Presentation: Haigh Road Drainage Channel Replacement Project

SYNOPSIS:
The Haigh Road Storm Drain Channel Replacement Project was completed in October 2018 and featured the replacement of an existing open channel that had severely leaning walls with a closed storm drain channel.  The original structure was constructed in the 1960’s and consisted of and existing 1200-foot long 4x4 open CMU channel.  The channel was located adjacent to 15 single family homes and the CMU channel walls also acted as a retaining wall for the residents.  Throughout the years, some locations of the wall began to tip due to the growth of trees, ground pressure, and other backyard improvements from the adjacent properties.  The final project design featured the removal of most of the existing walls of the channel and installation of a new 5-foot x 4-foot reinforced concrete box (RCB) on top of the existing concrete channel invert. In addition, the existing buried storm drain connection crossing Haigh Road was demolished and replaced with a 60-inch reinforced concrete pipe. The new RCB and RCP systems both served to increase the flow capacity for the storm drain system and helped to permanently reinforce the existing wall that is adjacent to residential properties.
 
BIO:
Farnoush (Far) Levers is an Associate Engineer with the City of Livermore and previously worked for the City of Thousand Oaks.  During her time as an Associate Engineer at the City of Thousand Oaks she oversaw multiple traffic control, streetscape, solar and utility upgrade projects including a recent 2020 APWA Award Winning Project of the year for the Haigh Rd Drainage Channel Replacement Project.  Prior to moving to the public sector, she worked as a Project Manager for WM Lyles, a General Contractor for 12 years building water & wastewater treatment plants throughout Southern California. During her time with WM Lyles, she worked on projects that ranged from $300,000 to $126 million and gained experience in earthwork, shoring, concrete, mechanical piping, electrical systems as well as equipment installation and startup.  Currently, she is working for the City of Livermore managing Capital Improvement Projects, the City’s encroachment permit program and working on Development Projects.  She has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from UC Davis, is a registered PE, QSP and is a Certified Construction Manager.

The Alameda County Water District’s Rubber Dam #3 (RD3) Fishway Project was completed in May 2019 and featured the construction of a new fishway around an existing inflatable rubber dam in Alameda Creek to re-establish safe passage for federally listed Central California Coast Steelhead trout and Chinook salmon in the Alameda Creek watershed. The project also included improvements to the existing dam foundation and replacement of the aging dam fabric. The project is one of two major fish ladders to be constructed by ACWD as part of a comprehensive program to restore this historic migratory corridor which has been obstructed since the 1950s. The steel-reinforced concrete fish ladder is an impressive 25 feet deep structure that allows threatened steelhead trout to migrate up and down Alameda Creek through a series of 15 stepped pools.  The ladder is controlled by five gates to keep flow within the ideal for fish migration.  As part of the project, the rubber dam fabric was replaced, and the base of the dam was modified to include a plunge pool to minimize injury should any stray juvenile fish overtop the inflated dam. 
While the project serves as a great restoration opportunity providing significant impact on the ability of the fish to migrate back and forth and re-establish threatened aquatic life, it also allows the continued management of water resources in the Alameda Creek that serves as a major water source for the local area, providing 40% of the water supply for over 357,000 people and numerous businesses in Fremont, Newark and Union City. As one of the founding members of the Alameda Creek Fisheries Restoration Workgroup, the District has collaborated with multiple stakeholders since 1999 on efforts to benefit Central California Coast Steelhead. The Workgroup includes members from advocacy, water management, consulting, environmental, government and educational groups with interests in the Alameda Creek watershed and steelhead trout restoration. It is a testament that careful planning and meaningful partnerships can result in real advancements for the environment while protecting our area’s water supplies for years to come.
 
Speakers:

• Shane O’Nesky - Mr. O’Nesky was the Project Manager for Alameda County Water District on the Rubber Dam 3 Fishway project.  He has served as a Project Manager for the past 20 years.  In addition to working on other fish passage and fish screen projects for ACWD, he has managed projects to install production well equipment, expand desalination plants, upgrade PLC stations, and implement the clean energy program.  He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from UC Davis, and holds a Professional Engineering license in Mechanical Engineering.
• Dave Latona – Mr. Latona was the Construction Manager for the Alameda County Water District Rubber Dam 3 Fishway project. Dave has over 18years experience in construction management having managed large scale water projections consisting of ecological habit restoration, environmental remediation, conveyance and treatment facilities. 

Presentation Description:
As part of the City of Mountain View’s initiative to increase the accessibility and reliability of its water system, the Water Main Crossing US 101 from San Rafael Avenue to Macon Avenue Project was constructed to provide redundancy to one of the three aging utility pipelines that provide service to the City’s North Bayshore area. Located under a six-lane California state highway with high traffic volumes, the water main project included 570 linear feet of 12-inch fusible PVC (FPVC) pipe installed via jack and bore, and 470 linear feet of 12-inch FPVC pipe installed via open trench methods. The project team’s approach was to identify and anticipate potential project challenges early and conduct preliminary site exploration to evaluate project conditions, to uncover risks, and to find solutions which enabled the team to keep the project on schedule and budget.
 
Marina Chekmareva, PE, QSP/QSD
Ms. Chekmareva is a Senior Construction Manager at Tanner Pacific, Inc. and has over 10 years of experience providing construction management, engineering, and inspection services for capital improvement projects throughout the Bay Area. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California at Davis. Marina is a California Registered Civil Engineer, a Qualified SWPPP Developer and Practitioner, and has attended the Caltrans Resident Engineer Academy. She has recently completed pipeline, pump station, and storage tank projects for the City of Mountain View, the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside, and the City of Belmont.

Lisa Vance, PE
Ms. Vance is a Construction Manager at Tanner Pacific, Inc. and has worked in the engineering profession with an emphasis in water resources since 2015. She holds a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from California Polytechnic State University. Lisa is a California Registered Civil Engineer, an Envision Sustainability Professional, and an active member of the Women in Construction Operations (WiOPS) organization. She has recently completed water and wastewater pipeline projects for the City of Mountain View, Silicon Valley Clean Water, and the Union Sanitary District.

​Lessons Learned from the Stream Maintenance Program 2017 Storm Damage & FEMA Public Assistance Program
 
Presenter: Pamela Lung, P.E., CFM, Senior Civil Engineer, City of Livermore
The City of Livermore completed their development of the City Stream Maintenance Program (SMP) in 2016 and received permits for the program from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Regional Water Quality Control Board in 2016 and from the U.S Army Corps in consultation with the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service in 2017 just in time to repair damage from the 2017 storms. The city applied to CalOES and FEMA for public disaster assistance funding and received authorization concurrently with the debris removal, emergency protective measures and permanent repair work for the 20 sites damaged by the 2017 storms. The City initially submitted 14 maintenance projects and later added 20 storm repair projects to the 2017 Notification. All of this work including $1.1 million in storm repair work was completed in 2017. Learn how the City and assisting agencies have learned many lessons while successfully implementing the trail repair and maintenance projects. 

About the Presenter:
Pamela Lung is a Senior Civil Engineer and Floodplain Manager for the City of Livermore. She has worked for the City of Livermore for over 20 years and has over 30 years of public agency experience in engineering design, hydraulic analysis, land development, flood control, water quality and environmental permitting. At the City of Livermore Pam manages capital and development project design and review and serves as the City’s Floodplain Manager and FEMA CRS coordinator. She helped form and implements the Living Arroyos Program and Adopt a Creek Spot Program and serves as a City liaison to the Alameda County Clean Water Program and Bay Area Flood Protection Agency Association.  More recently Pam led the City’s effort to develop and implement the City’s Stream Maintenance Program. She also applied for and received FEMA public assistance and hazard mitigation grant funding to repair over $5 million of damages to the City’s public infrastructure resulting from the 2017 storms.  Pam holds an undergraduate and graduate degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Water Resources and is licensed in California as a Civil Engineer. She is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Floodplain Management Association and American State Floodplain Managers Association and is certified as a Floodplain Manager and a Qualified SWPPP Practitioner and Designer (QSO/QSD). Pam enjoys running and hiking with her husband, her son and his fiancé and looks forward to devoting more time to her family, church and travelling in the near future.

Virtual Zoom Presentation Thursday, January 7, 2020 at 11:30AM PST
Presentation
​The Subdivision Map Act is a state law that is implemented and enforced by cities and counties as the primary mechanism by which they regulate and control the subdivision of real property in California. The goals of the Map Act are to (i) encourage orderly community development for the benefit of adjacent landowners, prospective purchasers, and the public, (ii) control and regulate the design and construction of improvements, (iii) ensure that the areas dedicated for public purposes will be properly improved by the subdivider so that such areas do not become an undue burden on the taxpayer, and (iv) protect the public from fraud.  Matthew Gray will present significant land use legislation and case law to explain how cities and counties will be affected by recent updates to the Subdivision Map Act.
 
Presenter
Matthew Gray focuses his practice on land use entitlement processing, environmental compliance, and real estate transactions. He represents a range of local agencies, real estate developers and landowners in all stages of the land use entitlement and development process. He assists clients in negotiating and securing approval of development agreements, general plan amendments, specific plans, zoning, subdivision approvals, and annexation of property into cities and special districts; regularly appears before planning commissions and city councils; and advises clients on compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and other federal and state regulatory programs during the development process. Matt also has experience negotiating affordable housing agreements, complex mitigation fee agreements and conservation easements; forming land-based financing mechanisms, including Mello-Roos Districts; securing cancellation or termination of Williamson Act contracts on agricultural lands; advising clients on issues relating to water supply; and using the initiative and referendum process in the land use planning context. Matt negotiates purchase and sale agreements; site development agreements; CC&R's and easement agreements; and related transactional documents in connection with mixed-use, commercial, and residential development projects.

Dress Code:

• Wear your favorite ugly sweater and your best decorated mask!
  

Details:

• Bring your favorite beverage and a festive virtual background.
• We will mix, mingle, and laugh in random breakout rooms.
• Group games to follow including scavenger hunts, trivia, and event prizes.
• Meetings and break out rooms with professional and ice-breaking questions.

Games and Prizes:

• First 5 attendees will be entered into a raffle to win a $50 Amazon gift card!
• Win grand prizes including:
  • Amazon Gift Cards
  • Best Ugly Sweater Prize
  • Best Decorated Mask
  • Best festive virtual background prize

SBEC is accepting Donations through Eventbrite for prizes. Sponsors will be recognized during giveaways.

Please complete register through Eventbrite so we have your correct mailing address as well as email so we can send prizes and gift cards to the registered winners. Register through Eventbrite below:
​

​Virtual Zoom Presentation Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 11:30AM PST
Presentation:
Smart Mobility with Smart Partnerships: How the West is leading the way in advancing automation. This presentation will discuss how Minnesota and California are leading their respective regions – and the country – in finding innovative solutions to age-old problems. By leveraging connected vehicle, autonomous vehicle and related technologies Minnesota’s Department of Transportation and the Contra Costa Transportation Authority are advancing safety through data sharing, collaboration, testing and other innovations. 

Presenter (LEFT):
Randell H. Iwasaki, P.E., Executive Director Contra Costa Transportation AuthorityRandy Iwasaki was appointed by the CCTA Board on April 16, 2010. In his role as Executive Director, he administers the one-half percent sales tax program. The Authority is also the Congestion Management Agency, so he makes recommendations on how state and federal funds will be used in Contra Costa. He created GoMentum Station the largest secure autonomous/connected vehicle proving grounds in the US. He continues to work with Silicon Valley companies to provide innovative solutions to congestion relief.Randy serves on a number of national transportation panels and committees. He is the past Chairman of ITS America. He was appointed to the National Freight Advisory Committee and served as the Chair of the Committee.Most recently in 2019, WTS International honored Randy by giving him the Ray LaHood award. The award was created to recognize the men that have been key to WTS International's efforts to attract, retain and advance women in transportation. Eno Transportation and Shared Mobility Strategies identified Randy as one of the top 10 public sector transportation innovators. In 2013, he was inducted into the ITS America Hall of Fame in recognition of his ability to deliver innovative ITS solutions for the transportation system in California. in 2009, he was named to Government Technology's list of 25 "Doers, Dreamers and Drivers." This annual award is given "to recognize the hardest working and most innovative individuals in the public sector" and in 2008 was the recipient of the Thomas H. McDonald Memorial Award, which is considered the highest award presented by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for "rendering continuous outstanding service over an extended period of time or have made some exceptional contribution to the art an science of highway engineering."
Randy earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, where he currently serves on the School of Engineering's Industrial Advisory Board. In 2017, he received the Sandra Gardebring Ogren Leadership Award as one of the honored alumni from Cal Poly. He also earned a Master's of Science Degree in Engineering from California State University, Fresno.
Presenter (RIGHT):
Kristin R. White. J.D., Executive Director Minnesota Connected and Automated Vehicle ProgramKristin White is Executive Director of Minnesota's Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Office, one of the nation’s leading tech startups and incubators within state government. Her program harnesses innovative technologies to advance transportation safety, equity, mobility, health and sustainability. Kristin is a lawyer and policy strategist who oversees a multidisciplinary team to innovate policy, strategy, research, testing and deployment of emerging transportation technologies. Over her 20-year career, Kristin has been involved in policy and innovation at the international, national, state and local levels. She began her career as a Fulbright Fellow with the U.S. State Department in Japan. After obtaining her law degree and her certificate in global arbitration, she represented Fortune 500 companies as a global patent lawyer, arguing in front of the London Court of International Arbitration. She’s represented the City of Minneapolis and Minnesota DOT in various legal matters before leading the State of Minnesota’s CAV Innovation Alliance and CAV-X program. Kristin graduated from St. Olaf College with a B.A. in Political Science and Asian Studies and received her law degree from Hamline University School of Law.
Currently, Kristin co-chairs the Joint National Strategy for Transportation Automation, the AASHTO AV Community of Practice, and the MAASTO CAV Committee. Kristin’s work in developing innovative public-private partnerships has been awarded with a Governor’s Innovation Award nomination, and America’s Transportation Award nomination, the National Cronin Award for Innovation the AASHTO Transportation Innovation Award.

​Virtual Zoom Presentation Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 11:30AM PST

Presentation:
California wildfires damage millions of acres of land adding up to billions of dollars in damages. This presentation will cover facts and statistics gathered from wildfire research including information on: forward rate of speed (FROS), temperatures, and the effects of high temperature on various materials. Dirk will cover mitigation measures, USDA recommendations, and guidelines for equipment separation and buffer zones. In addition there will be a conversation on material selection as well as heat deflection techniques. In addition to facilities and infrastructure being threatened, safety is another critical element that can be protected. Learn how you can help your business and community to design and plan for wildfires.

​Presenter:
Dirk Van Oostendorp, CChem FRSC FICorr
Dirk L. van Oostendorp is Director of Engineering & Technical Services for Corrpro, based in Houston, TX. Van Oostendorp has more than 39 years of global experience in all aspects of pipeline and structural integrity, encompassing cathodic protection, corrosion control, material selection, protective coatings, inspection technologies and risk assessment. More recent experience includes integrity monitoring, failure analysis and pipeline integrity issues. Van Oostendorp holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemical technology and physical chemistry. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Fellow of the Institute of Corrosion and a NACE Corrosion Specialist. The author of 22 technical articles and 34 conference papers, Dirk has also delivered invited lectures at international institutes on topics of laser diagnostic techniques, hydrocarbon combustion, pollutant formation and pipeline integrity. He was a member of the original INGAA-Battelle team that developed what has now become the Direct Assessment methodology.

Presentation:
Guadalupe Dam is a 129-foot-high, 650-foot-long compacted earth embankment constructed in the mid 1930’s, owned and operated by Santa Clara Valley Water District. The Guadalupe Dam facilities are located in Santa Clara County about 9.5 miles south of the City of San Jose. Construction of the facilities occurred in the mid 1930’s with completion in 1936.
A seismic stability evaluation of the Guadalupe Dam completed in 2012 indicated inadequate seismic stability of the dam from postulated design earthquake events. As a result, Guadalupe Reservoir is currently subject to operational restrictions imposed by the California Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD). Retrofit of the 80-year-old Guadalupe Dam and associated facilities is necessary to address seismic safety concerns and other identified dam issues; to meet current regulatory requirements; to satisfy District operational requirements; and to remove the reservoir operating restriction and restore normal water supply capacity.
GEI is currently designing the seismic retrofit of the dam and will discuss key aspects of the project including engineering planning studies completed to identify the dam safety issues, alternatives considered for retrofit, critical dam safety design features and the current status of the overall retrofit design.

​Presenters:
Matt Powers, P.E.
Matt is a Senior Engineer with 14 years of experience in geotechnical evaluations related to flood management and water resources. He has managed complex design projects involving evaluation and design of dams and levees, dam safety monitoring, flood and erosion control, slope stability and landslide stabilization, and operations, maintenance, and emergency response procedures and include coordination of interdisciplinary task leaders and sub-consultants. Currently Matt is working with Valley Water as the Project Manager for the Guadalupe Dam Retrofit Final Design effort
Matt holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and a Master’s degree in Geologic Science from the University of British Colombia, in Vancouver. He is also the Branch Manager for the GEI Oakland office, where every day feels like happy hour on a tropical island.
Mark Freitas, PE, GE - Principal Engineer, GEI Consultants (since 2009)
Mark is a registered civil and geotechnical engineer in California with over 39 years’ experience in all aspects of geotechnical engineering, for a variety of structures. Over the last 15 years his emphasis has been on the evaluation and design of dams and levees. He has led the planning and execution of extensive field investigation programs, geotechnical data interpretation, site characterization, seepage and stability evaluations and overall dam and levee assessment programs. Mark is currently the Lead Geotechnical Engineer managing evaluations and seismic retrofit design of the 140-foot-high, 85-year old Guadalupe Dam owned by Valley Water.
Mark holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree in Geotechnical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He is also GEI’s Oakland Branch ‘office putt-putt’ expert holding the all-time record for putts in regulation and related use of the phrase “damn-it!” outside of professional context.