In order to create a comprehensive map of all storm drains in Orinda, the city council has authorized staff to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) seeking bids on the job. Although there are some existing maps, primarily of public storm drains, the city lacks an up-to-date map of the storm drains, both public and private.
The work of compiling the data for the map has been estimated by Orinda staff at somewhat over $500,000. Council member Brandyn Iverson questioned why the city needed to have an outside contract for the work of gathering data and preparing the map. She wondered if it could be done cheaper in-house. Her budgetary concerns drew an impassioned response from Mayor Darlene Gee.
Gee, who is by profession a transportation engineer, defended the high level of expertise in the industry. She focused on the millions of dollars of damage that can be done by storm water in a matter of minutes, harking back to the Miner Road sinkhole of 2017. Gee recalled that that storm drain had been deemed to be in good condition as little as three years before it catastrophically failed.
"Public works are expensive," Gee noted, adding, "it's about public safety. It's about things that are really important to life and limb. So no, it is not about getting it on the cheap." Iverson was delighted by the lesson, exclaiming, "I love it when you do that! . . . You are so persuasive."
The matter was presented to the city council on July 16 by City Manager David Biggs and City Engineer Siva Natarajan, as Public Works Director Scott Christie was on vacation. The action of completing a comprehensive map of all city storm drains, public and private, was recommended to the council by the Infrastructure Subcommittee.
According to the staff report, Measure R has been identified as the funding source most appropriate for this mapping project. Roads and storm drains are one of the focus areas for use of Measure R funding and there is a sufficient fund balance available to allow for this appropriation. Measure R, a half-cent sales tax increase, was passed in 2020, and was specifically targeted at increasing Orinda's fire safety and for work on roads and storm drains. As a general tax, revenue raised can be allocated as the city council determines.
The staff report additionally pointed out that for a period of time in the past, the work was done as time permitted by a GIS position which was shared between Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. Unfortunately, that position was eliminated at the time of the Covid pandemic. Part-time engineering interns have also been engaged on occasion with mapping. But the piecemeal work did not complete the job. The Infrastructure Subcommittee considers the work to be significant enough to public safety to advocate for it being done by an outside agency.
Staff estimates that there are nearly 17 miles of private storm drainpipes in Orinda, many of which interconnect with the public stormwater drainage. "Understanding the complete interconnected system and identifying any concerns before problems arise provides a better approach to risk management for the city. Drainage failures within the private piping could easily cause significant property damage to both public facilities and residents, and ultimately result in significant unplanned costs to the city," according to the report.
In written comments, Arlene Cohen called the drainage issue critical, reporting that her property receives massive flows of water from houses on public streets that can overwhelm the drains on her property, resulting in flooding and damage.
Comments from the public, both at the meeting and in writing, supported the proposed mapping project. The motion, which passed unanimously, authorizes staff to solicit proposals, but does not authorize expending funds for the mapping project at the current time.
According to Natarajan, the process will realistically take two to three months. The first step will be to develop the scope of work, refining exactly what is needed. After developing the scope, the proposal will be advertised. After proposals are submitted, they will be reviewed and staff will come back to the council with recommendations.
The work of compiling the data for the map has been estimated by Orinda staff at somewhat over $500,000. Council member Brandyn Iverson questioned why the city needed to have an outside contract for the work of gathering data and preparing the map. She wondered if it could be done cheaper in-house. Her budgetary concerns drew an impassioned response from Mayor Darlene Gee.
Gee, who is by profession a transportation engineer, defended the high level of expertise in the industry. She focused on the millions of dollars of damage that can be done by storm water in a matter of minutes, harking back to the Miner Road sinkhole of 2017. Gee recalled that that storm drain had been deemed to be in good condition as little as three years before it catastrophically failed.
"Public works are expensive," Gee noted, adding, "it's about public safety. It's about things that are really important to life and limb. So no, it is not about getting it on the cheap." Iverson was delighted by the lesson, exclaiming, "I love it when you do that! . . . You are so persuasive."
The matter was presented to the city council on July 16 by City Manager David Biggs and City Engineer Siva Natarajan, as Public Works Director Scott Christie was on vacation. The action of completing a comprehensive map of all city storm drains, public and private, was recommended to the council by the Infrastructure Subcommittee.
According to the staff report, Measure R has been identified as the funding source most appropriate for this mapping project. Roads and storm drains are one of the focus areas for use of Measure R funding and there is a sufficient fund balance available to allow for this appropriation. Measure R, a half-cent sales tax increase, was passed in 2020, and was specifically targeted at increasing Orinda's fire safety and for work on roads and storm drains. As a general tax, revenue raised can be allocated as the city council determines.
The staff report additionally pointed out that for a period of time in the past, the work was done as time permitted by a GIS position which was shared between Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda. Unfortunately, that position was eliminated at the time of the Covid pandemic. Part-time engineering interns have also been engaged on occasion with mapping. But the piecemeal work did not complete the job. The Infrastructure Subcommittee considers the work to be significant enough to public safety to advocate for it being done by an outside agency.
Staff estimates that there are nearly 17 miles of private storm drainpipes in Orinda, many of which interconnect with the public stormwater drainage. "Understanding the complete interconnected system and identifying any concerns before problems arise provides a better approach to risk management for the city. Drainage failures within the private piping could easily cause significant property damage to both public facilities and residents, and ultimately result in significant unplanned costs to the city," according to the report.
In written comments, Arlene Cohen called the drainage issue critical, reporting that her property receives massive flows of water from houses on public streets that can overwhelm the drains on her property, resulting in flooding and damage.
Comments from the public, both at the meeting and in writing, supported the proposed mapping project. The motion, which passed unanimously, authorizes staff to solicit proposals, but does not authorize expending funds for the mapping project at the current time.
According to Natarajan, the process will realistically take two to three months. The first step will be to develop the scope of work, refining exactly what is needed. After developing the scope, the proposal will be advertised. After proposals are submitted, they will be reviewed and staff will come back to the council with recommendations.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA