To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Phil Brun, Utilities Director
Prepared By: Victor Gonzalez, Assistant Engineer
TITLE:
Title
Transmission Valve Installation Hazard Mitigation Grant
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution 1) authorizing the Utilities Director to submit an application to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal-OES) and to execute all documents necessary to secure Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding in an amount of up to $1,944,750, with a City matching obligation of up to $648,250, for the Transmission Valve Installation Project DR4431-AP-00596; 2) amending the budget to add a new CIP Project, Transmission Main Improvements (53104-WX22UT05), and approving an increase of revenue and expenditures budget in the amount of $2,593,000, and 3) authorizing a transfer of funds in the amount of $648,250 from water fund capital reserve account to water capital expenditure budget as documented in budget adjustment BE2205501.
Body
DISCUSSION:
After federally declared disasters, FEMA makes Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (“HMGP”) funds available for improvements to mitigate damage in future disasters. The Transmission Valve Installation Project will reduce or prevent Property Damage and Loss of Critical Drinking Water and Fire Protection for Infrastructure by increasing water system reliability for the City of Napa and all its customers.
On August 24, 2014, at 3:20 a.m. the magnitude 6.0 South Napa Earthquake occurred on the West Napa Fault. The extensive ground movement resulted in 120 water main breaks on the distribution system within the first six days. During the following six months, the water system experienced an additional 121 water main breaks including three failures on the 36-inch major transmission main. The 36-inch transmission main is critical to supplying sufficient water to the service area. The section of transmission main from the Barwick Jamieson Treatment Plant on the south side of the water system is composed of asbestos cement (AC) pipe. This type of pipe is subject to failure due to earth movement. Failures of AC pipe tend to be catastrophic in nature because the pipe self-erodes resulting in a large break and greater water loss. When this occurs the water system rapidly loses in-system storage and tanks begin to drain as the system feeds the leak.
The proposed Water Transmission Main Control and Automated Valve Installation AP-00596 (Project) includes installing eleven (11) valves in the transmission main system. Five (5) of these valves will include electric actuators that will be programmed into the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system. This will allow the water treatment facility operator to press a button that starts the controlled slow manipulation of the valve to isolate the segment of pipe to stop the leak and prevent pipe erosion and system storage loss. The time gained in isolating the leak in an emergency situation is critical. In addition, six (6) manually operated valves will be installed to decrease the length of pipe that needs to be shut down in order to facilitate repairs.
FEMA HMGP Costs are shared 75% Cal OES: 25% City of Napa water fund. The water fund 25% proportionate share is $648,250. The proposed Council action encompasses the Grant submission and City’s funding obligation.
Once the Project grant is authorized by FEMA, Staff will finalize Project design and issue an invitation for bids. Staff will return to City Council to seek approval to authorize an agreement for construction at a future date.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
Project revenue and expenditures in the amount of $2,593,000 are established in Transmission Main Improvements capital improvement account 53104-WX22UT05. Grant funds revenue in the amount of $1,944,750 are budgeted to reflect the expected FEMA HMGP funds 75% proportional share. Match funds in the amount of $648,250 for the City’s 25% proportionate share of the Transmission Valve Installation Project are shown in the proposed Resolution and Budget Adjustment No. BE2205501.
CEQA:
The Utilities Director has determined that the Recommended Action described in this Agenda Report is not in-and-of-itself a “project” (pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378) since it does not result in a physical change in the environment.
However, the Recommended Action is a part of a larger “project” that will be subject to environmental review in accordance with CEQA at the “earliest feasible time” prior to “approval” consistent with CEQA Guidelines Sections 15004 and 15352. The larger “project” is Transmission Main Valve Installation, and staff plans to bring back a CEQA analysis to Council prior to approval to construct the Project.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Resolution
EX A - Budget Adjustment No. BE2205501
NOTIFICATION:
None.