REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, Acting City Manager
VIA: Chau Vu, Director of Public Works
PREPARED BY: Jim Merid, Environmental Services Manager
Subject:
title
Approve a Sole Source Procurement Request and authorize execution of Service Agreement with Clean Earth Rovers for routine debris removal and trash abatement in Huntington Harbour utilizing Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV); appropriate funds from the Storm Water Quality Fund
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Statement of Issue:
Huntington Harbour is the terminal point for the Anaheim Bay/Huntington Harbour watershed which encompasses 80 square miles. As the terminal waterbody for the watershed, the harbor is often the final destination for trash and debris that enters the various storm water channels and other conveyance structures designed to transport storm water. The trash and debris degrades the water quality and aesthetic quality of the harbor waters as well as the habitat for marine life that resides in the harbor. The Clean Earth Rover ASV would remove the trash and debris from the water in Huntington Harbour.
Financial Impact:
The Public Works Department is requesting an appropriation of $201,800 from the Storm Water Quality Fund undesignated fund balance to fund a contractual period of 3 years plus an optional 1- year extension.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Approve the Sole Source Procurement Request with Clean Earth Rovers; and
B) Approve and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a “Service Agreement Between the City of Huntington Beach and Clean Earth Rovers for Routine Debris Maintenance Services for City of Huntington Beach Harbour;” and,
C) Appropriate $201,800 from the Storm Water Quality Fund (892) undesignated fund balance to account 89285201.82500.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
The Clean Earth Rover collects marine debris from the surface of water. It is the only marine vessel on the market that is small, agile, and versatile enough to access confined areas in the waters of Huntington Harbour where trash/debris tends to accumulate. The Clean Earth Rover can be operated manually or autonomously. Nicknamed the "Roomba for the water," the Clean Earth Rover can be programmed to follow a mapped route or manually controlled. Equipped with a net, it skims the surface, collecting up to 20 pounds of debris before needing to be emptied. It’s relatively small dimensional size (3ft wide and 5ft long) allows it to maneuver into tight spaces such as docks, under bridges, and around other marine obstacles that the City’s current harbor trash removal service provider can’t navigate around.
The Clean Earth Rover is an innovative way of addressing trash in open bodies of water and City staff conducted two separate pilot studies to assess the effectiveness and the return on investment prior to seeking a 3-year service agreement. The initial study was conducted February through April of 2024 to assess how effective the Clean Earth Rover could address and remove trash/debris discharged into the harbor from storm events. The second pilot study was conducted in July through August of 2024 to assess the effectiveness during the summer months. The total weight of the trash removed from the harbor waters for both studies was over 10,000 lbs. or a little over 5 tons.
Based on the results of the two pilot studies, staff determined that the service would be beneficial and a cost-effective means of addressing trash/debris in the harbor. The sole source procurement is requested in accordance with Chapter 3.02 of the City of Huntington Beach Municipal Code and this agreement would address many concerns and complaints that City staff often receives from residents and visitors alike regarding the amount of trash accumulated in certain pockets and eddies in the harbor that staff could not access using conventional methods.
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan.
Attachment(s):
1. Service Agreement between the City and Clean Earth Rovers
2. PowerPoint presentation regarding Clean Earth Rovers Trash/Debris Removal Services
3. Sole-Source Justification