City Council Agenda Report
October 21, 2025
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Ozzie Ramos, Deputy City Manager
Jacqueline Koontz, Senior Civil Engineer
Christopher Enriquez, Management Analyst
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO DEVELOP
AND IMPLEMENT A WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND
COORDINATED INTEGRATED MONITORING PROGRAM FOR THE LOWER
SAN GABRIEL RIVER WATERSHED COMMITTEE
Background:
In 2011, a group of agencies, also known as watershed “Permittees,” including the City of Norwalk created a Technical Committee to prepare an Implementation Plan, Monitoring Plan, and special studies for the Coyote Creek and San Gabriel River Reach 1 cities, as required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board). The watershed group entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Gateway Water Management Authority (GWMA) as the administrator for the group in 2012. Funds were collected and expended for the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) work.
In May 2013, the members of the TMDL Committee plus representatives of cities/agencies in the San Jose Creek, Reach 2 and Reach 3 of the San Gabriel River, changed the name of the TMDL Committee to the Lower San Gabriel River Watershed Committee to reflect the expanded duties and members. The newly formed Lower San Gabriel River Watershed (LSGR) Committee began to work together to meet the requirements under the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit Order No. R4-2012 0175 (MS4 Permit). This permit imposed strict deadlines including the preparation of a Watershed Management Program (WMP) and a Coordinated Integrated Monitoring Program (CIMP) for the LSGR watershed.
An MOU with the GWMA was approved in late 2013 to develop this WMP and CIMP, and included the following Permittees: Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Diamond Bar, Downey, Hawaiian
City Council October 21, 2025
Amendment No. 3 to MOU Page No. 2
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Gardens, La Mirada, Lakewood, Long Beach, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District.
The purpose of that MOU was limited to the development of the WMP and CIMP. These documents outlined a number of stormwater compliance activities as required by the new MS4 permit, included but not limited to ongoing monitoring, development of policies and procedures by all Permittees, inspections, and projects such as infiltration basins, and bioswales, among others.
On June 16, 2015, City Council approved the first amendment to the agreement. The first amendment expanded the purpose of the original MOU to include not just the preparation of the WMP and CIMP, but also the implementation phase, with the exception of actual project construction.
On May 18, 2021, City Council approved the second amendment to the agreement. The second amendment extended the term of the agreement through September 30, 2025, and clarified that funding collected through the MOU may be used for regional Best Management Practices projects. It also incorporated GWMA’s administrative cost recovery program into the MOU and provided a consolidated cost share formula.
The LSGR Committee would like to continue to work together in order to achieve cost savings given that each Permittee is required to comply with the same stormwater regulations. The third amendment will extend the term of the MOU through September 30, 2030.
The annual contribution for the MOU will vary depending on the required monitoring and special studies needed to comply with the MS4 Permit. Exhibit B to the MOU amendment is the cost share table which estimates Norwalk’s contribution to average $82,983 per year for the next five years. This cost excludes GWMA’s administration costs and indirect administrative fees which are approved by the GWMA Board annually and will vary. GWMA’s administration costs and indirect administrative fees have historically been 3% of each city’s cost share ($2,489.49).
Fiscal Impact:
Measure W funding for the Memorandum of Understanding with Gateway Water Management Authority was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025/26 Public Services Budget. Funding for future FYs will be budgeted on an annual basis over term of the agreement.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
N/A
City Council October 21, 2025
Amendment No. 3 to MOU Page No. 3
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Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council approve Amendment No. 3 to the Memorandum of Understanding with Gateway Water Management Authority to develop and implement a Watershed Management Program and Coordinated Integrated Monitoring Program for the Lower San Gabriel River Watershed Committee; to extend the term of the agreement through September 30, 2030; for an estimated average annual cost of $82,983 plus GWMA’s administration and indirect administrative fees, and authorize the City Manager to execute the amendment on behalf of the City, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Attachments:
Amendment No.3 to MOU with Gateway Water Management Authority