HomeMy WebLinkAbout27 - Newport Terrace Landfill Gas RemediationOCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Item No. 27
December 9, 2003
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: General Services Department
David E. Niederhaus, Director, 949 - 644 -3055, dniederhausa(� city. newoort
beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: Appropriation of $57,380 from the Environmental Liability Fund to
Account 3155 -8080 to pay various legal and consulting fees related
to Newport Terrace landfill gas remediation.
ISSUE:
Should the City appropriate additional funds to pay technical and legal consultants in
support of the Newport Terrace landfill gas remediation?
RECOMMENDATION:
Appropriate $57,380 from the Environmental Liability Fund to the Newport Terrace
landfill gas disbursement account.
DISCUSSION:
Background:
Newport Terrace is an enclave located northwest of the City (see attached map). The
condominium complex, which was constructed in the early 1970's, is comprised of
approximately 200 residences constructed adjacent to a former City sanitary landfill. In
an effort to remediate landfill gas generated by decaying refuse, a landfill gas collection
and evacuation system was constructed by the developer of the complex. Upon
completion of development, the operation and maintenance of the landfill gas system
was conveyed to the Newport Condominium Association (NCA).
In late 2001, the City was approached by the staff of the California Integrated Waste
Management Board ( CIWMB) regarding their extensive investigation of landfill gas
problems at the Newport Terrace location. Results of the CIWMB investigation identified
elevated methane concentrations in several deep monitoring probes, however, their
work also showed that elevated concentrations of methane were not detected
immediately under site structures. CIWMB staff recommended City involvement with
Additional Fund Transfer for Newport Terrace Landfill Gas Remediation
December 9, 2003
Page 2
remediation to correct landfill gas emissions in order to provide access to public grants.
Private entities, such as the NCA, do not have access to public grant funds for landfill
gas remediation.
A Corrective Action Notice and Order was prepared by the local Enforcement Agency of
the CIWMB and forwarded to the NCA on June 20, 2002. The order directed NCA to
commence corrective action in regards to the landfill gas collection and evacuation
system. In July 2002, the CIWMB sent the City a copy of the Corrective Action Notice
with notice that if NCA failed to comply with the Order, the City could be responsible to
complete the remediation as the former operator of the site.
City staff subsequently contacted the NCA in early 2002 to discuss resolution of the
CIWMB findings. The result was a formation of a partnership between the City and the
NCA to address the remediation.
The City engaged the firm of SCS Engineers, an experienced landfill gas remediation
contractor, who proposed a plan to determine the integrity of the existing landfill gas
collection and evacuation system and address various problem areas. The total cost of
the SCS project was determined to be $80,000 with equal cost sharing by both parties
(City and NCA). Council approved the plan and funding of $44,000 on March 25, 2003.
By June 2003, SCS had identified significant mechanical and technical problems with
the current system. The proposed manner of completing the investigation generated
significant disputes requiring subsequent meetings of City and NCA staff and their
associated legal and technical consultants.
After additional staff consultation with technical and legal consultants, the investigatory
project has commenced again and is expected to be completed by early December.
Once the details of the study have been assessed, staff plans to meet with NCA
representatives to sort out alternatives before returning to the Council with additional
recommendations.
Funding:
Additional funding is needed to pay for the extra legal and engineering consulting fees
which were a result of the disputes and delays noted above as well as anticipated
additional expenses. The costs are identified as follows:
Due
Professional/Technical Consultant (SCS Engineers) $ 12,135
Legal Consultant (Jim Dragna) $ 15,245
Total $ 27,380
Projected
$ 15,000
$ 15,000
$ 30,000
Combined Total $57,380
Additional Fund Transfer for Newport Terrace Landfill Gas Remediation
December 9, 2003
Page 3
Environmental Review:
Not subject to CEQA, as the activity is not a project, as defined in Section 15378(b)(4).
Public Notice:
None Required.
Funding Availability:
The Environmental Liability Fund has an approximate balance in excess of 2.0 million
dollars.
Alternatives:
The City Council may choose not to appropriate the funds for this project. However, we
are subject to a State notice of compliance in regards to remediating the landfill gas as
the former operator of the Newport Terrace landfill and the NCA has filed various liability
claims with the City.
Prepared by:
David E. Niederhaus,
General Services Director
Attachments: (A) Map
(B) Budget Amendment
Submitted by:
Robin Clauson
Assistant City Attorney
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City of Newport Beach
BUDGET AMENDMENT
2003 -04
EFFECT ON BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE:
Increase Revenue Estimates
X Increase Expenditure Appropriations
Transfer Budget Appropriations
SOURCE:
from existing budget appropriations
from additional estimated revenues
PX from unappropriated fund balance
EXPLANATION:
NO. BA- 020
AMOUNT: 557,380.00
Increase in Budgetary Fund Balance
AND X Decrease in Budgetary Fund Balance
No effect on Budgetary Fund Balance
This budget amendment is requested to provide for the following:
To increase expenditure appropriations for legal and consulting feels related to the Newport Terrace landfill gas
ACCOUNTING ENTRY:
BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE
Fund Account
292 3505
REVENUE ESTIMATES (3601)
Fund /Division Account
EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATIONS (3603)
Amount
Description Debit
Environmental Liability Fund Balance $57,380.00
Description
Signed:
Signed:
Signed:
I
Administrative Approval:
City Council Approval: City Clerk
Services Director
Credit
$57,380.00
Date
Date
Date
Description
Division
Number
3155 Environmental Liability
Account
Number
8080 Services - Professional & Technical
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division
Number
Account
Number
Signed:
Signed:
Signed:
I
Administrative Approval:
City Council Approval: City Clerk
Services Director
Credit
$57,380.00
Date
Date
Date