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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1996 1211 CC SPC ITEM 03AAGENDA REPORT CITY OF MOORPARK TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Kenneth C. Gilbert, Director of Public Works DATE: December 9, 1996 (Council Meeting 12- 11 -96) 117, ITEM- SUBJECT: Consider Request to Place a Temporary Bridge Across the Arroyo Simi Near Liberty Bell Road EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This provides a summary of past and possible future efforts to place the subject Temporary Bridge. 1. Offer: The City has received an offer from West Point Homes, Inc. to place a surplus pedestrian bridge across the Arroyo Simi in the vicinity of Liberty Bell Road. Apparently, this firm or an affiliate of theirs was the selected contractor for a bridge demolition project in the City of Long Beach. 2. Description: Mr. Hare and I travelled to Long Beach on Saturday, November 16th, to take a look at this bridge. The bridge is approximately one hundred ten feet (110') long. For a number of reasons, this bridge is not suitable as a permanent structure. However, it may be possible to place the subject bridge, just downstream of the proposed permanent structure. If placed the temporary bridge would be removed next summer after the permanent structure has been completed. Of course there are a number of questions to be answered and obstacles to be over come prior to actually placing the subject temporary bridge. 3. Ventura County Flood Control District ( VCFCD): In earlier weeks and again on December 5, 1996, staff spoke with the VCFCD regarding this matter. We provided them with a preliminary description of this proposed project. From those initial discussions, no major problems were identified which would render the project unacceptable. However, a final decision by the VCFCD on the feasibility of the project, can not be made until more specific plans can be provided to them. pedbrgl2 Temporary Bridge Across Arroyo Simi @ Liberty Bell Rd. December 11, 1996 Page 2 4. Supervisor Mikels: Staff also spoke with Supervisor Mikels' Office regarding this project. Although Supervisor Mikels was not available for a meeting, she relayed through her staff that she would be very supportive of the project and would direct her staff to assist us as needed. 5. Manufacturer's Bridge Plans: West Point Homes has been attempting to locate the plans, specifications and engineering calculations for the bridge. It is presumed that those plans include a design for the construction of the bridge abutments. To date, West Point Homes has been unable to locate these documents from either the City of Long Beach or the bridge manufacturer. 6. New Bridge Plans: If the above mentioned plans, specifications, and engineering calculations cannot be obtained, it will be necessary to retain the services of a civil and /or structural engineer to prepare a new set. 7. Construction Plans: It will also be necessary to retain the services of a civil engineer to prepare plans and specifications for specific site improvements. Those plans would address the following: a. Survey -- must perform a survey of the existing field conditions (width of channel at the top of the bans, width of bottom of channel, elevations, etc.) b. Geological Analysis -- may use report already prepared for the permanent bridge. c. Bridge Abutments -- modifications and adjustments to the manufacturer's bridge abutment plans and specifications to adapt same to specific field conditions (i.e. soil conditions, existing river bank conditions, etc.) d. Bank Protection -- construction of rock rip rap or other type of improvements to the river bank upstream and downstream of the temporary bridge to render the temporary bridge improvements compatible with existing conditions. e. City Engineer -- plans would have to be prepared by and/or checked and approved by the City Engineer. A funding source for contract City Engineering services would have to be identified. 8. Responsible Agency: At some point it will be necessary to determine who is the responsible agency for this project. a. Private: The work may be performed by a private company, such as West Point Homes. In such case, said company would be the party seeking and obtaining all of the necessary permits. The City could assist said applicant in a number of ways, including: pedbrgi] Temporary Bridge Across Arroyo Simi @ Liberty Bell Rd. December 11, 1996 Page 3 - waiving fees, - providing in -kind services (staff time, etc.) - serving as liaison between said company and other public agencies - obtaining temporary easements from affected adjacent properties; etc. b. Public: If the lead agency were to be the City, it would be necessary for the City to enter into a contract with the company or companies performing the various design and construction services required. 9. Environmental Document: It will be necessary to prepare an environmental document for this project. It is presumed that the Mitigated Negative Declaration already prepared for the permanent bridge structure could be expanded to cover the subject temporary bridge project. 10. Public Hearing: It may be necessary to hold a public hearing to notify the owners of surrounding properties of the intent to construct this temporary structure. 11. Permits: The following permits must or may be required: a. Building Permit -- if the work is to be done by a private party, the plans would have to be approved by the City Engineer and the Building department and proper permits issued. b. VCFCD -- when and if the VCFCD approves the scope and design of the project, they will issue an Encroachment Permit. Such permits require the payment of applicable fees. c. California Department of Fish & Game -- a permit and payment of fees may or may not be required. d. U. S_ Army Corp of Engineers -- a permit and payment of fees may or may not be required. 12. Temporary Easements: It is assumed that the temporary bridge would be placed approximately fifty to one hundred feet (50' - 100') downstream of the City's permanent bridge. If this is the location ultimately selected, it will be necessary to obtain temporary construction, access and use easement across three properties: a. VCFCD -- for the area within the watercourse owned by VCFCD. b. Private Property -- for access to the north end of the temporary bridge to be located west of Liberty Bell Road. c. Southern California Edison Company (SCE) -- for access between the Arroyo Vista Community Park and the south end of the temporary bridge. d. Deeds / Legal Descriptions -- it will be necessary to have an Engineer prepare the legal descriptions and deeds for the temporary easements. pedbrg12 Temporary Bridge Across Arroyo Simi @ Liberty Bell Rd. December 11, 1996 Page 4 13. Transportation: West Point Homes has stated that there will be transportation costs associated with this project, generally described as follows: a. the use of a crane to load the bridge onto truck(s), b. the transporting of the bridge from Long Beach to Moorpark; c. the use of a crane to unload the bridge at the temporary bridge construction staging area. 14. Storage: It is presumed that the temporary easement to be obtained from the owner of the private property on the north side of the Arroyo, west of Liberty Bell Road, would include an area for the storage of the temporary bridge and the staging of construction material and equipment. It should be noted that a portion of this property may be used by the contractor retained by the City for the construction of the permanent bridge. It should also be noted that this property owner is in the process of preparing plans for the development of this vacant property and that there are limits to the time this property may be available for these uses. 15. Construction / Placement: There will be costs associated with the construction of the bridge abutments, the construction of bank protection and other required improvements and the placement of the temporary bridge. 16. Inspection / Contract Administration: There will be costs associated with the inspection of the construction work and the administration of any city contracts for such work. 17. Removal, Demolition and Disposal: There will be costs associated with the removal of the temporary bridge including: a. the actual removal of the bridge structure, b. the destruction of the bridge abutments, c. the restoration of the river banks to there pre - existing condition, and d. the disposal of the bridge and remnant debris. pedbrgl2 Temporary Bridge Across Arroyo Simi @ Liberty Bell Rd. December 11, 1996 Page 5 18. Liability: a. The VCFCD permit will require the City to assume all of the risk of this project. b. The temporary bridge would have a span of only approximately 110'. The permanent bridge will have a span of 160'. The permanent bridge is designed to allow a 100 year storm to pass (it should be noted that due to the inadequacy of the current channel, a storm event with peak flows significantly less than a 100 year storm will break out of the levees at this location). The temporary bridge could pose a significant impediment to severe storm flows. Damage to surrounding properties could occur if there is a failure of the temporary bridge or the adjacent levees. c. If a severe storm were to wash out the temporary bridge, the debris could damage the downstream bridge at Tierra Rejada Road. 19. Fiscal Impact: West Point Homes has advised staff that they are attempting to locate sources for volunteer or donated professional and construction services for the work required to implement this project. If sources are found for all of the required services, this project would not cost the City anything other than in -kind staff hours. If it is not possible to identify sources for all or some of these donated service, it would become necessary for the City to fund these costs. A summary of the types of costs which the City may be asked to fund, are as follows: a. Transportation b. Heavy Equipment (cranes, etc.) c. Materials (concrete, reinforcing, etc.) d. Civil /Structural Engineering Services - bridge structural calculations, - abutment design - bank protection - legal descriptions for temporary easements - inspection - contract administration e. General Contractor (labor, etc.) 20. City Action: It appears that West Pointe Homes may not be able to provide the required engineering plans and structural calculations. Should the City Council wishes to initiate efforts to acquire same, staff could be directed to seek the services of a Civil or Structural Engineer to develop the necessary plans, specification, engineering calculations, estimates of probably construction costs, etc. The range of estimated costs of these professional services is $10,00 to $20,000. Please note that the development of these plans does not insure that the project will proceed. Those plans merely enable the City and others to determine if the project is feasible. pedbrg12 Temporary Bridge Across Arroyo Simi @ Liberty Bell Rd. December It, 1996 Page 6 21. Alternative Actions: As you know, this is only a temporary ' bridge. It would be removed within a few months. It may not be prudent to expend monies which could range in excess of $50,000 for such a short term solution. The City Council may wish to explore less costly solutions such as, posting guards at the crossing during those times when crossings are unsafe. Direct staff as deemed appropriate. pedbrg12 t7i `6 AGENDA REPORT CITY OF MOORPARK TO: The Honorable City Council FROM: Kenneth C. Gilbert, Director of Public Works DATE: December 10, 1996 (Council Meeting 12- 11 -96) SUBJECT: Supplement to Report Pertaining to a Request to Place a Temporary Bridge Across the Arroyo Simi Near Liberty Bell Road This report provides certain additional information regarding the subject matter. 1. Substandard Channel: The existing channel for the Arroyo Simi will not contain the storm flows generated by a one hundred (100) year storm within the Calleguas Creek watershed. Accordingly, the Ventura County Flood Control District (VCFCD) is working on the development of a design and the acquisition of additional rights -of -way for a project to correct this problem. 2. Pedestrian Bridge: The City is prepared to proceed with a project to construct a pedestrian, equestrian, bicycle, emergency access bridge across the Arroyo Simi near Liberty Bell Road. The design for those improvements provide for the construction of a structure which is compatible with both the existing conditions as well as the proposed channel widening project. Although the top -of -bank width of the existing channel is only approximately one hundred twenty feet (120'), the span of the Pedestrian Bridge will be one hundred sixty -one feet (161'). Initial construction of the pedestrian bridge will render it compatible with the existing channel. It will also be compatible with the future channel widening planned by the VCFCD. 3. Hydrology Study: As a part of the design development for the pedestrian bridge the City had a Hydrology Study prepared. That report predicts inundation of adjacent properties during a major storm event. The elevation of one hundred (100) year storm flows in the existing channel is higher than the soffit (bottom) of the pedestrian bridge. To resolve this problem the channel widening project proposed by the VCFCD will lower the water level in the arroyo immediately upstream of the pedestrian bride. In that a one hundred year storm would not be contained by the existing channel in any event, the Hydrology Study found that the addition of the Pedestrian Bridge would only have a negligible effect upon existing conditions. pedbrgl7 Temporary Bridge Across Arroyo Simi @ Liberty Bell Rd. Supplement to Report of December 11, 1996 Page 2 4. New Hydrology Report: In the initial report on this matter staff stated that the above mentioned Hydrology Report possibly could be used to answer hydrology questions pertaining to the advisability of placing the temporary bridge across the arroyo in this area. Whether or not another Hydrology Study would be required is a question which would have to be answered by the Civil Engineer retained to prepare and approve plans for the placement of the temporary bridge. 5. Liability: As previously stated, plans for the placement of the temporary bridge will have to be approved (and possibly even prepared and approved) by the City Engineer. That approval would have to be granted by either the City's contract City Engineer or by another firm hired as City Engineer for this project. Typically, contracts for engineering services require the firm offering the professional services to retain the risk (professional liability) related to the design or other engineering services being provided. With respect to engineering services related to the placement of the temporary bridge, it may be difficult to find a civil engineering firm willing to assume the obvious risks associated with this project. In addition, if the City were willing to hold the selected civil engineering firm harmless, said f=(s) may still be unwilling to proceed knowing that they could become the defendant in a lawsuit regardless of the hold harmless stipulation. pedbrg13