2022-03-15 CC Agenda - Public Communications - Item #16 - Aquatic Heater2022-03-15 CC AGENDA PACKET
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO ITEM #16 - AQUATIC HEATER
Harada, Patricia
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
Council received the email below.
Tracy
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
Weaver, Tracy (City Clerk)
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 5:35 PM
*ALL CITY CLERKS
Fwd: Memo re: Aquatic Center Heaters
image001.png; image002.png; image003.png; image004.png; image005.png;
image006.png; doc01407220220309170927.pdf
From: "Sotelo, Anjello" <ASotelo@elsegundo.org>
Date: March 9, 2022 at 4:15:19 PM PST
Cc: "George, Darrell" <dgeorge@elsegundo.org>, "Sassoon, Elias" <esassoon@elsegundo.org>, "Jones,
John" <jjones@elsegundo.org>, "Hester, Arecia" <ahester@elsegundo.org>
Subject: Memo re: Aquatic Center Heaters
Good afternoon City Council:
The attached memo is being sent out on behalf of Interim City Manager Darrell George.
Thank you,
Anjello Sotelo I Executive Assistant - City Manager's Office
City of El Segundo
350 Main Street El Segundo CA 90245
310.524.2303 1 asotelo@elsegundo.arg I www.elsegundo.or�
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Office of the City Manager
MEMO
To: Honorable Mayor Drew Boyles
Mayor Pro Tem Chris Pimentel
Councilmembers Carol Pirsztuk, Scot Nicol, and Lance Giroux
From: Darrell George, Interim City Manager
Date: March 1, 2022
RE: Aquatic Center Heaters
Good Afternoon City Council:
Over this past weekend, it has come to staff's attention that the pool heaters at the Aquatic Center have not been able to
maintain the water temperature above 78 degrees F. Staff have been keeping the pool covers on each of the pools trying
to raise the water temperature level, but unfortunately it seems as the heaters are not able to adequately bring the water
temperature up in the Competition pool, but have been successful in bringing the water temperature up to 80 degrees in the
Instructional pool.
Due to the dropping temperature in the Competition pool, we will need to continue to close the Competition pool potentially
till end of this month , but will keep the Instructional pool open for lap swim, aqua aerobics classes and swim lessons.
During this time, Elias and his Public Works Team will examine the issues and move forward with a plan to repair the
heaters. To date, Public Works has a fully executed agreement with Mr. John Gordon, a Pool Maintenance expert to look
at the heaters and provide solutions to remedy this problem, but this expert will not be onsite any earlier than next Monday,
March 14, 2022.
As time is of the essence, Public Works staff are also trying to locate another pool heater expert to come and look at the
heaters this week. Please note that once the assessment is completed, there may be necessary parts which may not be readily
available. Due to this fact, we do not truly know the full extension of the closure.
Staff has notified both the El Segundo and Wiseburn School Districts. We will continue to keep Council informed and
updated as we receive more information.
Respectfully Submitted,
Darrell George
Interim City Manager
Harada, Patricia
From:
Sent:
To:
Subject:
Attachments:
Council received the email below.
Thank you,
Weaver, Tracy (City Clerk)
Monday, March 7, 2022 6:14 PM
*ALL CITY CLERKS
FW: Letter to AQMD
DG_AQMDLetter_030722 (002).pdf
Tracy Weaver I City Clerk
City of El Segundo
350 Main Street El Segundo CA 90245
310.524.2305 1 tweaver@elegundo.org I www.elsegundo.org
EL,EGUNDO
Where big ideas takc off.
From: Sotelo, Anjello <ASotelo@elsegundo.org>
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2022 2:35 PM
Cc: George, Darrell <dgeorge@elsegundo.org>; Hensley, Mark <mhensley@hensleylawgroup.com>; Sassoon, Elias
<esassoon @elsegundo.org>
Subject: Letter to AQMD
City Council,
Darrell asked that I share the attached letter sent on behalf of the City to AQMD.
Thank you,
Anjello Sotelo I Executive Assistant - City Manager's Office
City of El Segundo
350 Main Street El Segundo CA 90245
310.524.2303 1 asotelo@elsegundo.org I www.elsegundo.org
EL,EGrUNDO
Where frig ideas take off:
E Im@M0
1
Elected Officials
Drew Boyles,
Mayor
Chris Pimentel,
Mayor Pro Tem
Carol Pirsztuk,
Councilmember
Scot Nicol,
Councilmember
Lance Giroux,
Councilmember
Tracy Weaver,
Cio) Clerk
Matthew Robinson,
Cih� Treasurer
Appointed Officials
Darrell George
Interim City Manager
Mark D. Hensley,
City Attorney
Department Directors
Barbara Voss,
Deputy City Manager
Joseph Lillia.
Chief Financial Officer
John Jones,
Interim Communi07 Services
Director
Michael Allen,
Development Services Director
Deena Lee,
Fire Chief
Rebecca Redyk,
Human Resources Director
Charles Mallory,
Information Technology Director
Jaime Bermudez,
Police Chief
Elias Sassoon,
Public Works Director
i
March 7, 2022
Office of the City Manager
Honorable Chairperson Ben Benoit and Members of the Board - AQMD
21865 Copley Drive
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
Dear Chairperson Benoit:
I would like to thank you in advance for your time and efforts regarding the AQMD's review of the
unprecedented Hyperion incident. As the interim City Manager for the City of El Segundo, I am
writing to ask that this letter be made part of the record of the Board's hearing on March 9, 2022,
about the catastrophic failure that occurred on or about July 11, 2021, at the Hyperion Wastewater
Treatment Plant, and continued on for several months.
As you know, this incident contributed to months of noxious chemicals and gases being released
into the air which had significant impacts on the health and welfare of the residents of the City of El
Segundo. It also caused about 17 million gallons of raw sewage to be released into the ocean. For
both impacts, there was no timely warning issued to the residents of El Segundo nor the individuals
using the beach.
As part of AQMD's public hearing process and review of the incident, the City is requesting the
following measures be implemented in order to prevent this type of failure from occurring again,
and to also measure the impacts of the Hyperion Plant's operations on air quality in the region:
1. Specific and detailed operational and maintenance procedures be implemented to prevent
future incidents of this type or other catastrophic failures at the plant. These procedures
should include backup procedures and backup of backup procedures. There should also be
semi-annual table -top exercises implemented to ensure all Hyperion staff and surrounding
agencies are prepared for incidents which could occur. While it is hard to imagine, the
failure could have had a much more significant impact than it had. There must be no room
left for error in the procedures and the readiness of the Hyperion staff to deal with issues
that may arise.
2. Monthly, quarterly and annual reports be issued by Hyperion staff documenting compliance
with the procedures outlined in item no. 1 above, and these reports must be made available
online.
Quarterly and annual investigations by AQMD and the RWQCB and other agencies to
review compliance with item no. 1 and 2, above.
4. Establish an early warning system for the residents and other nearby stakeholders for
incidents that will result in degradation of air quality or release of raw sewage into the
ocean.
Honorable Chairperson Ben Benoit
Hyperion Incident
March 7, 2022
Page Two
5. Installation of air quality monitors that measure not only H2S but also NOx emissions being release from the plant.
Hyperion is apparently installing an air monitoring system which must be approved by the AQMD, but the current
plans do not include testing for NOx emssions. This is unacceptable, as the mission of AQMD and the point of air
monitoring system is to ensure that people are protected from harmful emissions. How can the people living and
working the area have any sense of protection if harmful chemicals and gasses are not even being measured;
6. Require Hyperion to bring NOx emissions into compliance with regard to its flare equipment. In addition, to test
the equipment in accordance with AQMD standards and requirements, it is a matter of public record that the flare
equipment has failed at alarming rate, and it is unclear what steps, if any, are being taken to address this situation;
and,
7. Provide funding for El Segundo, and other local agencies that can be significantly impacted by the operations of
the Hyperion Plant, that would be sufficient to pay for consultant and staff time necessary to review the reports
identified in item no. 2 and otherwise provide the City with the opportunity to monitor and stay informed about
Hyperion's operations. The funding should be for a ten-year period with the funding issue to be reviewed again as
the end of the ten-year period approaches.
Thank you for your consideration of our requests and please let me know if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Darrell George
Interim City Manager
Harada, Patricia
From:
Weaver, Tracy (City Clerk)
Sent:
Monday, March 14, 2022 1:53 PM
To:
*ALL CITY CLERKS
Subject:
FW: ESAC water heater issue
Council received email below.
Thank you,
Tracy Weaver I City Clerk
City of El Segundo
350 Main Street El Segundo CA 90245
310.524.2305 1 tweaver@elegundo.org I www.elsegundo.org
-----Original Message -----
From: Jamin Griffiths <jamingriffiths@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2022 2:52 PM
To: ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS <ALLELECTEDOFFICIALS@elsegundo.org>
Subject: ESAC water heater issue
Hello,
Parks and recreation have been canceling watersports because of trouble with heating the pool. For a 3 year old pool it
seems like there has to be more to the story than is being relayed to the public. You would expect this issue with the
Plunge, not from a new multi -million dollar pool. There's a rumor that while the pool was being built there were late
changes that increased the size of the pool, but that there were no changes to the heaters (size and number) to account
for the extra water. If there is any truth to this then it should be brought forth to the public as it is an egregious error
and waste of money.
It would be great if the council could bring some clarity to the situation.
Thank you,
Jamin Griffiths