November 19, 2024
Public Works
DATE: November 19, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, Director of Public Works
Mary Phelps, Water Resource Division Manager
Subject:
Resolution to Authorize Task Authorizations with Veolia Water North America for Stormwater Maintenance and
Repairs
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed expenditure of $750,000 shall be funded from the approved budget in the American Rescue Plan
Act (ARPA) Fund [Account String: 13623331-400708-
22107.]
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
City staff is asking the City Council to adopt a resolution approving Task Authorizations with Veolia Water North
America to address essential repairs and maintenance
for the City’s stormwater collection system and trash
capture devices. It is critical that the City secure
emergency funding in order to perform the required
repairs and maintenance of the various locations of the stormwater collections system prior to rainy season of
2024.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to authorize Task Authorizations
with Veolia Water North America in an amount not to
exceed $750,000 for the maintenance of the Large Trash
Capture Devices and repairs to the stormwater collection system at multiple locations - Public Works (Daniel
Chavarria 510-620-5478/Mary Phelps (510) 621-1269).
AGENDA
REPORT
November 19, 2024
DISCUSSION:
Background
In February 2019, Caltrans was issued a Cease-and-Desist Order from the State Water Resources Control Board for failure to effectively manage trash. As such, Caltrans provided funding to the City of Richmond in the form of Cooperative Implementation Agreements (CIAs) or “grants” to engineer, construct and install several large trash capture devices in the City’s stormwater collection system. These devices collect trash that is discarded and/or dumped into the city’s collection system, which is trapped and then removed preventing the trash from being discharged into the San Francisco Bay.
Likewise, Section C.10 of the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) for Stormwater mandates trash management states that the City must comply annually by reporting how much trash is removed from the stormwater collection system by means of trash removal devices, illegal dumping that is cleaned up, monthly neighborhood dumpster days, etc.
In 2004, the Richmond City Council adopted Amendment #1 to the Agreement with Veolia Water North America (previously U.S. Filter) to include the operation and maintenance of the sanitary and storm sewer collection system (Attachment 2). On March 1, 2026, City Council adopted Amendment #4 to the Agreement with Veolia Water North America which included several updates including operation and maintenance of two (2) large trash capture device units: one located in the Hilltop area, and one (1) located at 7th Street (Attachment 3).
Due to the mandates in the City’s Stormwater NPDES permit, the other large trash capture devices must also be maintained. This can be accomplished by issuing Task Authorizations with Veolia Water North America to operate, clean and maintain the devices and the perform the required repairs to the stormwater infrastructure. This is not to be a continuous agreement or contract. These Task Authorizations are only for work to be performed during the remainder of FY 2024-25.
At present, there are four (4) additional large capture devices that have been installed in the City’s stormwater collection system for a total of six (6) units. They are currently at the following locations:
Hilltop (Veolia maintains per Amendment 4 to the Agreement) 7th Street (Veolia maintains per Amendment 4 to the Agreement) Bayview Ave. & Carlson Blvd. (no maintenance agreement in place)
November 19, 2024
Regatta Blvd. & Marina Bay Pkwy (no maintenance agreement in place) Cutting Blvd. & South 3rd St. (no maintenance agreement in place) South 8th St. & Potrero Ave. (no maintenance agreement in place)
Analysis
The Stormwater Enterprise budget is severely lacking in funding, as the rates have not been increased in over twenty years. Therefore, City staff has reviewed the requirements of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), codified at 42 USC § 801 and implemented through regulations adopted at 31 CFR § 35, and is of the opinion that the operation/maintenance of the four additional large capture devices would qualify for ARPA funding.
Specifically, the following locations require attention for stormwater maintenance and/or repairs:
As previously mentioned, Amendment 4 to the Agreement the City has with Veolia Water North America only addresses the op eration and maintenance of two (2) of the six (6) trash capture devices.
If City Council does not approve the proposed Task Authorizations with Veolia, the City will be non-compliant with the City ‘s NPDES permit and could possibly face enforcement actions or financial penalties.
TA No. Location Cost Mark-up Total
24905 Trash Capture Device Maintenance 499,408.91$ 49,940.89$ 549,349.80$ 230806 2558 Sheldon Drive 150' Collapsed Storm Drain Sewer 82,700.00$ 13,645.50$ 96,345.50$ 240710 Country View Drive & Brookwood Lane collapsed Storm Drain 53,700.00$ 8,860.50$ 62,560.50$ 230410 831 Chanslor Ave Sink Hole over 12" Storm Drain 18,605.00$ 1,860.50$ 20,465.50$ 241006 Safeway Beverage Plant - clear debris 3,500.00$ 350.00$ 3,850.00$ 230402 Sante Fe - install new inlet box 14,800.00$ 1,480.00$ 16,280.00$ Contingency 1,148.70$
Total ARPA Funding required 750,000.00$
November 19, 2024
Conclusion
City staff is requesting City Council authorize approving Task Authorizations to Veolia Water North America for a not-to-exceed amount of $750,000 to maintain and operate four additional large trash capture devices and perform necessary repairs to the stormwater infrastructure.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Amendment 1 to Agreement
Attachment 3 – Amendment 4 to Agreement
Attachment 4 – Veolia Task Authorizations