Editor's note: This story is part of an ongoing series that tracks the city's expenditures appearing on upcoming Santa Monica City Council consent agendas. Consent agenda items are routinely passed by the City Council with little or no discussion from elected officials or the public. However, many of the items have been part of public discussion in the past.
CITY HALL — Water-saving plans, Graffiti removal, and Big Blue Bus equipment are all a part of a $2,264,025 consent agenda to be considered by City Council tonight.
City Hall is interested in creating a water treatment plant for a contaminated well field. A pilot study, that would cost $800,000, would look at the different ways to purify the Olympic Well Field groundwater, which is contaminated by volatile organic compounds.
Water from the field is currently sent to Santa Monica's Arcadia Water Treatment Plant, where it is treated and distributed, but that plant can only handle 10 million gallons per day, at times forcing City Hall to import water.
"During the study, continuous testing and monitoring would be conducted for a minimum of 6 months, and run concurrent with an evaluation of the financial, operational, environmental, and regulatory components of each technology," city officials said. "The study would identify benefits and impacts that these technologies may have on the City in the short and long term."
The study would also provide a final design report for an Olympic Treatment Plant. Black and Veatch will likely get the bid.
Graffiti costs
Council will consider the approval of $200,000 worth of spending to remove graffiti in the city over the next three years. Every year, about 37,000 markings are removed in Santa Monica. City workers scrub most of them — about 32,000 — but since 2006 a contractor has been removing about 5,000 tags every year, mostly in the Pico Neighborhood, with pressure washers. City trucks don't have pressure washers so the contractors usually tackle the more difficult graffiti. Graffiti Control Systems will likely get the bid.
BBB gas
City Hall has had a natural gas fuel system since 2002 and they are looking to pay $250,000 per year to keep it maintained. Each year the systems pumps about 3.25 million gallons of natural gas into Big Blue Buses. Clean Energy will likely be selected to maintain the system.
BBB brakes
The purchase and delivery of Big Blue Bus brake reline kits, which contain brake drums, brake lining, and brake pads, will run City Hall $300,000. Buses need routine brake replacements and the kits would supply the needed equipment. American Moving Parts will likely get the bid.
Los Amigos Park stormwater usage
City Hall wants to collect the rain water that falls around Los Amigos Park and use it for irrigation and toilets. California Watershed Engineering will likely pull in $192,500 to design the stormwater harvesting project. The cash will come from a $400,000 grant that City Hall accepted in January.
The project would tap into an existing drain line near the Santa Monica Alternative School House, diverting the stormwater into a cistern for treatment.
"It is anticipated that the project would treat up to 100,000 gallons of stormwater and dry weather runoff annually for non-potable irrigation and indoor flushing," city officials said.
Lot paving
Main Street Parking Lots 10 and 11 are in serious need of repair, city officials said. They've been damaged due to traffic and poor drainage and the striping is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
PALP will likely get the bid to pave the lots at $270,487.
On top of repairs, they would be relocating some pay-by-space machines and removing vestigial parking meter posts. The lots are located at 111 Hill St. and 170 Hollister Ave.
Janitors
Janitorial services at the Public Safety Facility, Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Animal Shelter, and other city buildings through the end of the year will likely cost an additional $266,038. City Hall's previous contractor ceased to exist as an operating company back in June. To fill the gap, United Maintenance Company will likely take over the role until the end of the year.
SMC2C extension
The Santa Monica Cradle to Career Initiative and its associated Wellbeing Index will likely be extended through the end of next year and receive an additional $85,000. The initiative is meant to address youth violence.
Heal the Bay to help out
Heal the Bay, a local environmental nonprofit, may get $150,000 from City Hall to educate the public about the protection of the Santa Monica Bay over the next five years.
If approved by council, Heal the Bay would provide trainings to Santa Monica grade-schoolers about the importance of resource conservation, environmental health, civic participation, and environmental justice.
They would also coordinate a local California Coastal Cleanup Day on Sept. 20. The event draws about 4,000 volunteers in Santa Monica each year.
dave@www.smdp.com
