City Council Report
915 I Street, 1st Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2022-01114 June 28, 2022
Title: Agreement: Storm Drainage System Maintenance Regulatory Support Services
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Pass a Motion authorizing the City Manager or City Manager’s designee to execute an agreement with Blankinship & Associates, Inc., to provide regulatory compliance support services for the operation and maintenance of the City’s drainage and flood control system for an amount not-to-exceed $425,000 with a maximum five-year term.
Contact: Stacy Larkin, Administrative Analyst, (916) 808-6356, [email protected] ;
Doug Henry, Division Manager, (916) 808-6955, [email protected]; Bill Busath, Director, (916) 808-1434, [email protected]; Department of Utilities
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Agreement
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The City’s drainage system receives urban runoff throughout the year including the dry and wet season. The Department of Utilities’ (DOU) Drainage Section operates and maintains a complex collection of canals, streams, ditches, detention basins, pump stations, and channels, including natural drainage and modified or engineered channels, that convey and hold runoff to protect the City from flooding. Maintenance of these assets involves removal of trash, debris or other obstructions, and sediment; control of native and non-native vegetation and repair of erosion, which must all be conducted within various regulatory guidelines. This proposed contract is for regulatory compliance support services for a Statewide General National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Aquatic Pesticide Permit, a Long- Term Lake and Streambed Alteration Routine Maintenance Agreement (RMA) with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and miscellaneous technical support services for operation and improvement of the City’s drainage system.
The regulatory compliance support will primarily focus on assistance in managing and complying with the City’s (1) NPDES Permit for Residual Aquatic Pesticide Discharges to Waters of the United States from Algae and Aquatic Weed Control Applications (Aquatic Weed Control Permit) and (2) RMA. In addition, the consultant will provide miscellaneous support which could be regulatory or technical in nature and will encompass operational requirements and/or potential process improvements as needed.
Policy Considerations: City Council approval is required for contracts of $250,000 or more.
Economic Impacts: Not applicable
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): The current project has been determined to be exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), which states that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. The current proposal involves only the procurement of support services.
Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity may have a significant effect on the environment.
Sustainability: Execution of this agreement is integral to the continued operation and maintenance of the City’s storm drainage and flood control systems.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable
Rationale for Recommendation: DOU’s Wastewater and Drainage Division has an ongoing need for regulatory support to renew and remain in compliance with both the NPDES Aquatic Pesticide Permit and the RMA issued by the CDFW. The proposed services will assist and support the City’s ongoing efforts to maintain and improve its drainage system in compliance with various regulatory mandates.
A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) Q22141431018 was issued on March 30, 2022. On April 14, 2022, the City received one responsive submittal from Blankinship & Associates, Inc.
Blankinship & Associates is currently providing Storm Drainage Regulatory Support. Staff is very satisfied with their performance and reliability.
Financial Considerations: The proposed agreement has a maximum five-year term, for a total amount not to exceed $425,000.
Sufficient funding for this agreement is available in DOU’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022/23 operating budget to fund the first year of the agreement. Funding for future fiscal years shall be subject to funding availability in the budget adopted for the applicable fiscal year(s).
There are no general fund obligations for this contract.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Blankinship & Associates, Inc. is not an LBE but has partnered with H.T. Harvey & Associates, for this contract to meet the minimum LBE participation requirement. H.T. Harvey & Associates will provide CDRW Routine Maintenance Agreement support.