G:\PW\SanWaterEng\San\Projects\Tierra Rejada Landfill\STAFF REPORT
CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
October 24, 2022
TO: City Council
FROM: Department of Public Works
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR WORK PLANNED AT THE TIERRA
REJADA LANDFILL AND APPROVAL OF A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
REQUEST
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve funding in the amount of $182,500 for work planned at the Tierra Rejada Landfill and approve a Supplemental Budget Request.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
On August 12, 2019, the City Council approved Amendment No. 6 to the Agreement Providing Funds for Investigation regarding the closed Tierra Rejada Landfill. That request referenced the routine annual work needed to monitor ; sample; report to regulators on the condition of the landfill and the adjacent environment ; and perform minor routine maintenance. The Easy Fire of 2019 damaged 1,600 acres of land, including the Tierra Rejada Landfill site. The fire consumed all vegetation on the closed landfill , and destroyed the gas collection system (a piping system installed on the ground surface) and the flare control mechanism. The site was subsequently found to have eroded over time requiring some reconstructive repairs in addition to the fire damage repairs. The City contributed $549,000 as its 25% share in January, 2020. The other partners: the County of Ventura (County), the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District (RSRPD) and the Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) equally shared the cost.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
Early in 2022, VRSD staff informed the Tierra Rejada Landfill partners that damage from very heavy rain in December, 2021, caused unanticipated damage to the closed landfill.
The work performed in 2020 to repair damage from the Easy Fire, and add soil to the cover that eroded over time, included hydroseeding. Because of drought conditions in 2020-2022, the hydroseeding was not we ll established by December, 2021 . Over eight inches of rainfall occurred in December, 2021, and with the landfill only partially vegetated, the rain caused damage to the soil cover and drainage improvements.
AGENDA ITEM NO.
Consent (2)
VRSD is the project manager, pursuant the consortium’s ongoing A greement. T hey considered many options for the cover of the site, and considering the current extreme drought conditions, created a plan to encourage vegetative growth without irrigation by applying mulch to the entire site. VRSD identified the costs to make the current repairs, broken down as follows:
Engineering Design/Construction Support $20,000
Project Set-up/Mobilization $41,530
Landfill Earthwork $198,400
Riprap Repairs/Installation $88,500
Mulch Installation $308,450
Mulch Supplies $73,000
TOTAL $729,880
Each consortium partner is responsible for one-fourth of costs, VRSD is requesting each partner to commit $182,470 (one-fourth of $729,880) to cover the total cost.
Staff has prepared a Supplemen tal Budget Request to authorize $182,500 from the Sanitation Fund in the current FY 2 022-23 budget to pay for this unanticipated work at the Tierra Rejada Landfill. All four agencies’ representatives are preparing to request this appropriation from their agency.
The following alternatives are available to the City Council:
1. Approve funding for work planned at the Tierra Rejada Landfill and approve a Supplemental Budget Request in Fund 700;
2. Do not approve the funding or Supplemental Budget Request;
3. Provide staff with further direction.
Staff recommends Alternative No. 1.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I move to approve a supplemental budget request from Fund 700 (Sanitation Operating Fund) in the amount of $182,500 to fund work planned at the Tierra Rejada Landfill.
SUMMARY
Early in 2022, VRSD staff informed the Tierra Rejada Landfill partners that damage from very heavy rain in December 2021, caused unanticipated damage to the closed landfill. The work performed in 2020 to repair damage from the Easy Fire, and add soil to the cover that eroded over time, included hydroseeding. Because of drought conditions in 2020-2022, the hydroseeding was not well established by December 2021. Over eight inches of rainfall occurred in December, 2021, and with the landfill only partially vegetated, the rain caused damage to the soil cover and drainage improvements. The cost to repair the damage caused in December 2021, and install mulch over the site to
PW\SanWaterEng\San\Projects\Staff Report\1-Staff Report PW\SanWaterEng\San\Projects\Staff Report\1-Staff Report encourage vegetative growth without irrigation is $729,880. The City is responsible for one-fourth of the cost, and staff is recommending the City Council authorize an expense of $182,470 to repair the Tierra Rejada Landfill and install mulch over the site.
____________________________________
Ronald K. Fuchiwaki
Public Works Director
Prepared by: Joe Deakin, Assistant Public Works Director