New Santa Monica Council to Tackle $2 Million Consent Calendar

December 12, 2012 -- After swearing in two new members Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Council will look at a consent calendar with more than $2 million of expenses.

The lion's share of that total comes from an $882,000 contract with Carbon Activated Corporation to change the granular activated carbon (GAC) filters at the Charnock Well Field.

The contract could cost as much as $3,341,000 over three years.

“The periodic replacement of GAC filtration media is required for the removal of contaminants in the groundwater at the Charnock Well Field,” staff wrote.

The GAC filters remove chemical contaminents from the groundwater at the Charnock Well Field, which provides some 8.5 million gallons of drinking water daily to Santa Monica residents.

“Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration media is required for the removal of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) and other volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in contaminated groundwater at the Charnock Well Field,” staff said. “GAC filtration media must be replaced periodically to optimize the removal of MTBE, TBA and other VOCs.”

Water from the three well fields is treated at the Santa Monica Water Treatment Plant, built after the City won a significant legal settlement against three major oil companies that contaminated the city's drinking water.

Shell, Mobile and Chevron agreed to pay $92.5 million as well as build and maintain the water treatment plant, which opened in 2010.

The new Council will also be asked to approve a $460,000 contract to Super Seal and Stripe for the periodic restriping of crosswalks "to ensure the traffic markings delineated are visible,” staff wrote.

Part of the costs of restriping comes from the logistics of rerouting traffic and removing old markings.

“This work involves the shutdown or alteration of traffic patterns at busy intersections, as well as the grinding and removal of remaining markings, surface preparation and the installation of new striping materials,” staff wrote.

“Due to traffic management needs, this work must be conducted outside of normal operating hours and with a potentially larger and more specialized staff,” according to staff.

A Kentucky-based company called Galls could get a $233,613 contract to provide Santa Monica's police and firefighters with uniforms and equipment.

The contract can be extended up to three years for a total of $700,839.

The Council will be asked to extend a two-year agreement with TCS Risk Management Services, LLC, by three more years, increasing the agreement by $107,400. The new contract totals $166,150.

TCS prepares “quarterly reports detailing the financial and operational position of the Workers’ Compensation Program,” staff wrote.

The Council will also be asked to approve a five-year agreement with with Westchester Medical Group Center for Heart and Health for $25,000 a year. The Center would provide SMPD personnel with an annual physical, which consists of blood analysis, urinalysis, body composition among other things, according to staff.

Finally, a special joint meeting of the City Council, the Redevelopment Successor Agency and the Parking Authority will convene to decide whether to give Public Resources Advisory Group a five-year, $250,000 contract.

The three government bodies "utilize professional financial advisory firm services to assist in financial planning and debt management activities,” staff wrote.