REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Sean Crumby, Director of Public Works
Subject:
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Adopt Resolution No. 2020-58 to accept Grant Funds from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response for Oil Spill Response Equipment
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Statement of Issue:
Authorize the City to accept grant funds from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) for oil spill response equipment. The grant would fund the purchase of spill response equipment to respond to oil spills in Huntington Harbour and on-land spills in the City.
Financial Impact:
The grant will permit the City to expend up to $35,000 to purchase the oil spill response equipment and mobile trailer specifically designed to house the equipment. The equipment consists of 1,000 feet of hard floating booms, absorbent pads, personal protective equipment, fire extinguishers, and decontamination detergents. Once purchased, the City will submit the appropriate documentation for reimbursement from the OSPR.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2020-58, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach to Accept Grant Funds from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response for Oil Spill Response Equipment.”
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve acceptance of grant funds from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response for purchase of oil spill response equipment.
Analysis:
The purchase of oil spill response equipment would allow City staff to respond rapidly to oil spills in Huntington Harbour and other spills, whether on land or other bodies of water, such as storm drain channels and the Santa River. The imminent need for this equipment is evidenced by three vessels capsizing in the Harbour within a 9-month period between August 2019 and May 2020. The capsizing vessels discharged diesel fuel into the waters of Huntington Harbour, which impacted the adjacent private/public docks, Harbour beaches, and the environmentally-sensitive Bolsa Chica Wetlands.
Currently, the City has to rely on other agencies, such as the Orange County Sheriff’s Marine Division, for assistance in responding to these types of incidents. This reliance on other agencies leaves the City in a precarious position, since the City is dependent on the ability and availability of other agencies to respond in a timely manner with the necessary equipment and staff for an effective spill response. With the purchase of this equipment, City staff will be able to respond in a much more rapid fashion to contain any potential fuel spills and to minimize the impact of the spills to the environment and public/private property.
The mobile trailer and equipment would be staged in the parking lot adjacent to the public dock at 3831 Warner Avenue, which will permit City staff easy access and ability to quickly launch a skiff via the public dock to respond in the event of a spill. Marine Safety and personnel from the Fire Department will be trained on how to deploy the spill response equipment by staff from the OSPR shortly following the acquisition of the equipment.
Environmental Status:
Not applicable.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Enhance and modernize public safety service delivery
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution No. 2020-58, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach to Accept Grant Funds From the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Office of Spill Prevention and Response for Oil Spill Response Equipment”