8I
Date: July 14, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Alvin Papa, Public Works Director
By: Brett Meislahn, Sanitation Services Manager | [email protected] Subject: Public Works – Adopt Categorical Exemption Under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Section 15269(b) and Authorize Payment for Emergency Storm Drain Repair at 226th Street and Maple Avenue. Expenditure: $348,205.28 (Non-General Fund).
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation of the Public Works Director that City Council:
1. Adopt Categorical Exemption under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section 15269(b) of the guidelines for the Emergency Storm Drain Repair at 226th Street and Maple Avenue; and
2. Authorize direct payment to Clarke Contracting Corporation of Lawndale, CA (Clarke), in the amount of $348,205.28, for the emergency repairs performed in April 2026 to the storm drain at 226th Street and Maple Avenue.
FUNDING
Funding is available from Measure W Funds previously appropriated to the Citywide Storm Drain Replacement and Installation project (I192-3106-ST0001).
DISCUSSION
On January 10, 2026, Public Works Water Division staff responded to a water main break at the intersection of 226th Street and Maple Avenue. During the emergency response, staff observed significant amounts of soil being washed into an underground corrugated metal storm drainpipe.
Further investigation revealed that the bottom portion of the storm drain had deteriorated and failed, allowing surrounding soil to erode into the pipe.
The pipe failure resulted in substantial undermining beneath the adjacent sidewalk and portions of Maple Avenue, creating a risk to public safety and the stability of nearby infrastructure. Due to the extent of the damage and the need to promptly restore safe conditions, the City performed emergency repairs to address the hazardous conditions resulting from the failure.
Clarke was engaged to perform the emergency work, which included the removal and replacement of the damaged storm drain crossing beneath Maple Avenue. The existing 24-inch corrugated metal pipe had deteriorated due to age and was replaced with reinforced concrete storm drain piping of the same size. The contractor also replaced the damaged sidewalk and 1 City Council
July 14, 2026
restored the structural integrity of the roadway and surrounding infrastructure. The emergency repair work was completed to prevent further erosion, protect public infrastructure, and maintain safe access along Maple Avenue.
The Torrance Municipal Code Section §22.3.090 provides that in the case of emergencies, the City Manager is authorized to “Contract for the immediate expenditure of public funds to safeguard life, health or property.” This code section also requires the City Manager to report emergency purchases to City Council that exceed the delegated authority set by resolution (>$250,000.00).
The Public Works Department received the invoice from Clarke for this emergency repair work and has verified the costs as being reasonable. The Public Works Director recommends that City Council authorize direct payment to Clarke Contracting Corporation of Lawndale, CA (Clarke), in the amount of $348,205.28, for the emergency repairs performed in April 2026 to the storm drain at 226th Street and Maple Avenue.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15269 (b), which provides that CEQA does not apply to emergency repairs to publicly or privately owned service facilities that are necessary to maintain service essential to the public health, safety or welfare. This emergency occurred during the rainy season, and the storm drain pipeline is needed in order to properly drain water from the roadway. Therefore, this work is exempt because it is necessary to maintain public health, safety and welfare.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Invoice 1 of 2 from Clarke Contracting Corporation
2. Invoice 2 of 2 from Clarke Contracting Corporation
2 CLARKE CONTRACTING CORP.
Tel. No. 310 542-7724
Fax. No. 310 542-2188
Contact: Kathy Quinones
City of Torrance
4/28/26
Department of Public Works
20500 Madrona Avenue
Torrance, CA 60503
Attn: Chris Kuebert
Billing No.:
1261162-1
PROJECT:
226th & Maple Ave - Torrance 90505
T & M
Date
Labor & Materials
1/23/2026
6,357.61
$
1/26/2026
20,211.17
$
1/27/2026
16,024.38
$
1/28/2026
9,306.70
$
1/29/2026
12,802.34
$
1/30/2026
13,379.88
$
2/2/2026
12,636.03
$
2/3/2026
15,623.35
$
2/4/2026
12,243.07
$
2/5/2026
13,093.52
$
2/6/2026
13,147.48
$
2/9/2026
11,844.42
$
2/10/2026
9,225.11
$
2/11/2026
15,607.68
$
181,502.74
$
-Total Due This Invoice
"PAYABLE UPON RECEIPT"
* * * * * INVOICE * * * * *
ATTACHMENT 1
3 CLARKE CONTRACTING CORP.
Tel. No. 310 542-7724
Fax. No. 310 542-2188
Contact: Kathy Quinones
City of Torrance
4/28/26
Department of Public Works
20500 Madrona Avenue
Torrance, CA 60503
Attn: Chris Kuebert
Billing No.:
1261162-2
PROJECT:
226th & Maple Ave - Torrance 90505
T & M
Date
Labor & Materials
2/12/2026
9,273.30
$
2/13/2026
10,985.51
$
2/17/2026
10,389.22
$
2/23/2026
13,319.19
$
2/24/2026
11,852.49
$
2/25/2026
13,260.21
$
2/26/2026
12,958.10
$
2/27/2026
13,295.96
$
3/2/2026
13,299.29
$
3/3/2026
7,425.14
$
3/4/2026
6,338.89
$
3/5/2026
11,710.59
$
3/6/2026
9,525.43
$
3/9/2026
13,052.20
$
3/10/2026
10,017.02
$
166,702.54
$
-Total Due This Invoice
"PAYABLE UPON RECEIPT"
* * * * * INVOICE * * * * *
ATTACHMENT 2
4