Prefer not to
answer

0.7 35% 59%
22 22
Prefer not to
answer

0.7 Not sure

4.6 Definitely no

17.3 Probably no

9.1 Probably yes

6.7 Definitely yes

2.8 Def, prob yes @
Rate A (Q11)

58.7 FINAL BALLOT TEST: RATE C
23 23
KEY CONCLUSIONS
Does a stormwater fee measure appear feasible for 2024? Yes.

Positive Signs
o Solid natural support for a measure (62%)
o Popular projects and services
o Strong positive arguments
o All ballot tests are above simple majority threshold, even afte r opposition arguments
Challenges
o Fee rate sensitivity
o Commercial, industrial, apartment owners will also vote and ten d to exhibit less support (estimate 6% reduction in overall suppo rt) o Unknowns: trajectory of economy, inflation, other measures o Electoral climate: Hyper‐partisanship & statewide initiatives 24 24
o Snapshot in time, not a crystal ball
o Fee Rate: Keep cost effective
o Project & Service Priorities: Repair/replace failing pipes, reduce trash, toxins, and pollution in waterways/on beaches,
stormwater capture and reuse.
o City Communications: Begin a conversation with the community to build awareness of needs and consensus on a specific proposal.
o Independent Campaign: Need to have solid independent campaign to navigate through the balloting cycle, communicate key messages, turn out supporters, and weather uncertainties.

OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
25CITY OF

DATE DESCRIPTION
Sep 9 Council adopts resolution No. 23-0118 to:

Proceed with Proposition 218 Process
Approve Storm Drain Utility Fee Report
Set Public Hearing to November 7, 2023
Authorize mailing of protest notices
Sep 22 Mail Property Owner Protest Notices
Nov 7 Public Hearing and Tabulation
If majority protest not received:

Set Public Hearing to January 2, 2024
Authorize mailing of ballots
Nov 17 Property Owner Ballot Mailing
Jan 2, 2024 Public Hearing and Ballot tabulation
Requires majority vote of property owners to pass
Jul 2024 New rates effective for FY 2024-2025.
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ALTERNATIVES
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
Nov. 2024 Election
Include the fee increase in the November 2024
election. Requires two-thirds vote of local population.

Continue General Fund Subsidies
General Fund will continue to subsidize the
Stormwater Fund. To maintain a balanced budget,
options like increasing revenues, reducing services
levels, or deferring capital projects may have to be
pursued.
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QUESTIONS
STORMWATER ASSESSMENT SEPTEMBER 5, 2023

Manhattan Beach City CouncilSeptember 5, 2023

Manhattan Beach City Council
September 5, 2023