DATE: AUGUST 22, 2023
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, DIRECTOR
BY: BRIAN FRUS, SENIOR ENGINEER
TITLE: PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF SALINAS AND CAROLLO ENGINEERS FOR GRANT REPORTING AND CEQA ASSISTANCE RECOMMENDED MOTION:
A motion to 1) approve a Resolution approving a Professional Services Agreement in the amount of $50,000 between the City of Salinas and Carollo Engineers for Grant Reporting and CEQA Assistance; and 2) authorize a transfer of funds of $50,000 from the Industrial Waste Fund to CIP 9317 Professional Services.
BACKGROUND:
In 2020, the City applied for a storm water implementation grant through Round 2 of the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) Proposition 1 Storm Water Grant Program (SWGP) for the Salinas Project to Enhance Regional Stormwater Supply (SPERSS). The goals of the SPERSS project were to enhance the City’s stormwater capture, storage, and conveyance infrastructure at the Treatment Plant 1 and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility sites. Stormwater Grant Agreement No. D2112160 was executed on October 31, 2022, with an award amount of $8,799,154. Council authorized the City Manager to execute the agreement on behalf of the City on March 30, 2021 (Resolution 22073). Council also approved a professional service agreement with E2 Consulting Engineers for design services and accepted grant funds on June 14, 2022 (Resolution 22394).
City staff now needs assistance with some of the grant reporting required by the State Water Board which must be submitted to the grant Project Manager for approval. These include preparation of a Monitoring and Reporting Plan (MRP) and a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP). In addition, assistance with final CEQA documentation for the project is needed.
The MRP will consist of two elements: a Project Assessment and Evaluation Plan (PAEP) and a Monitoring Plan (MP). The PAEP will be prepared to describe the manner in which the project performance will be assessed, evaluated and reported to the grant Project Manager. The MP will describe the project purpose and background and will offer details on the analyses and field measurements that will be used to track water quality benefits of the project.
A QAPP will be prepared, maintained, and implemented in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) QAPP guidance document (EPA QA/G-5) or the State Water Board’s Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program’s (SWAMP) QAPP and data reporting requirements, as appropriate for the proposed monitoring activities.
Final CEQA documentation will include an initial Environmental Impact Report review. The SPERSS project materials and the certified EIR for the Pure Water Monterey (PWM) project to will both be reviewed to determine the extent to which the SPERSS project components were addressed in the EIR and whether an addendum to the EIR would be required. This will also require coordination and consultation with the State Water Board on the proposed environmental approach.
Part of the CEQA process includes a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). This will include a review the previously adopted MMRP and use mitigation measures relevant to the SPERSS project to create a project-specific MMRP for the SPERSS project.
Finally appropriate CEQA documentation may include an EIR addendum. If required, an addendum to the certified PWM EIR would be prepared to demonstrate that no new or more severe significant impacts would result from the additional project component(s). An addendum may also demonstrate that the potential impacts were generally included, evaluated, and mitigated as part of the certified PWM EIR. Such an addendum would consist of a brief memorandum that highlights the proposed project components, compares the impacts of the modified project to the project evaluated in the certified EIR, and discusses the project’s eligibility for an addendum under CEQA.
The schedule for this project is driven by milestone commitments made in the Grant Agreement. Given the scope of work to be completed within the committed time frames, a consultant should be engaged quickly in order stay on schedule. Carollo Engineers was instrumental in helping the City develop this project an obtain the grant award. They also recently performed the CEQA process for the Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility improvements. Given their intimate familiarity with the grant project scope, related CEQA considerations and the IWTF facility along with their relationship with the design engineer E2 Consulting, staff believes Carollo to be uniquely qualified to carry out the work in the most timely and efficient manner. City staff recommends sole source award of this work to Carollo as no other consulting entity is currently as familiar with the City’s needs and challenges associated with this effort and has the ability to begin work immediately.
CEQA CONSIDERATION:
Not a Project. The City of Salinas has determined that the proposed action is not a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (CEQA Guidelines Section 15378). In addition, CEQA Guidelines Section 15061 includes the general rule that CEQA applies only to activities which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. Because the proposed action and this matter have no potential to cause any effect on the environment, or because it falls within a category of activities excluded as projects pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378, this matter is not a project. Because the matter does not cause a direct or foreseeable indirect physical change on or in the environment, this matter is not a project. Any subsequent discretionary projects resulting from this action will be assessed for CEQA applicability.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
The proposed project and agreement meet the City Council’s goal of Infrastructure and Environmental Sustainability (City of Salinas Strategic Plan 2022-2025) by maintaining and improving City facilities.
DEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION:
This project will rely on coordination between the Wastewater and Water, Waste and Energy (WWE) divisions in Public Works and the Finance Department. WWE will coordinate the overall execution of the grant efforts with input and field support from Wastewater Division staff. Finance will coordinate the reimbursement of project expenses through the State Water Board.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
The total estimated cost for the scope of work contained in the Professional Services Agreement is $50,000. A total of $50,000 will be transferred from the Industrial Waste Enterprise Fund to CIP 9317 Professional Services account 5800.50.9317-63.5900.
All funding for this agreement will come from the Industrial Waste Fund and no General Funds will be expended.
ATTACHMENTS:
Resolution
Professional Services Agreement City of Salinas and Carollo Engineers for Grant Reporting and CEQA Assistance Page | 3
Page | 1
CITY OF SALINASCOUNCIL STAFF REPORTCITY OF SALINASCOUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY OF SALINAS
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY OF SALINAS
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT