Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, November 05, 2019
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER AUTHORIZATION AND APPROVAL OF A REIMBURSEMENT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF CARSON AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY FOR INSPECTION SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH A PIPELINE INTEGRITY PROJECT (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
On August 1, 2019, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) first notified the City that it was planning a critical pipeline integrity project to address compliance issues initially discovered during a regulatory inspection that the Utility underwent seven years ago. SoCalGas is trying to meet a compliance deadline of December 31, 2019.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following action:
1. AUTHORIZE the City Manager to negotiate a reimbursement agreement between the City of Carson and Southern California Gas Company for inspection services associated with a pipeline integrity project, following approval as to form by the City Attorney; and any required Meet and Confer.
2. APPROVE a reimbursement agreement between the City of Carson and Southern California Gas Company for inspection services associated with a pipeline integrity project.
1.
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III. ALTERNATIVES
1. DO NOT AUTHORIZE the City Manager to negotiate a reimbursement agreement between the City of Carson and Southern California Gas Company for inspection services associated with a pipeline integrity project with approval as to form by the City Attorney
2. DO NOT APPROVE a reimbursement agreement between the City of Carson and Southern California Gas Company for inspection services associated with a pipeline integrity project.
3. TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate, consistent with the requirements of the law.
1. 1. IV. BACKGROUND
On August 1, 2019, Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) first notified the City that it was planning a critical pipeline integrity project to address compliance issues discovered during a regulatory inspection that the Utility underwent seven years ago. Due to their delay in addressing the inspection findings, SoCalGas is trying to meet a compliance deadline of December 31, 2019. The 300-feet of existing 10” gas pipeline is located south of the intersection of Wilmington Avenue and 223rd Street, and serves the Marathon Refinery. The project scope entails SoCalGas performing a direct examination of the pipeline and subsequently removing and installing new pipeline parallel to the path of the existing pipeline. This effort will require a planned 2-day shutdown of the refinery, and SoCalGas has already met with Marathon to ensure that the proposed plan aligns with the refinery’s critical operations.
Per an October 14, 2019 memo, SoCalGas is requesting the following approvals from the City:
• Allow a complete shutdown of Wilmington Avenue south of 223rd Street and north of the Spires/Prologis private driveway, which will remain open;
• Allow the closure to begin as soon as the permit is received;
• Allow the work to be performed 12 hours per day (7am - 7pm), 7 days per week;
• Allow the laydown area to be included within the closure area.
Based on the SoCalGas proposal, it is estimated that the project will be completed 3 months after commencement. Given the urgency expressed by SoCalGas to complete this project, staff is making every effort to accommodate the request. SoCalGas submitted its initial traffic control plan to the City on August 15, 2019. Since then, there have been a series of plan check comments by City staff and corrections made by SoCalGas to ensure the plans are acceptable and meet the City Standard. Subsequently, a meeting was held between the City, SoCalGas, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works on September 25, 2019 to review the proposed traffic plan and associated signal timing. On October 14, 2019, SoCalGas submitted a new traffic plan that is currently under review, but it should be noted that this most recent plan encroaches into lanes that need to remain open until the Project 919 cutover is complete.
Staff is working on finalizing the conditions of the permit consistent with our standard practice which will limit the work to 5 days per week instead of 7 days per week. Once the conditions are deemed acceptable by both parties, a reimbursement agreement similar to the one reached with Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to provide inspection services will be negotiated.
Per City Standards, notice to businesses and residences shall be circulated and delivered at least three working days (72hrs) prior to start of construction, and SoCalGas or its contractor shall be responsible for the distribution of the notices. SoCalGas has developed a comprehensive public outreach plan for consideration (Exhibit Number 1).
The City will be performing additional pavement work on 223rd once Project 919 concludes.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
SoCalGas has agreed to provide funding for a construction inspector.
VI. EXHIBITS
1.SoCalGas Draft Outreach Plan and Materials (pages 4 - 7)
Prepared by: Dr. Maria Williams-Slaughter, Director of Public Works