AgdaPkt 2002-02-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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IREPORT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager February 11, 2002 Subject Groundwater Contamination - Vicinity of El Camino Real / Jefferson Avenue Recommendation By motion: 1. Authorize the City Attorney to execute a professional services agreement with Harding ESE, Inc. for environmental engineering services relating to alleged groundwater contamination. 2. Authorize termination of professional services agreement with Subsurface Consultants, Inc. Background In September 1996, the City Council approved and authorized an agreement with Subsurface Consultants, Inc. to perform specialized professional engineering and consulting services related to ground water conditions in the El Camino Real / Jefferson Avenue area, adjacent to Sequoia Station. Since that time, Subsurface has performed a variety of technical tasks and consulting services as the City has responded to State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) inquiries and directives. Work products included a significant report to the RWQCB in July 2000. The work to date has been conducted under the direction of the City Attorney, with support from the Public Works Services Department staff. On December 18, 2000, the City Council authorized Task Order No. 4 to the Subsurface agreement in the amount of $80,340 with an extension of agreement term to June 30, 2001. At that juncture the City Attorney and PWS staff had agreed to a scope of services for preparation of the environmental site characterization, preparation of report and plan and follow-up with RWQCB staff by Subsurface Consultants, Inc., in anticipation of next steps. That response came in the form of a "work plan" from the RWQCB in March 2001. With the changes in city attorney services and a subsequent staff change at Subsurface Consultants, staff Is recommending that the City Council authorize the termination of the agreement with Subsurface Consultants Inc. and authorize the City Attorney to enter into a new professional services agreement with Harding ESE. The primary motivation for this change in firms is for the City Attorney to retain the services of Mr. Terence McManus, professional environmental scientist, who has served as the principle consultant and point- of-contact to the City for the duration of this activity. His knowledge of the specific technical issues, presence in numerous meetings and discussions with the RWQCB staff, and his credibility with all associated parties has served the City well. He has recently changed employers, moving from Subsurface to Harding, and has submitted a proposal (see attached "Exhibit A") to continue the work as previously mapped out and approved by the RWQCB. 1 of 2