HomeMy WebLinkAboutColma Creek Advisory Minutes 12-13-16San Mateo County Flood Control District
Colma Creek Flood Control Zone Citizen’s Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
I. CALL TO ORDER
Helen Fisicaro called to order the regular meeting of the Colma Creek Flood Control
Zone Citizen’s Advisory Committee at 3:05 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, in the
City of South San Francisco – Corporation Yard Conference Room, 550 North Canal
Street, South San Francisco.
II. ROLL CALL
Present:
Helen Fisicaro, Chair – Town of Colma
Gail DeFries, Member at Large – City of Daly City
Richard Irli, Member at Large – City of South San Francisco
Ed Bortoli, Member at Large – City of South San Francisco
Kamala Cynthia Silva Wolfe, Member at Large – City of South San Francisco
Mike Futrell – City of South San Francisco
Absent:
Judith Christensen – City of Daly City
Sue Digre – City of Pacifica
Irene O’Connell – City of San Bruno
Staff in Attendance:
Jim Porter – County of San Mateo (Director of PW/San Mateo County Flood Control
District)
Ann Stillman – County of San Mateo/San Mateo County Flood Control District
Mark Chow – County of San Mateo/San Mateo County Flood Control District
Michael Barber – County of San Mateo/Supervisor Dave Pine’s Office
John Fuller – City of Daly City
Erika Powell – San Mateo County Flood & Resiliency
Justin Lovell – City of South San Francisco
Ray Towne – City of South San Francisco
Marissa Garren – City of South San Francisco
Staff Absent:
Brad Donohue – Town of Colma
Rob Lecel – City of South San Francisco
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion – Richard Irli, Second – Gail DeFries. Minutes of the September 13, 2016
meeting were approved.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. South San Francisco resident Michael Harris commented on item nine under District
Projects regarding “Colma Creek Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Meetings”.
V. DISTRICT PROJECTS, ETC.: SUMMARIZED IN A HANDOUT AND
OPEN FOR ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION
1. El Camino Box Culvert and Mission Road Diversion Structure
Ann advised that there are no updates on this section of the channel to report.
2. BART Co-op Project
Ann advised that during the November 9, 2016 quarterly inspection, structural damage
was observed in the middle of the channel between the Centennial Way Trail/Oak
Avenue Bridge and the closed pedestrian bridge at the Antoinette Lane cul-de-sac.
Fissures and uplifting affecting flow were observed in the middle of the channel. In
addition, the Centennial Way Trail Bridge was displaying a considerable amount of
weather damage to the metal rails. See pictures below or Maintenance Matrix Binder.
District will investigate the issue with the channel bottom uplifting and make repairs, if
necessary. The City of S. San Francisco is responsible for any repairs to the metal rails on
the Centennial Way Trail/Oak Avenue Bridge.
3. Colma Creek Improvements between Spruce and San Mateo Avenues
Ann advised that there are no updates on this section of the channel to report except that
the District will continue to monitor this section of channel regularly for wall movement
or settlement at a segment of the south wall immediately downstream of the San Mateo
Avenue Bridge.
4. Mitigation Sites downstream of Utah Avenue
Ann advised that the District staff and Sheriff Work Program (SWP) participants
continue to perform planting, weeding, and trash pick-ups at the five Mitigation Sites (2a,
2b, 2c, 3, and 4). The next SWP cleanup date has been scheduled for December 17, 2016.
The District’s contractor, Ecological Concerns, Inc. (ECI), has continued to perform
monthly maintenance at Site 4 and quarterly maintenance at Sites 2 and 3. This schedule
was developed based on the amount of work anticipated to maintain the sites and increase
or sustain plant survival rate.
The following table summarizes the amount of trash removed from the Mitigation Sites
since 2005 and the trash pick-up dates from 2014 through 2016. An additional 9.82 CY
of trash have been removed from the Mitigation Sites since the last Advisory Committee
meeting.
Year
Amount of Trash
Removed
(Cubic Yard)
Event Dates *
2016 28.79 1/2, 1/23, 2/13, 2/27, 3/19, 4/16, 4/23, 5/14, 5/22,
6/11, 7/23, 8/20, 9/17, 9/24, 10/22, 11/5, 12/3
2015 38.98
1/10, 1/24, 2/7, 2/21, 3/7, 3/21, 4/4, 4/18, 5/2,
5/16, 6/20, 7/18, 8/15, 9/13, 9/19, 10/17, 11/14,
12/12 (18 times)
2014 26.34 1/25, 2/22, 4/26, 5/14, 5/17, 6/7, 6/28, 7/12, 7/19,
9/13, 9/20, 10/4, 10/25, 11/22, 12/13 (15 times)
2005 - 2013 476.76 12-19 times per year.
Total 570.87
* Number of event dates increased per mitigation required for Channel Wall Repair Upstream of Spruce Avenue.
5. Maintenance of Existing Channel
Ann advised that District staff met with the City of South San Francisco (City) Code
Enforcement and Public Works staff on October 7, 2016 to discuss logistics and
procedures in implementing the recently executed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
for shared services. The first task that City staff completed for the District under the
MOA was the repair and replacement of the damaged gate and fence at Produce Avenue
which was completed on November 9, 2016. As previously reported, the damaged gate
and fence was cited in the August 4, 2016 Notice of Violation (NOV) from the City. It is
also the District’s preference to utilize the City’s contractor to trim the vegetation within
the access roads at this location, which was also cited in the NOV.
The District performed a quarterly inspection of the Colma Creek Flood Control Channel
on November 9, 2016 (See Maintenance Matrix Binder). Representatives from the City
accompanied District staff during the inspection. Issues requiring enforcement by the
City or the Town of Colma have been forwarded to the respective entity.
The District continues to monitor the channel walls immediately upstream and
downstream of the Produce Avenue Bridge. Also as previously reported, the District
authorized CDM-Smith to perform geotechnical and geophysical investigations on the
cause of the wall movements, develop repair options, and prepare a report with
recommendations for a Not-to-Exceed amount of $260,320. Two borings outside of the
Caltrans right-of-way, as shown on the map below, have been completed (B-1 and B-2).
The remaining two borings within Caltrans right-of-way, which are more difficult to
access and would require coordination with Caltrans for traffic control to close the
US101 southbound exit ramp to southbound Produce Avenue and temporary lane
closures for both northbound and southbound Produce Avenue, will be done once the
District receives the encroachment permit from Caltrans. The encroachment permit was
initially submitted to Caltrans on September 27, 2016. On October 10, 2016 Caltrans
requested additional information on the traffic control plans. CDM-Smith is currently
working with sub-consultants to provide the District the information. The draft report and
alternative design concepts are anticipated to be submitted to the District within 4 months
after all borings have been completed.
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As previously noted, the District submitted the permit applications for the long-term
maintenance permit to the regulatory agencies on December 29, 2015 and the Initial
Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) to the State Clearing House on June 10,
2016. On October 18, 2016, the IS/MND was approved by the County Board of
Supervisors. The Notice of Determination was filed with the State Clearinghouse
thereafter to complete the CEQA process. The California Department of Fish and
Wildlife permit has been finalized and the District is prepared to sign it once permits
from the US Army Corps of Engineer and the State Regional Water Board have been
issued. The US Fish & Wildlife Service has completed its initial consultation for special
status species review and provided the District’s consultants with comments on
November 17, 2016. The District’s consultant is currently preparing a response to
address these comments.
6. Utah Avenue to Bay
Ann advised that as previously reported, the District submitted to the California
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) a full application for FEMA Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding of the flood walls downstream of the Utah
Avenue Bridge on June 16, 2016. A revised application was re-submitted on September
7, 2016 to include pre-award costs and address storm surge condition (in addition to the
100-year event, 100-year tide, 3 ft. of freeboard), and the SLR for the projected useful
life of the project, which increased the total project costs from $4,100,000 to $4,280,000.
The additional cost would be funded with Zone revenue as the maximum allowed grant
amount remains at $3,000,000. The District received a letter from CalOES dated October
28, 2016 with confirmation that the application has been put on a waiting list to be
submitted to FEMA if funding becomes available. CalOES indicated that FEMA may
take 3-6 months (from November 2016) to review the applications recommended for
funding. However, the District may proceed with the preliminary design of the project in
which case the expenditures would be considered as part of the 25% local match. Any
environmental permitting work would not qualify for funding if done prior to the award
of the grant.
7. Sea Level Rise Preparedness
Ann advised to see discussion under Utah Avenue to Bay section regarding potential
grant funds to include design elements to include SLR mitigation in the construction of
the project.
8. Multi-jurisdictional Regional Stormwater Capture Project at Orange
Memorial Park (SSF and San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention
Program)
According to the preliminary concepts developed by consultants, the project consists of
two offline subsurface infiltration chambers at Orange Memorial Park. The Park is a
prime location to site a regional stormwater capture project and captures stormwater from
large portion of the upper Colma Creek watershed and multiple city and county
jurisdictions. The potential capture area of the project is roughly 6,300 acres that drains
portions of the cities of South San Francisco, Colma, and Daly City and Unincorporated
San Mateo County. A stormwater capture project at this location would aid these
jurisdictions in meeting stormwater permit compliance and has the potential to alleviate
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flooding in the lower reaches of Colma Creek. The Project would also contribute to
reductions of high-priority pollutants discharged to San Francisco Bay (including TMDLs
that require reductions of mercury and PCB loads), augment water supply by recharging
the Westside groundwater basin, and provide community enhancement through
integration with the recreational facilities of the Park. With the incorporation of a
hydrodynamic separator for pretreatment of diverted water from the Creek, the project
also provides the reduction of trash transported through the Creek to the San Francisco
Bay. The Orange Memorial Park Master Plan (2007) was referenced in this design to
ensure that the concept is consistent with the goals of future development for the Park.
This Project currently has an estimated cost of approximately $34.5 million. On
December 6, 2016 staff from SSF, County Public Works and San Mateo Countywide
Water Pollution Prevention Program (SMCWPPP) met to discuss SSF’s current soils
investigation results on the site and it seems to be favorable for use as a stormwater
capture project. However, additional sampling would be needed to check the groundwater
to assess the probability of also using the project as a groundwater recharge project. Matt
Fabry of SMCWPPP suggested that given that this project site is in a disadvantaged
community (DAC), there were other grant opportunities that the City could apply for
such as the Natural Resources Conservation and EPA, that could help leverage the
pending contribution from Caltrans.
The City is preparing to include this project in their 2017 CIP package.
9. Colma Creek Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Meetings
Ann advised that the TAC met on October 11, 2016 to continue the discussion on
collaboration between the District and SSF, Daly City, and Colma for maintenance type
activities. A final maintenance agreement has been accepted by the County, SSF and
Colma. The agreement between SSF and the County has been executed and became
effective October 12, 2016. The Town of Colma anticipates having its Council approve
the MOA at their meeting in January 2017.
The TAC also discussed ideas for future capital improvement projects to add to the
existing list and process for developing new design standards to address SLR. The TAC
recommends a project to be added to the CIP list for the development of a hydrologic
analysis of the entire flood control channel (may or may not include underground box
culverts) for design standard similar to those required for the HGMP grant application
(i.e. storm surge condition, 100-year event, 100-year tide, 3 ft. of freeboard and SLR).
The results of the analysis would be used to develop a new master plan or similar
document for the foreseeable future.
Robert Hahn mentioned that the City received a set of plans for Costco on El Camino
Real who intends to expand their parking lot across the channel and move their gas
pumps. He inquired to see who that section of the channel belongs to. Mark Chow
responded that it is private property part of the Old Colma Creek Channel. Ray Towne
added that it takes public water runoff from upstream. Mr. Hahn also inquired on the
section of the creek adjacent to Trader Joe’s is part of the Flood Control District’s
channel, however at Costco has a conflict to the District’s downstream channel. Mark
added that comments have been provided to the City’s Planning Division for the Costco
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plans. One concern is the enlarging the channel within the property into two or three
section box culverts larger than the existing channel. He added that they will need to run
a model to show the upstream improvements won’t affect the downstream.
South San Francisco resident Mike Harris added that the section of Colma Creek by
Trader Joe’s and Costco was obstructed badly during the recent set of storms by flowing
debris from overgrown vegetation. The section of creek near Oak Avenue acted as a dam
also. If area [in Costco property] is covered, it will make the situation worse and harder to
access it to clear out the vegetation.
Chairperson Fisicaro inquired on the status of gaining access of the Creek for graffiti
abatement, trash clean up, but agencies need to issue permits allowing access. Ann
Stillman responded that the MOA will allow South San Francisco staff to clean up some
areas without the long term permit in place. Helen added that there is an ongoing graffiti
issue located in the section of Colma Creek behind the Verano housing development in
Colma. The property owners have had safety concerns due to the graffiti in the Creek
caused by delinquents. Mark Chow responded that since the signing of the MOA, South
San Francisco staff said that they would use water-based paint to avoid contamination of
the Creek.
Member at Large Richard Irli added that there is only one access point to the Creek,
which is located on Orange Avenue.
Member at Large Kamala Silva presented pictures to the Committee of the graffiti in the
Creek seen by Trader Joe’s and another located downstream by Mitchell Avenue.
Chairperson Fisicaro added on the idea of installing cameras in the Creek to capture
illegal dumping.
Mr. Harris commented that a bridge at Oak Avenue and Antoinette Lane which was
closed several years ago. He added that it is dangerous and isn’t ADA compliant and that
Code Enforcement Inspector Tom Carney inspected the bridge recently. South San
Francisco City Manager Mike Futrell replied that the bridge is owned by the Successor
Agency and that the site will go out for development in 2017. Once the City is guaranteed
on finances to demolish the bridge, city staff will move forward. Otherwise, the
developer building on that property will take responsibility.
Mike Harris also added that the Community Participation Task Force for the City of
South San Francisco, led by Tom Carney, will be meeting tomorrow. City Manager Mike
Futrell added that this group gathers around the City to plant trees and clean up illegal
dumping.
VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS
· Colma Creek Flood Control Zone Financial Summary: Ann distributed the
updated Financial Summary showing revenue for FY 16-17 thus far along with
expenditures.
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· Colma Creek Capital Improvement Project (CIP) List: Ann updated the
Committee with the status of the current CIP projects. The highlighted
information has been modified/updated since the last Committee meeting.
· New Advisory Committee Members: Kamala Cynthia Silva Wolfe is the
Committee’s new Member at Large. An updated Members List is attached.
VII. ACTION ITEMS
· Approve Committee Meeting Dates for 2017: The Committee reviewed and
approved the 2017 proposed meeting dates of March 14, June 13, September 12
and December 12.
ADJOURNMENT
Helen Fisicaro adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m.
Next meeting: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 3:00 p.m.
City of South San Francisco
Corporation Yard Conference Room
550 North Canal Street
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Minutes submitted by: Marissa Garren, City of South San Francisco