By Daniel Larios
Staff Writer

June 25, 2014 -- The Santa Monica City Council approved more than $6 million in expenses Tuesday to replace water main distribution pipes and repair services to transit buses, among other items.

The biggest expenditure was $4,132,341 to Riverside-based EAR Engineering, Construction and Support Services to construct improvements and replace approximately 11,500 feet of aged water main distribution pipelines throughout the City. 

Approximately 2,000 feet of  new 12-inch diameter water main pipes will be laid down along Olympic Boulevard between 26th Street and Stewart Avenue, according to the staff report.  The new pipes are designed to improve water pressure and provide five new fire hydrants for the new Expo Line Station at Bergamot.

The project also will replace 8,300 feet of old cast iron pipes installed in the 1920s and '40s, mostly found in commercial and medical districts, with new Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes.

Because of the impact this would have to commercial and medical buildings, the replacement of pipes will be performed at night between the hours of 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., according to Civil Engineer Selim Eren.

The project also relocates 1,200 feet of water and treated urban runoff water mains for the future Colorado Esplanade project.

The Council also voted to allocate $400,000 to Santa Ana-based Agility Fuel Systems to provide  Liquid Natural Gas/Compressed Natural Gas (LNG/CNG) tank refurbishment and repair services on Big Blue Bus vehicles.

The repairs will enable the City to maintain the City's buses' LNG/CNG fuel tanks and "ensure regulatory compliance and maintain overall system safety and reliability," according to the staff report.

Of the City's fleet of 201 transit buses, 99 run on LNG and 100 run on CNG.

"The LNG and CNG transit buses require routine fuel tank and fuel system refurbishment and repair services," said Transit Maintenance Officer Getty Modica. "To ensure the safe operation of these alternative fueled vehicles, the Big Blue Bus performs LNG fuel system refurbishment and repair."

The staff report also states that CNG vehicle tanks require annual checkups and "certification of compliance" before being commissioned in order to " keep compliant with regulatory agency fleet fuel tank and system regulations."

The Council Tuesday also voted to allocate $156,000 for a one-year contract with a Senior Criminalist from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department to perform forensic DNA analysis and testing, process crime scenes for DNA evidence, and provide courtroom testimony for the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD).

According to the staff report, the SMPD's Forensic Lab is not equipped to conduct DNA analysis.  Instead, the LA County Crime Lab analyzes DNA in the order it is received from the majority of LA County municipal law enforcement agencies. As a result, there is currently a backlog of unanalyzed evidence in the County Crime Lab.

"The Senior Criminalist would handle only cases involving Santa Monica and would process and analyze DNA evidence while also working with City staff on all aspects of the forensic response including field work, crime scene processing, lab work and courtroom testimony."
 said Police Chief Jacqueline Seabrooks.  

The Council also approved a $239,786 annual contract with The West Coast Care Foundation, Inc. for outreach services to homeless persons. The contract is not to exceed four years.

In addition, the Council voted to support Assembly Bill 1532 that would create penalties for non-injury hit –and-run incidents in which a person has been struck.