City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: James Pease, Public Works Director
Date: 12/12/2023
Subject: Professional Services Agreement - Stone Creek Environmental Consulting RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Professional Services Agreement with Stone Creek Environmental Consulting to develop a Trash Implementation Plan in accordance with Track 2 requirements of the State Water Resource Control Board’s 13383 Order in the not to exceed amount of $19,500 (funding source: Sewer Enterprise Operating Fund).
BACKGROUND:
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) has determined trash is a significant pollutant of California's waters that adversely affects beneficial uses, including but not limited to uses that support aquatic life, wildlife and public health. Trash discarded on land frequently makes its way into streams, creeks, rivers, and eventually the ocean, as rainstorms wash it into gutters and storm drains. Types of trash generated by human activity that frequently pollute waterways include cigarette butts, paper, fast food containers, plastic grocery bags, cans and bottles, used diapers, construction site debris, industrial preproduction plastic pellets, old tires, appliances and more.
On April 7, 2015, the State Water Board adopted an Amendment to the Water Quality Control Plan for Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan) to Control Trash and Part 1 Trash Provision of the Water Quality Control Plan for Inland Surface Waters, Enclosed Bays, and Estuaries (ISWEBE Plan). Together, they are collectively referred to as 'the Trash Amendments'. The project objective for the Trash Amendments is to provide statewide consistency for the Water Boards' regulatory approach to protect aquatic life and public health beneficial uses, and reduce environmental issues associated with trash in state waters, while focusing limited resources on high trash generating areas. The Trash Amendments accomplish this by:
Establishing a narrative water quality objective for trash, Establishing a prohibition on the discharge of trash, Providing implementation requirements for permitted storm water and other dischargers,
Setting a time schedule for compliance, and
Providing a framework for monitoring and reporting requirements.
The Trash Amendments apply to all Phase I and II permittees, which the City of Ripon is designated a Phase II permittee, under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) permits. The State Water Board Executive Director sent separate 13383 Orders (known as the Trash Provisions) to all traditional MS4 permittees on June 1, 2017, to comply with the Trash Amendments by December 2030.
The Trash Provisions require Phase II MS4 permittees to select a method of compliance with the trash prohibition by selecting either Track 1 or Track 2 compliance methods:
Track 1: Install, operate, and maintain Full Capture Systems for the storm drain network that capture runoff from the Priority Land Use areas in their jurisdiction. Track 2: Install, operate, and maintain any combination of Full Capture Systems, Multi-Benefit Projects, other Treatment Controls, and/or Institutional Controls within their jurisdiction.
Priority Land Use areas are identified as developed sites, facilities, or land uses within our jurisdiction from which discharges of trash are regulated by the Trash Provisions as follows:
High-density residential – ten dwelling units/acre
Industrial – involving product manufacture, storage, or distribution Commercial – places involving sale or transfer of goods or services to consumers Mixed urban – high-density residential, industrial, and/or commercial collectively Public transportation – public transit stations and stops to load or unload passengers DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
Selecting the Track 1 compliance method for Ripon would essentially mean placing Full Capture Systems in all areas of the City storm drain system where Priority Land Use areas have been identified at locations prior to discharging the storm water into the Stanislaus River. The Full Capture Systems would contain a 5 millimeter screen essentially eliminating all trash from entering the Stanislaus River during normal rain events. Although most devices include an overflow mechanism for larger storm events, Public Works staff will be required to clean and maintain these devices regularly in order to eliminate potential blockages and remove trash or leaves. Previous estimates by staff were in excess of $2 million dollars for the initial capital expense to move forward with Track 1.
Selecting the Track 2 compliance method allows the City to determine if there are areas where Full Capture Systems will not need to be installed through the development of a Trash Implementation Plan. The first step will be performing a trash assessment of the Priority Land Use areas to identify a baseline trash generation rate or level for each. The goal for each of the Priority Land Use areas is to achieve a low trash generation level which is considered equivalent to the performance of a full trash capture system. Once a Priority Land Use area has been identified at a low trash generation level no further action is required and these areas will essentially be considered in compliance with the Trash Provision.
All Priority Land Use areas designated above the low generation level during the assessments will be considered either moderate, high or very high. Priority Land Use areas in these levels will need either a Full Capture System installed or the City has the option of increasing trash elimination activities such as street sweeping, installation of trash receptacles and increased trash collection. A combination of installing smaller Full Capture Systems and increasing trash elimination activities can also be used to achieve a low trash designation. Additional assessments will be needed to verify these areas have achieved the low trash designation and once complete no further action is required.
Staff is recommending moving forward with the Track 2 compliance method in order to eliminate low trash level Priority Land Use areas from needing Full Capture Systems and to allow for flexibility in achieving compliance with the higher trash level Priority Land Use areas.
Staff reached out to firms who have developed Trash Implementation Plans for other jurisdictions and Stone Creek Environmental Consulting was the lowest responsible proposal received. The attached professional services agreement will assist staff in creating a Trash Implementation Plan in order to achieve compliance with the Trash Provisions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost to complete the work within the proposal is for a not-to-exceed amount of $19,500, which will be funded through the Sewer Enterprise Operating Fund. Moving forward there will be additional capital and ongoing maintenance costs associated with the Trash Implementation Plan, once the plan is finalized staff will provide the Council with an update outlining the full financial impact of these Trash Provisions.
Attachments:
1. Stone Creek Services Agreement