HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-47 - Stabilization of Morning CanyonRESOLUTION NO. 2005 - 47
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT
BEACH DECLARING THE IMMEDIATE STABILIZIATION OF MORNING
CANYON TO BE A MATTER REQUIRING EMERGENCY ACTION,
CONFIRMING AUTHORIZATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TO AWARD A CONTRACT FOR THE STABILIZATION OF THE
CANYON , AND CONFIRMING THE AWARD OF THE CONTRACT TO
SUNQUEST GENERAL ENGINEERING
The City Council finds and declares as follows:
WHEREAS, urban development in the Morning Canyon watershed over the past
60 years has reached a critical point such that the canyon bottom is rapidly eroding;
and
WHEREAS, the fill material on the Cameo Highlands canyon slopes sits on a
clay layer which in turn sits on an adversely inclined bed surface, and that this barely
stable slope condition can be disrupted with minor amounts of infiltrated rainwater, and
that the 2005 catastrophic Bluebird Canyon slope failure in Laguna Beach was due to
a similar failure mode and resulted in substantial loss of property and endangered
residents; and
WHEREAS, the risk assessment by Leighton Consulting, Inc. dated August 8,
2005, states that in Morning Canyon, especially "... where the manufactured fill
comprises the major portion of canyon side, the landsliding risk is very high. Almost
certainly there will be a massive landsliding even if the next rainy season produces
moderate rain and stream flow "; and
WHEREAS, the storm season officially commences on October 15 and
significant rainfall usually is expected no later than January; and
WHEREAS, a rigorous assessment of the canyon hydrodynamics and sediment
transport has been performed and has been used as the basis for the preparation of
engineered drawings and specifications to repair the canyon flood plain and install
engineered gabion control structures to forestall future streambed erosion in an
environmentally sensitive manner in accordance with best practices and in concert with
the regulatory agencies; and
WHEREAS, the project will take approximately 60 days to complete; and
WHEREAS, permit applications have been submitted and approved by State
Fish and Game, Army Corps of Engineers and Regional Water Quality Control Board;
and
WHEREAS, the permit application with the California Coastal Commission
(CCC) has been deemed complete and City staff has met with CCC staff to discuss the
project, CCC staff cannot agendize the permit application to be heard before the
Commission until October 13 and such a delay will put the City in jeopardy of not being
able to complete the project in advance of the expected storms within the winter rain
season.
NOW THEREFORE, based upon the above findings, the City Council declares the
conditions in Morning Canyon constitute an emergency situation and that staff is
directed to:
1. Move forward with the Morning Canyon Stabilization Project so work can be
completed in advance of the expected storms and
2. Continue working with California Coastal Commission staff to secure a
Coastal Development Permit and make their best efforts to incorporate the
conditions of the permit into the ongoing project.
Adopted this 13`h day of September, 2005
ATTEST:
City Clerk
a or
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF ORANGE } ss.
CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH }
I, LaVonne M. Harkless, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California, do
hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council is seven; that the foregoing
resolution, being Resolution No. 2005 -47 was duly and regularly introduced before and adopted by
the City Council of said City at a regular meeting of said Council, duly and regularly held on the
13th day of September 2005, and that the same was so passed and adopted by the following vote, to
wit:
Ayes: Selich, Rosansky, Webb, Ridgeway, Daigle, Nichols, Mayor Heffernan
Noes: None
Absent: None
Abstain: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the
official seal of said City this 14th day of September 2005.
(Seal)
INIn
0 0
City Clerk
Newport Beach, California