REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Baylands Storm Pump Station No. 2 Rehabilitation Project
Report
BACKGROUND
Storm Pump Station No. 2 is located in northern Sunnyvale, east of Baylands Park, and pumps storm water from a collection basin over a levee into Calabazas Creek which drains into San Francisco Bay. The station handles storm water that originates from a 500-acre area of northern Sunnyvale, south of SR 237. Maintained and operated by the City of Sunnyvale, the station was originally constructed in 1966 with additional pumping capacity added in 1990. The mechanical equipment at the pump station, including the original pumps and natural gas powered drive units, have reached the end of their useful life and need to be replaced to ensure continued long-term efficient and reliable operation of the pump station.
A contract for design of the Baylands Storm Pump Station No. 2 Rehabilitation Project was awarded to Schaaf & Wheeler, Consulting Civil Engineers, in the amount of $316,093 on July 17, 2012 (RTC 12-169). Planned improvements include new pumps with electric motors and automated controls, upgrades to the existing pump station structure and drainage basin on City property as well as improvements to the discharge outfalls to Calabazas Creek. All improvements have been designed in accordance with the recommendations of a comprehensive condition assessment and feasibility study conducted in 2011.
Design work is nearing completion and the process of obtaining permits for the portion of work in the seasonal wetlands preserve and Calabazas Creek is underway. The permits are expected to be issued in the fall of 2014. Construction is expected to take place after the rainy season in early summer 2015, however, the City is considering phasing construction of the project so that work on City property, which doesn't require additional permits, could begin as soon as summer 2014. The Baylands Storm Pump Station No. 2 Rehabilitation Project (Project Number 822762) budget includes $2,700,000 for construction and $410,000 for construction management.
EXISTING POLICY
General Plan Policy Goal EM-9: Maintain the storm drain system to prevent flooding.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In December 2013, the environmental sub-consultant for the project, David J. Powers & Associates, prepared an Initial Study (IS) for the Baylands Storm Pump Station No. 2 Rehabilitation Project. The IS determined that the proposed project could have a significant effect on the environment. However, revisions to the project were made or agreed to by the City that mitigate all identified impacts, thus resulting in no significant impact.
A Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration (available on the City website at: http://sunnyvale.ca.gov/Departments/PublicWorks/PublicWorksDivisions/Engineering.aspx) for the Baylands Storm Pump Station No. 2 Rehabilitation Project was prepared and circulated for public review from December 6, 2013 to January 6, 2014. The Final Mitigated Negative Declaration, including the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (Attachment 1) and the responses to comment letters (Attachment 2), is presented today for Council adoption.
DISCUSSION
The project includes modifications to an existing storm drain junction structure and the existing pump discharge outfalls into Calabazas Creek. These features are located in a seasonal wetlands preserve and a creek, respectively, and require mitigations to ensure that construction activities do not result in a significant effect on the environment. The mitigation measures outlined for the project are related to special status plant species, the salt marsh harvest mouse, the burrowing owl, other breeding birds and the potential inadvertent exposure of prehistoric or historic cultural resources, human remains and funerary objects during excavation. Measures will be taken to identify and avoid or protect these resources. The City will also ensure that all construction related hazardous materials and hazardous wastes shall be stored, handled and used in accordance with applicable laws, and that measures will be implemented to minimize and control construction runoff to protect hydrology and water quality. All of the potentially significant impacts were reduced to a less than significant level with mitigation measures proposed in the document.
In addition to the mitigation measures identified, permits from other agencies are anticipated to be necessary, based on the project description. Permits include: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Section 404 Nationwide Permit, Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Section 401 Certification, San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) permit for the outfall repairs, California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Streambed Alteration Permit 1601, and Santa Clara Valley Water District Encroachment Permit for Construction. The permitting agencies typically prefer to have the project CEQA document adopted by the lead agency before they will issue their respective permits.
The rehabilitation project is expected to be ready for construction bidding in the next few months. During construction, a qualified biological monitoring consultant will be involved in the project to ensure that all required mitigations are adhered to. In addition, the contractor will be required to provide storm water pumping for the duration of construction to handle any unexpected storm events.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact with the adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration. A construction contract will be brought to council for consideration at a later date.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
A notice was advertised in the local newspaper that the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration was available for public review and posted at the County Recorder's office, mailed to the County of Santa Clara, and sent to the California State Clearinghouse.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Baylands Storm Pump Station No. 2 Rehabilitation Project.
2. Do not adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Baylands Pump Station No. 2 Rehabilitation Project.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program for the Baylands Pump Station No. 2.
Staff
Prepared by: Nathan Scribner, Senior Engineer
Reviewed by: Kent Steffens, Director of Public Works
Approved by: Robert A. Walker, Interim City Manager
Attachments
ATTACHMENTS
1. Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program
2. Responses to Comment Letters