HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-10-01 - AGENDA REPORTS - WHITTAKER BERMITE REMEDIATION (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO: or F y & Council
p, memb
FROM: en ulskamInte ' ity Manager
DATE: October 1, 2002
SUBJECT: WHITTAKER-BERMITE PROPERTY REMEDIATION & REUSE
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive staff report, discuss the information presented and provide direction to staff.
BACKGROUND
On June 11, 2002, the City Council directed staff to proceed with the development of
strategies regarding various aspects of the Whittaker-Bermite property. The City Council
established a Subcommittee of its members, Mayor Ferry and Councilmember Kellar, to
participate with staff and consultants through the process. The City Council acknowledged
the need for and directed the Subcommittee and staff to acquire specific expertise in legal,
perchlorate and unexploded ordnance issues. Cox, Castle, Nicholson, a legal firm with
extensive experience in remediation projects, and UXB International, an unexploded
ordinance and chemical remediation company that has worked on many properties for the
US Military, have been retained as the City's legal and technical experts to address the
Whittaker-Bermite property. In addition, legal counsel from the City Attorney's Office has
been assigned to assist and advise regarding potential litigation issues and overall strategy.
Since June, City staff, consultants, regulatory agencies and other interested parties have
been working at a feverous pace to gather information, analyze potential strategies, and
meet with parties that have an interest in the Whittaker-Bermite property (e.g.
Whittaker/Meggitt Corporation, SCLLC, CLWA and others). The process has provided the
City Council Subcommittee and staff with a higher level of understanding of the issues, the
parties involved and likely future scenarios that can be expected to occur.
The purpose of this study session is to educate the public regarding the issues and
investigation that has been ongoing since June regarding the clean-up of the Whittaker-
Bermite property. The Study Session presentation and discussion will include the following
items:
• review City Council direction;
• review facts about the Whittaker-Bermite property;
• outline the results of the fact finding work that has been completed;
Agenda Item
• determine what the City's role could be in facilitating clean-up of the property; and
• outline a multi -pronged strategy to address clean-up of the Whittaker-Bermite property.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
None at this time.
ATTACHMENTS
Materials will be provided at the Study Session.
KP:JJL:LMH:AJR
S: \PBS\ADVANCE\PTABELA\ccss 10 01 2002.doc