News, City Council, Santa Monica, Schools

Safer School Routes, Repairing Water Infrastructure Projects Approved

Posted Jul. 31, 2012, 1:57 am

Parimal M. Rohit / Staff Writer

The Santa Monica City Council swiftly approved a pair of consent calendar items last Tuesday calling for safer routes to schools and improved water infrastructure.

A professional services agreement was approved between City Hall and Ryan Snyder Associates, a California-based company, for $160,000 “to provide safe routes to school.” The two-phase project “is intended to create better access for students to utilize alternative modes of transportation to school.”

Over the course of the two-phase project, City Hall will work with the school district and Ryan Snyder Associates to improve access points to Samohi, particularly at intersections of Michigan Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard, Pico Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard, Pico Boulevard and Sixth Street, Fourth Street and Civic Center Drive, Fourth Street and Olympic Drive, and along Seventh Street and Olympic Drive adjacent to the school.

“The project would engage students in a planning process to identify and prioritize potential improvements with the goal of defining a scope of work that can be constructed within the grant budget,” a City staff report stated. “The grant also specifies the addition of 400 bike parking spaces for the campus.”

City staff added the Safe Routes to School project promoted students proactively seeking to arrive at Samohi and other district compasses via foot or bicycle, both goals consistent with the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) as well as the Bicycle Action Plan.

The council also approved a $250,000 agreement with two one-year option renewals for the same amount in order for City Hall to contact with S&J Supply Company, a California-based company, for the purchase and delivery of water supplies and repair parts.

If both renewal options were exercised in 2013 and 2014, respectively, the total value of the agreement would reach $750,000.

“With the closure of the City’s warehouse, the Water Division will now purchase and maintain its own inventory of water supplies and parts to repair/replace the water infrastructure during regular preventative maintenance programs and/or emergency repair,” a City staff report said.

According to City staff, the Water Division manages about 205 miles of water mains, 1,300 fire hydrants, and 17,000 service connections within Santa Monica.

“The amount requested is based on previous years’ expenses,” City staff said. “Adequate supplies and repair parts are needed to ensure uninterrupted operation and maintenance of the City’s water infrastructure.”