HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 - C-3711 - Morning Canyon Arundo RemovalCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 11
July 13, 2004
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
Robert Stein, P.E.
949 - 644 -3311
rstein @city.newport - beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: MORNING CANYON —CONTRACT NO. 3711
ARUNDO REMOVAL
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Determine that the project is exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section
15304 of the CEQA Implementation Guidelines.
2. Direct staff to proceed with the Arundo Removal project in Morning Canyon North of
East Coast Highway.
DISCUSSION:
On March 9, 2004, City Council approved a professional services agreement with RBF
Consulting (RBF) for performing Phase 1 tasks for the proposed Morning Canyon
Stabilization Project. Phase 1 tasks include preparing detailed engineering evaluations
and determining jurisdictional agency permitting requirements. Phase 2 tasks, which
have not yet been authorized by Council, will prepare final construction documents and
obtain permits from the jurisdictional agencies.
To date, progress had been made working with the Army Corps of Engineers, Regional
Water Quality Control Board, Department of Fish and Game, and the California Coastal
Commission to define the potential permit and mitigation requirements for this project.
RBF is preparing to move forward with its hydraulic, scour, streambed stability and
sediment transport analyses. To perform these analyses, RBF must first perform a
topographic survey of the canyon; however, the dense stands of Arundo in the upper
portion of the canyon must be removed prior to performing the survey. The removal of
the Arundo is not a part of RBF's contract and will be undertaken by the City under a
separate contract by a contractor who specializes in landscape maintenance.
SUBJECT: Morning Canyon— Contract No. 3711, Arundo Removal
July 13, 2004
Page 2
City staff has contacted all of the appropriate agencies that have jurisdiction, including
the Coastal Commission and the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Department of Fish
and Game is the only agency requiring a permit application for the Arundo removal.
The City must attach a copy of the Notice of Exemption filed with the County to the
permit application. At this time, staff requests Council's approval for the Arundo
removal so that the Notice of Exemption from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) can be filed with the County.
Staff is in the process of obtaining entry agreements from the property owners for the
Arundo removal project. Eight of twelve agreements have already been received.
Funding for the Arundo removal is anticipated under Proposition 13 grant funding
expected to be received by the City in August 2004 from the State Water Resources
Control Board. The anticipated cost for the Arundo removal is $20,000. Once funding
is secured and the necessary entry agreements are obtained, staff will solicit informal
bids (under $30,000) and execute a construction contract.
Environmental Review:
The project is recommended as exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15304 of the
CEQA Implementing Guidelines. This exemption covers minor alterations to land and
vegetation which do not involve removal of scenic trees. The Arundo removal project
will have negligible impacts on areas that are environmentally sensitive.
Prepared by: y�
Robert Stein, P.E.
Principal Civil Engineer
Attachment: Exhibit
Submitted by:
ephen G.
Public Works Director
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