Increased project costs slowed execution of bonds
Millions in parcel tax revenues idling in city coffers could soon be expended to pay for storm drain replacement projects, an announced timeline this week coming nearly two years after voters approved to clean some of the dirtiest beaches in the state.
Approximately 67 percent of Santa Monica voters approved Measure V — the Clean Beaches and Oceans Parcel Tax — in November 2006, authorizing City Hall to levy a property tax to fund projects listed in the Watershed Management Plan, which seeks to reduce urban runoff pollution and increase water reuse and conservation.
The measure has generated more than $2.35 million and is expected to pull in another $2.5 million by the end of the next fiscal cycle.
Since the measure’s passage, City Hall has begun initiating the sale of municipal bonds, hoping to gain more than $25 million to pay for the design and construction of the highest priority projects, which include upgrades of the Santa Monica Urban Runoff Recycling Facility (SMURRF) and the replacement of the Santa Monica Pier storm drain.
Councilmember Bobby Shriver, who was one of the proponents of Measure V, said he found it unacceptable that a city which prides itself in environmental initiatives would have one of the dirtiest beaches in the state, second only to Avalon Beach, according to the report.
“(People) want to be able to not get sick when they swim,” Shriver said during a City Council meeting on Tuesday. “We really need to hunker down.”
City Hall is in the process of hiring a firm to design the pier storm drain replacement and a manager to oversee the project until a storm water engineer is retained early next year. Once the design of the project is finished, city officials will have a better idea as to when the storm drain will be completed, according to City Manager Lamont Ewell.
The storm water engineer, a recommendation of the city’s Environmental Task Force, will be paid with Measure V funds. The pier storm drain project is estimated to cost $2 million.
The council also helped get the ball rolling when it established the Measure V Citizens Oversight Committee on Tuesday. The committee, which is mandated by the measure, will be responsible for auditing expenditures.
Ewell said the delay in moving the project forward can be attributed to two factors — the loss of Environmental and Public Works Director Craig Perkins earlier this year; and an unanticipated 500 percent increase in the amount of money City Hall will contribute for water clean-up projects with the city of L.A.
“This is the highest priority for the city,” Ewell said about the pier storm drain project.
City Hall entered an agreement to contribute roughly $283,000 a year to fund several water quality improvement projects with Los Angeles. Deemed as insufficient by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the project expanded in scope and Santa Monica’s annual contribution ballooned to more than $1.7 million a year as a result.
City officials only learned of the new figure about a month ago, Ewell said.
“We think we’re back on track now,” Ewell said.
Among the priority projects listed in the Watershed Management Plan are the Pico-Kenter storm drain improvement, the Bicknell Green Street Project and future beach greening parking lot conversions.
The first beach green lot opened in Ocean Park earlier this month, combining open space with an infiltration system designed to stop pollutants from entering the Santa Monica Bay. The 83 parking spaces at the beach lot were removed and replaced with a special type of grass called Netlawn, which is designed to accommodate cars when necessary.
City councilmembers urged staff to expedite the projects.
“We need to move forward in an extremely aggressive way on this,” Shriver said.
Jump hedline: Increased project costs slowed execution of bonds
Suggested pullquote: “This is the highest priority for the city.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 29, 2008. Read the original PDF.