HomeMy WebLinkAboutColma Creek Advisory Minutes 06-12-18 Final (2)Page M1 of M6
San Mateo County Flood Control District
Colma Creek Flood Control Zone Citizens Advisory Committee
Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
I. CALL TO ORDER
Helen Fisicaro called to order the regular meeting of the Colma Creek Flood Control Zone
Citizen’s Advisory Committee at 3:07 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2018, in the City of South San
Francisco – Corporation Yard Conference Room, 550 North Canal Street, South San Francisco.
II. ROLL CALL
Members:
Present Absent
Helen Fisicaro, Chair – Town of Colma
Irene O’Connell – City of San Bruno
Judith Christensen – City of Daly City
Sue Digre – City of Pacifica
Richard Irli, 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
Gail DeFries, Member at Large – City of Daly City
Ed Bortoli, Member at Large – City of South San Francisco
Staff:
Present Absent
Ann Stillman – County of San Mateo/San Mateo County Flood Control District
Jim Porter – County of San Mateo (Director of PW/San Mateo County Flood
Control District)
Michael Barber – County of San Mateo/Supervisor Dave Pine’s Office
Mark Chow – County of San Mateo/San Mateo County Flood Control District
Brad Donohue – Town of Colma
John Fuller – City of Daly City
Kari Jung – City of South San Francisco
Justin Lovell – City of South San Francisco
Ken Anderson – City of South San Francisco
Erika Powell – San Mateo County Flood Resilience Program
Eunejune Kim – City of South San Francisco
Mo Sharma – City of South San Francisco
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion – Irene O’Connell, Second – Judith Christensen.
Minutes of the March 13, 2018, meeting were approved.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT
No members of the public were present.
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V. DISTRICT PROJECTS, ETC.: SUMMARIZED IN A HANDOUT AND OPEN FOR
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION
El Camino Box Culvert and Mission Road Diversion Structure
Ann reminded the committee, as previously reported, the District selected the consultant firm
of CDM-Smith to perform a condition assessment of the box culverts starting approximately
300 feet north of the intersection of El Camino Real and “A” Street in Daly City to the
beginning of the BART section at the Treasure Island Mobile Home Park. The total length of
culvert to be inspected was approximately 8,660 feet or 1.6 miles, which included the
segment under Mission Road that is approximately 1,089 feet and consists of a double box
(two boxes placed side by side).
The inspection of the box culverts was completed in May 2018, by physical inspection. The
Consultant is currently reviewing and analyzing the results and preparing a draft report on the
current condition of the box culverts for the District’s review. The draft report will include
maps, photos, drawings, detailed observations, measurements, recommendations, and is
expected to be completed in July of 2018.
BART Co-op Project
Ann reported that the District has requested the Town of Colma (Town) to perform graffiti
abatement at the diversion structure and the channel wall immediately downstream of the
Mission Road box culverts per the existing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). New
graffiti was observed by District staff during the last quarterly inspection on May 1, 2018.
Photos have been added to the binder.
Colma Creek Improvements between Spruce and San Mateo Avenues
Ann advised that the District has requested the City of South San Francisco (City) to repair
an opening (damage) in the gate to the access road at San Mateo Avenue per the MOA. The
damaged fence was observed by District staff during the May 1, 2018, quarterly inspection.
The District continues 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. Additional photos have been added to the Maintenance Matrix Monitoring binder.
Mitigation Sites downstream of Utah Avenue
Ann provided updates regarding District staff and Sheriff Work Program (SWP) participants
continued planting, weeding, and trash pick-ups at the five Mitigation Sites (2a, 2b, 2c, 3,
and 4). The next SWP cleanup date was scheduled for June 30, 2018.
Additionally, the District hosted cleanup events for Earth Day and National Rivers Cleanup
Day on April 21, 2018, and May 19, 2018, with the assistance of the City of South San
Francisco’s Environmental Compliance Program. The April 21st event included 20 volunteers
primarily from Highlands Christian School and South San Francisco High School, and the
May 19th event consisted of 15 volunteers from Highlands Christian School and Mills High
School.
The following table summarizes the amount of trash removed from the Mitigation Sites since
2005 and the trash pick-up dates from 2017 through 2018. An additional 10.45 CY of trash
have been removed from the Mitigation Sites since the last Advisory Committee meeting.
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Year
Amount of
Trash Removed
(Cubic Yard)
Event Dates *
2018 15.68
1/6, 1/20, 1/27, 2/10, 2/24, 3/17, 4/21, 4/28, 5/19, 5/26
2017 41.80 1/7, 1/21, 2/4, 2/18, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 4/1, 4/22, 5/6, 5/20, 6/17,
7/15, 8/19, 9/16, 9/30, 10/21, 11/18, 12/2, 12/21 (20 times)
2005 - 2016 575.08 12-19 times per year.
Total 632.56
* Number of event dates increased per mitigation required for Channel Wall Repair Upstream of Spruce Avenue.
Maintenance of Existing Channel
Ann reported on the quarterly inspection of the Colma Creek Flood Control Channel
performed on May 1, 2018 (See Maintenance Matrix Binder). Representatives from the City
of South San Francisco accompanied District staff during the inspection. Illegal dumping of
garbage, furniture, and construction debris along the channel walls near Mitchell Avenue
(between S. Airport Blvd. and Utah Avenue) is a significant problem and several homeless
inhabitants appear to be living out of vehicles parked in the vicinity. Issues requiring
enforcement by the City of South San Francisco or the Town of Colma have been forwarded
to the respective entity. Ann reminded the committee that access is limited. Helen inquired
about the potential of utilizing cameras to deter people from poor behavior. Dumping is
widespread problem and engaging a sense of community responsibility has made an impact
in other entities. Irene inquired about the use of graffiti resistant paint. Ann reminded the
committee that the potential runoff into the creek prevents use of the graffiti resistant paint.
As required by the long-term maintenance permits issued in 2017, the District submitted the
Notification for Proposed Activities to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife for
maintenance work during the 2018 season. Proposed activities include: channel bottom repair
near Antoinette Lane; removal of sediment in the channel near the Produce Avenue bridge;
grouting of 4 culvert outlets near Antoinette Lane; graffiti abatement; fence repair; and
vegetation removal. Additional maintenance activities may be added with advance
notification to the agencies.
Produce Avenue – Channel Wall Project
Ann updated the committee regarding the work stoppage on this project due to reallocation of
budget in the consultant’s contract. The District would like to review the outcomes from the
box culvert inspection and condition assessment project reports prior to moving forward with
this project. As previously reported, the consultant CDM-Smith was retained to develop
concepts for the repair of the channel walls. To facilitate the inspection of the box culverts in
the upper reach of the channel, CDM-Smith’s budget initially allocated for the next phase of
this project was reassigned to the box culvert inspection work. Based on cost estimates
provided by CDM-Smith, the additional budget required to complete additional analysis and
engineering design of the selected concept for the project would exceed the amount approved
by the Board of Supervisors on the current agreement which is to expire in November 2018.
They may be performed by another consultant or continued by CDM-Smith if a new
agreement is awarded by the County. The District is considering the options for completion
of this project work in 2019 and the preferred path forward. The District continues to monitor
the channel walls immediately upstream and downstream of the Produce Avenue Bridge.
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Utah Avenue to Bay
Ann reminded the committee that the District has previously submitted to the California
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) multiple applications for FEMA Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding of the flood walls downstream of the Utah
Avenue bridge (to Navigable Slough) since June 2016. On November 30, 2017, CalOES
informed the District that it has completed its review of the application and has submitted it
to FEMA for grant review and funding consideration. On February 24, 2018, CalOES
provided an update on the FEMA review which stated that it is now in Environmental
Review process, which could take anywhere from several months to years to approve. While
the District continues to wait for a decision from FEMA the preliminary design of the project
is in progress. The consultants selected for the design completed the 95% design submittal in
February 2018. We plan to finalize the design by the end of 2018 in anticipation to
commence construction in 2019.
The District received an e-mail from FEMA on May 28, 2018, requesting a meeting with
FEMA’s environmental contractor to perform a site visit. The meeting occurred on June 6,
2018, at 10:00 am. Overall the meeting went well and the information provided by District
staff will allow FEMA to continue with their environmental compliance process. On June 1,
2018, FEMA requested additional information on the culverts proposed to be replaced with
the Project. District staff provided responses to the latest request to FEMA on June 5, 2018.
Irene inquired whether the project could include Navigable Slough? Ann indicated that the
District would like to coordinate this project with work currently being evaluated for the
Navigable Slough project. Specific questions to be addressed should include after storm
water enters the slough, what happens further downstream? Additionally, the District needs
to make a decision whether to continue to wait for FEMA funding to move forward with
construction once the final design is completed or to go forward without FEMA funding in
place.
Sea Level Rise Preparedness
Ann reminded the committee that the HASSELL+ team of the Resilient by Design | Bay
Area Challenge (RbD) presented its final design for Resilient South City on May 31, 2018.
The presentation and related documents may be viewed by accessing the site at
http://www.resilientbayarea.org/south-san-francisco/. Nothing additional has occurred since.
Multi-jurisdictional Regional Stormwater Capture Project at Orange Memorial Park (SSF and
San Mateo Countywide Water Pollution Prevention Program)
Ann provided an update to the committee that a funding agreement between the City of
South San Francisco and Caltrans for this project was approved by the City Council on April
26, 2017. The City awarded the design contract to Lotus Water, a water resource and civil
engineering design firm located in San Francisco, on January 24, 2018. The City anticipates
that three alternatives developed based on recent geotechnical investigations and other
preliminary work will be presented to the City Council in June 2018. The draft scope of work
for design is expected to be completed by the end of 2018 and actual design is scheduled to
begin in early 2019.
The City also formed a project Steering Committee and invited District staff and Erika
Powell of the County Flood Resilience Program to participate in the Committee. The first of
three Steering Committee meetings has been scheduled for June 20, 2018.
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Colma Creek Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
The TAC met on May 4, 2018. Items of discussion included the following:
1. May 1, 2018 Quarterly Inspection MOA Work Items for City and Town
2. Colma Creek Capital Improvement Program
a. El Camino Real/Mission Road Box Culvert Condition Inspection
b. Drainage Improvement Project (Utah Avenue to Navigable Slough Flood Wall)
95% Design Submittal Review
c. Historical Hydraulic Models
d. Master Plan and Hydrologic Analysis of Channel (Project #8 on CIP List) –
Develop scope of work for Colma Creek modeling
e. Orange Park Stormwater Capture Project Update
3. Long-term Maintenance Permit Projects
a. Drainage Culvert Replacement (S. Airport Blvd. to Utah Avenue)
b. Channel Bottom Repair (Oak Avenue)
c. Sediment Removal at Produce Avenue
d. Channel Wall Expansion Joint Material Replacement (Mission Road to Costco
pedestrian bridge)
4. Other items – Closing remarks by Representative Jackie Speier at the water summit
“Floods, Drought, Rising Seas, Oh My!” hosted by San Mateo County and City/County
Association of Governments (C/CAG) on March 30, 2018 which used the examples of
the San Francisco Port Authority and the Santa Clara Valley Water District and their
abilities to obtain federal funds and implement projects that San Mateo County seems to
lack. Rep. Speier’s urgent message was that the sea is rising and the County is not
prepared. She urged that San Mateo County cities must create a joint agency, along with
the County, to ask for federal help with the rising cost of coping with this global stress. In
addition, the County and C/CAG have been in discussions on the formation of a County-
wide Water Agency which could potentially function as an unified voice on issues related
to flood control, water, and sea level rise preparedness.
District provided copies of the 95% design plans for the Utah Avenue to Navigable
Slough Flood Wall Project to the TAC members and requested their review and
comments on the plans. The TAC recommended that the idea of a joint agency presented
by Rep. Speier and the County-wide Water Agency (item #4 above) be placed on the
June 12, 2018 Citizens Advisory Committee meeting agenda for discussion.
VI. DISCUSSION ITEMS
Colma Creek Flood Control Zone Financial Summary
Colma Creek CIP Project List – Each item was discussed in full detail regarding
options for proceeding as well as addressing who/how the masterplan is derived
and/or revised. Michael Barber discussed potential outcomes from Resilient by
Design, including wiping out of the concrete and returning the channel to a natural
state with flood control. Construction funding was not accounted for, only design
funding and therefore it may be more manageable to break the overall plan into
smaller projects and apply for grants. Discussion circled back to the current list of
CIP projects and taking a different perspective of looking at how each project
(section of the channel) affects all of the others. Jim Porter asserted that the
hydraulic study would determine the critical paths on how to move forward with the
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project list. Ann Stillman reminded the committee that the OMP Stormwater
Capture Project will impact what is occurring downstream and needs to be
considered parallel with the 100 year storm event study. Should the projects be split
out between maintenance of the current channel and the new and ongoing projects?
Overall, permitting has been the main holdup in the past. Now that the permits are
in place the committee needs to make the maintenance projects a priority. Helen
reminded the committee that the District formed this committee due to flooding and
that the mission may be changing with NPDES taking precedence going forward.
New philosophy with retrofitting should be that the velocity if higher in the center.
Helen tied the ongoing conversations together stating that the District and
Committee need to decide when and where to start the work now that funding is
available to go forward on a number of the items. Overall the projects need to be
prioritized to determine what should be started now and what can be pushed out
further into the future to coordinate with the studies, planning, and other projects.
Mike Futrell advised the group that the City of South San Francisco and Hassel
Group are continuing conversations to look into follow-up paths for funding to turn
the project into actual work. Jim Porter reminded the committee that when looking
at potential projects to take into consideration what impact the project may have
further downstream from its site and to ensure that no further harm is done.
Advisory Committee Members:
1) Town of Colma on Dec. 13, 2017 re-appointed Helen Fisicaro to the Committee
for another 4-year term expiring March 31, 2022.
2) City of Daly City on Mar. 26, 2018 re-appointed Judith Christensen to the
Committee for another 4-year term expiring March 31, 2022.
3) City of S. San Francisco on Mar. 14, 2018 re-appointed Mike Futrell to the
Committee for another 4-year term expiring on March 31, 2022.
4) City of Daly City on Mar. 26, 2018 endorsed Gail DeFries as “At Large”
member for another 4-year term expiring March 31, 2022.
5) Confirmation of the re-appointment of Ed Bortoli (City of SSF) as “At Large”
member is scheduled to occur in 2018.
Plan for Future County-wide Flood Control/Water Agency
o Jim Porter introduced the plan and discussed the benefits of taking a regional
approach to flood resilience (water knows no boundaries). C/CAG plans to retain
a consultant to look at: What are other counties doing? How will cities benefit?
Who are the willing participants? Irene offered that it effects and therefore can
benefit all, regardless of locale.
VII. ACTION ITEMS
None
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Helen Fisicaro adjourned the meeting at 4:40 pm.
Next meeting: Tuesday, September 11, 2018, at 3:00 p.m.
City of South San Francisco
Corporation Yard Conference Room
550 North Canal Street
South San Francisco, CA 94080