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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1980/10/07 Item 7 COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT Item. 7 . Meeting Date__~O-7-80 ITEM TITLE: Resolution/,.?J".t Requesting that the Army Corps of Engineers restudy various aspects of their Detailed Project Report on Telegraph Canyon Creek Flood Control SUBMITTED BY: Ci ty Eng ineer ~fV (4/5ths Vote: Yes_ N.o~J Following an extended period of study and consultation with City and County staffs the Army Corps of Engineers published its Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Telegraph Canyon Creek Flood Control Project. The recommended improvements per that report include above-ground channel walls (near Ratner Corporation property) and a broad unlined channel through SDG&E Company property. The report is currently at the Corps' San Francisco office awaiting Area Headquarters' approval. The Corps regards the concepts depicted in the report as final plans subject only to minor modification. City staff has on several occasions voiced its concern over the two aforementioned design features and its interest in investigating alternative solutions. The design features described above do not appear to be the most appropriate for the situation. Corps representatives admit that portions of the design were undertaken apparently without sufficient knowledge of existing conditions. However, in order to conform with Corps' standard procedures it is necessary that the local agencies formally request that the project be restudied. It is therefore my RECOMMENDATION: That Council formally support a restudy of the Telegraph Canyon Creek Flood Control Project. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable. DISCUSSION: This disagreement between the local agencies and the Corps arose in part because of County and City staff's lack of understanding of Corps of Engineers procedures and nomenclature. Also contributory must be the shifts in Corps' personnel which have taken place over the long period of design. Whatever the cause, engineering staffs of both the County and Chula Vista feel that the design could be significantly improved. The above-ground channel walls proposed west of Broadway are objectionable from both aesthetic and practical viewpoints. Owners of property in the area have voiced strong objections to the visual impact of a structure hundreds of feet long and up to 15 feet high. They are also concerned in some instances that such a structure will seriously hinder access to all or a portion of their properties. Engineering staff met with a majority of the property owners involved to determine if there was any property owner interest in bearing some of the additional cost likely to be involved in enclosing and undergrounding I07-'i'c Form A-113 (Rev. 11/79) Continued EXHIBITS Agreement____ Resolut1on~ Ordinance____ Plat____ Notification List Other ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT: Attached Submitted on - ---- ------------------------___n_ Page 2 I Item 7 Meeting Date 10-7-80 .: the structure. Many indicated interest but were reluctant to make a commitment without reasonable knowledge of the dollar amounts involved. Engineering staff projects that much of the increased construction costs involved in undergrounding the structure would be offset by reduced right-of-way width and expense. Some property owners indicated a willingness to both "donate" right-of-way and cash if the structure can be undergrounded. Such action could significantly reduce local government's financial involvement. At the downstream end of the project through SDG&E Company property the report calls for a wide unlined channel. Utility Company representatives have expressed concern to both the City staff and the Corps that such a proposal would result in unnecessary disruption of the many utility facilities in the area. On the basis of cursory Engineering staff investigation it appears that the required utility relocations could be significantly reduced through modification of the Co rps Repo r t. There is al so a po ten ti al fo r red uc ed rig ht-of-wa y expense. These savings would be offset by increased costs in lining the channel. The Corps has projected that a restudy will postpone construction by at least one year. Any such delay will probably result in increased project costs because of inflation. The maximum amount that the Corps can spend in a minor project is 3 million dollars. We believe the current project will cost more than that and therefore, City and County would have to pick up additional construction costs as well as normal right-of-way and utility relocation costs. The State Department of Water Resources reimburses local governments for portions of the right- of-way and utility relocation costs. Legislation is currently being considered by both houses of Congress which would raise the limit on Federal participation in minor projects such as Telegraph Canyon Creek. We've been told that the increase cost for Federal participation is proposed to range from 3.75 to 5 million dollars. So on the one hand, total project costs will most likely increase due to a delay, however, on the other hand, local participation would remain stable or decrease. Taking into consideration the above arguments, I recommend that Council request that the project be restudied. County Engineering staff members have participated in development of the project since its inception since approximately half of the total project length is situated in unincorporated territory. County Engineering staff is also disatisfied with similar aspects of the Detailed Project Report. They are in process of recommending that the Board of Supervisor's request a restudy of the project. The County is acting as lead agency for the project. All correspondence to the Corps of Engineers is appropriately routed via the County. (02 ~ L- Page 3, Item Meeting Date 7 10-7-80 FISCAL IMPACT: No direct fiscal impact is involved. The recommended restudy of the project is expected to delay the project which, in turn, will probably result in increased total cost because of inflation. Ultimate cost to the City is not now predictable because of shifting Federal and State policies relative to their participation. WEH:nr/ ~'~"-...T _. , :~ ;; ~ ~ iJ ~ /d ,. /'- pd I~_.- __'_" ( 6 2-)j' 2...