The council unanimously agreed that Seal Beach would share consulting costs with the county water district for water related-projects. The vote was 4-0. (District Five Councilman Nathan Steele was absent.) The maximum cost would be $49,450. The council also authorized the city manager to approve additional work requests up to $5,000. The expense will be budgeted in fiscal year 2025-26, according to the staff report.
This was a Consent Calendar item. Consent items are voted on collectively unless a council member pulls one for further discussion. Nothing was pulled from the Consent Calendar.
Background
The America’s Water Infrastructure Act mandates water systems that serve more than 3,300 people to identify risks and update their Risk/Resiliency Assessment and Emergency Response Plans every five years, according to the staff report by Public Works Director Iris Lee.
“Similar to the City’s Water and Wastewater Master Plans, this assessment will provide a framework on how to harden our utility systems. The City last certified its RRA and ERP in 2021, and will need to recertify by 2026,” Lee wrote.
“The Municipal Water District of Orange County (‘MWDOC’) is the administrator of the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County (‘WEROC’),” Lee wrote.
“WEROC provides countywide emergency preparedness for water and wastewater agencies, which includes AWIA compliance and managing the Orange County Multi-Jurisdictional Water and Wastewater Hazard Mitigation Plan (‘MJHMP’),” Lee wrote.
According to Lee, MWDOC has agreed to lead the Risk/Resiliency Assessment and Emergency Response Plan updates through a cost-sharing agreement.
According to Lee, Seal Beach’s participation would comply with America’s Water Infrastructure Act requirements with “economies of scale.”
“The City’s proportionate share is in a not-to-exceed total of $49,450. Staff further recommends establishing a contingency for additional work in the amount of $5,000,” Lee wrote.
The city’s part of the project would take place in fiscal year 2025-26.
“Accordingly, the committed cost-share amount would be budgeted and expended in the next fiscal year,” Lee wrote.
According to Lee, the Risk/Resiliency Assessment and Emergency Response Plan updates will contain sensitive information about Seal Beach’s infrastructure. According to Lee, the final assessment won’t be considered in an open City Council session and won’t be submitted to a public agency. According to Lee, the document would not be subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act or the federal Freedom of Information Act.
