City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 8, 2025
Agenda Item: 4.B
1 of 7
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Engineering and Street Services
Subject: Award RFP No. SP2740 to Craftwater Engineering, Inc. to Prepare a Permeable Surface Alley Master Plan
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of exemptions pursuant to Section 15262 and Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award RFP# SP2740 to Craftwater Engineering, Inc., a California-based company, to provide services for the development of a Permeable Surface Alley Master Plan for Public Works Department; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement with Craftwater Engineering, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $345,000 (including a $45,087 contingency) for three (3) years, with one renewal option of up to two (2) years.
Summary
The City is required to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit—also known as the Regional Permit—which mandates the reduction of pollution in runoff that flows into Santa Monica Bay through the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4), commonly referred to as the City’s storm drain system. As part of the Regional Permit, a Watershed Management Program (WMP) was developed for cities (Permittees) in Jurisdictional Groups 2 and 3 - which are cities along the Pacific Coast within the Santa Monica Bay Watershed. The WMP covers most of Central Santa Monica Bay, excluding the Marina del Rey and Ballona Creek Watershed Management Areas, and applies to areas that discharge stormwater runoff into Santa 2 of 7
Monica Bay. The WMP serves as a guide to help these Permittees tailor their stormwater programs to meet the requirements of the Regional Permit. The WMP identifies locations along streets or alleys where stormwater runoff can be intercepted before entering the MS4.
The installation of permeable surfaces in alleys would allow stormwater runoff to infiltrate into the underlying soil and recharge the groundwater aquifer. This reduces the volume of runoff entering the Santa Monica Bay, providing both water supply and water quality benefits in alignment with Regional Permit initiatives. These ideas, along with other urban runoff Best Management Practices (BMPs), would be consolidated into a Permeable Surface Alley Master Plan (Plan) and used as a guide for future implementation. On January 29, 2025, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop a Permeable Surface Alley Master Plan. Staff recommends Craftwater Engineering, Inc. to provide services for the development of a Permeable Surface Alley Master Plan in an amount not to exceed $345,000 (including $45,087 contingency) over an initial three-year period, with an option for a two-year renewal.
Discussion
The public right-of-way (ROW) along streets and alleys presents one of the City’s most extensive opportunities to implement stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Alleys alone account for approximately 120 miles of ROW within the City of Santa Monica and represent a significant share of the city’s impervious surface area. These surfaces channel stormwater runoff directly into the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) and ultimately into Santa Monica Bay, contributing to ongoing water quality challenges.
To explore innovative strategies for stormwater infiltration in the public right-of-way (ROW), the City has implemented a range of permeable surface treatments over the past decade. Between 2012 and 2016, Street Services installed pervious concrete, porous asphalt, or permeable pavers in more than 20 alleys citywide. More recent installations include pervious concrete gutters completed between 2018 and 2019, such as:
3 of 7
• 2019: Euclid Court (1500 block) – 2,000 square feet
• 2018: 11th Court (1500 block) – 2,000 square feet
• 2018: 15th Court (1500 block) – 2,000 square feet
These pilot installations provided valuable insights into the performance of permeable infrastructure and reinforced the City’s commitment to improving water quality and enhancing local stormwater capture. However, over time, some sites experienced performance challenges. These issues highlighted the need for more detailed information about subsurface conditions during planning and design. At the time, site selection was informed by both visual inspection and the best available data, including shallow percolation testing conducted at six locations throughout the City—three along residential alleys and three along Arizona Avenue. Site selection also prioritized alleys within watersheds that consistently exceeded water quality standards, such as PicoKenter and Pier. Lessons learned from these early efforts have shaped a more datadriven approach that includes soil characterization and site-specific assessments to support more effective and resilient infrastructure.
The variability of soil conditions across the City’s alleys presents design challenges for stormwater best management practices (BMPs), reinforcing the need for detailed geotechnical and percolation analysis. Previous work conducted by the City’s consultants including shallow percolation testing, informed initial site selection and design consideration. Building on that foundation, the current scope proposes to expand this analysis to additional locations and depths, supporting a citywide strategy for implementing a broader range of BMP types, including those that utilize deeper infiltration systems where feasible.
Future BMP options under consideration include permeable pavements, infiltration trenches, and deep infiltration wells. The selection would be guided by prior studies, feasibility of infiltration based on percolation and boring data, and broader geotechnical and site-specific assessments. Tailoring BMPs designs to individual site conditions would ensure long-term performance and cost-efficiency. 4 of 7
This planning effort builds on earlier successes to improve water quality, support groundwater recharge, and advance compliance with the Regional Permit. Permeable pavement technologies—such as porous asphalt, pervious concrete, and interlocking pavers—are proven tools for urban stormwater management. In Santa Monica, where annual rainfall averages approximately 13 inches, these systems can reduce runoff, filter pollutants, and support aquifer sustainability, as outlined in the 2022 Santa Monica Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
The scope also includes exploring deep infiltration wells located downstream of pervious surfaces, which can bypass shallow utility zones and introduce water into deeper permeable soil layers. Maintaining dry base and subbase layers beneath existing alley surfaces would help preserve pavement integrity while advancing the City’s stormwater and sustainability goals.
Consultant Selection
Bidder Recommendation
Best Qualified Firm Craftwater Engineering, inc.
Evaluation Criteria Experience (expertise and past performance in relevant projects), References (client feedback and reliability), Work Plan/Timelines (approach to project execution and
adherence to schedule). Project Team (qualifications and capability of assigned personnel), and Cost (competitiveness and value of the proposed pricing). These criteria ensured a comprehensive assessment of each firms’ abilities to
successfully complete the project.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.190
RFPs Received
Craftwater Engineering, Inc.
Tetra Tech
RFP Data
Date
Posted
Posted On Advertised In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
5 of 7
01/30/25 City’s Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily
Press
64 03/14/25
Justification to Award
Vendor proposals were evaluated by an Evaluation Committee from the Public Works Department using the criteria outlined in the RFP, which included experience, references, work plans and timelines, project team, and cost. Following a thorough evaluation, Craftwater Engineering, Inc. was identified as the best-qualified firm due to their demonstrated expertise in stormwater management. Their strong track record of successful project delivery and ability to provide responsive, high-quality services were significant factors in this determination.
Craftwater Engineering, Inc. showcased extensive experience in analyzing geotechnical data and developing master plans for BMPs implementation. Their work plans were detailed and well-structured, outlining clear methodologies for executing geotechnical analysis, and BMPs recommendations. They proposed a highly qualified project team, and experienced technical staff, further demonstrating their capability to meet the City’s needs.
Craftwater Engineering, Inc. received the highest scores during the evaluation process in both technical approach and ability to deliver quality results. Their commitment to thorough data analysis, compliance with local regulations, and practical design recommendations ensures that the City receives valuable insights for effective stormwater management.
Based on their qualifications, comprehensive work plan, and exceptional evaluation results, staff recommend awarding the contract to Craftwater Engineering, Inc.
Environmental Review
The award for permeable surface alley master plan services is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15262 (Feasibility and Planning Studies), which exempts feasibility and planning studies for possible future actions that the agency, board, or commission has not approved, adopted, or funded. Additionally, the agreement is categorically 6 of 7
exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) of the CEQA Guidelines which states that CEQA does not apply “where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility 5 of 6 that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” This agreement would provide a master plan and preliminary designs, and no physical improvements are being implemented at this time.
Therefore, it can be seen with certainty that the agreement would not result in adverse physical impacts on the environment, and as such, is exempt from CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Clean Beaches and Ocean Parcel Tax Fund (16) and the Stormwater Management Fund (52) to award a contract to Craftwater Engineering, Inc. for professional services in developing a Permeable Surface Alley Master Plan. Funds are available in the FY 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program Budget for this project.
Contract Request
Funding Source FY 2025-26
Request Amount
Account # Total Contract
Amount
Clean Beaches and
Ocean Parcel Tax
$300,000 C5204620.689000 $300,000
Stormwater
Management
$45,000 C1604620.689000 $45,000
Total $345,000 Total: $345,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval. 7 of 7
Prepared By: Mohammad Dakwar, Civil Engineering Assistant Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. LevineAct
B. OaksInitiative