04-07-2015 - Item 08 - Letter Supporting Senate Bill 485 Granting Authority to the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts to manage stormwater and dry weather runoffCity of West Covina
MEMORANDUM
AGENDA
ITEM NO.: %
TO: Mayor and City Council DATE:— April 7, 2015
FROM: Tom Mauk
Interim City Manager
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BY: Delfino "Chino" Consunji, P.E.
Public Works Director/City Engineer
SUBJECT: LETTER SUPPORTING SENATE BILL 485 GRANTING AUTHORITY
TO THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS (LACSD)
TO MANAGE STORMWATER AND DRY WEATHER RUNOFF
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council direct City staff to prepare a letter in support of Senate
Bill 485 (SB 485) to be executed by the Mayor and to be forwarded to State Senator Ed
Hernandez and other State Officials representing West Covina.
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DISCUSSION:
In September of 2012, the California Contract Cities Association (CCCA) and the County of Los
Angeles Division of the League of California Cities (League) assembled a committee of elected
officials, City Managers, and Public Works Directors to review stormwater funding issues. The
committee completed its work in October of 2014, and detailed their findings in a thorough
report, "Stormwater Funding Options, Providing Sustainable Water Quality in Los Angeles
County." Essentially, the report found that funding urban runoff programs is complex, dynamic,
and costly. The committee recommended that the cities construct a "Tool Box" of funding
options, including ways to fund the capture and reuse of stormwater for drinking water, irrigation
water, and other similar uses. One recommendation includes codifying language to authorize the
Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD) to manage stormwater and dry weather urban
runoff. Allowing LACSD to pursue stormwater and dry weather runoff projects at the request of
cities can greatly assist said cities in meetina the requirements of the MS4 permit.
On Febmary 26, 2015, California State Senator Ed Hernandez introduced SB 485 to authorize
LACSD to acquire, construct, operate, maintain, and furnish facilities for the diversion,
management and treatment of stormwater and dry weather runoff. Similar legislation was
introduced in 2002, granting authority to manage urban runoff to the Orange County Sanitation
District. The action has proven to be a very successful tool to improving water quality in Orange
County.
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Pa2c 2 — April 7, 2015
Staff supports SB 485, however, since the intent of the legislation is not a part of the City's
legislative platform, staff is recommending the City Council give direction to prepare a letter in
support of SB 485 to be executed by the City's Mayor. The letter will be forwarded to State
Senator Ed Hernandez and the other representatives serving the City of West Covina.
ALTERNATIVE:
Not to support SB 485. This is not recommended as staff views the bill as potentially beneficial
in meetin- the City's MS4 permit requirements in the near future.
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FISCAL IWACT:
None.
d by: Sam Gutierrez
Civil Engineering Associate
Delfino "Chino" Co)Xiu�
��i, P.E.
Public Works DirqW AyEngmeer