1 Request to Approve PRO.0092 Amendment No. 3
and WW-714 Increase in Contingencies
Engineering and Construction Services for
Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project
Oceanside
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Meeting
March 11, 2025
Ft. Funston
Sloat Boulevard
2 Climate Change Focused Planning
for San Francisco’s Ocean Beach
Project Meets Major City Priorities
1. Coastal Act Compliance
2. Maintain Water Quality via Infrastructure Protection
3. Adapt to Climate Change
3 1994
2010
4 San Francisco’s Historic Approaches to
Coastal Erosion
5 PRO.0092: Ocean Beach Long-term
Improvements
6 WW-714: Ocean Beach Short-term
Improvements
7 PRO.0092 Contract Scope Overview
Professional Services Contract PRO.0092 – Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and
Wastewater Infrastructure Protection
• Resolution No. 18-0128
• Contractor: Moffat and Nichol - AGS Joint Venture
• Contract Amount: $3,750,000
• Contract Duration: Five (5) years
The primary role of the Consultant is to provide planning, design and engineering support during construction
(ESDC) services for the Long-term Improvements phase
of the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project
PRO.0092 Amendment No. 3 Summary
8 Phase Original
Budget
Amendment
Nos. 1+2
Current
Budget
Realigned
Budget
Amendment
No. 3
(This
Request)
Proposed
Budget
Planning $1,255,000 $125,000 $1,380,000 $1,380,000 $0 $1,380,000 Environmental
Support $250,000 $125,000 $375,000 $575,000 $900,000 $1,475,000 Design $1,817,500 $900,000 $2,717,500 $3,795,000 $2,600,000 $6,395,000 ESDC $427,500 $850,000 $1,277,500 $0 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 Total $3,750,000 $2,000,000 $5,750,000 $5,750,000 $7,000,000 $12,750,000 9 PRO.0092 Contract Amendment Request
Why Contract Amendment is Required:
• Total project scope, complexity, cost and schedule increased significantly during planning and design
• Extensive coordination among multiple stakeholders, navigation of inherent technical complexities to effectively integrate diverse agency perspectives and priorities
• Coastal Commission Mandated Design Changes requiring
additional analysis and design efforts among the multiple stakeholders
• Increased duration of construction to address traffic flow in coordination with other San Francisco priority projects 10 Project Evolution Since June 2024
Original Design
Revised Design
11 WW-714 Contract Scope Overview
Construction Contract WW-714 – Ocean Beach Climate
Change Adaptation, Short-term Erosion Mitigation
• Resolution No. 21-0115
• Contractor: Minerva Construction Inc.
• Contract Amount: $3,134,000
• Contract Duration: 1,095 consecutive calendar days
The primary role of the Consultant is to provide Short- term Improvements in the form of soft shoreline
protection measures when monitoring requires it while
the Long-term Improvements phase is developed
WW-714 Increases in Cost and
Duration Contingencies Summary
12 WW-714 ORIGINAL
ORIGINAL
CONTINGENCY
PROPOSED
INCREASE IN
CONTINGENCY TOTAL
Duration in
Consecutive
Calendar
Days
1095 109 1095 2299
Total
Contract
Amount
$3,134,000 $313,400 $2,000,000 $5,477,400
13 WW-714 Approve Increases in
Contingencies
Why Increases in Cost and Duration Contingencies are Required:
• While design continues for the Long-term phase, protection of the area, which includes critical wastewater infrastructure, is necessary. • Work depends on annual monitoring which is required by the landowner, the National Park Service, and the California Coastal Commission.
• Monitoring reports determine if coastal erosion has degraded the area enough to warrant action.
• If action is required, WW-714 provides the contracting vehicle needed to meet the protection requirements.
14 Next Steps
Seek Commission approval for PRO.0092 Contract Amendment No. 3 to increase budget and extend schedule
Seek subsequent approval by the Board of Supervisors
Seek Commission approval for WW-714 Increases in Cost and Duration Contingencies
Complete California Coastal Commission Mandated Design Changes 15 Questions and Answers
DEPARTMENT
Infrastructure Division
AGENDA NO. 11
MEETING DATE
March 11, 2025
AGENDA ITEM
Public Utilities Commission
City and County of San Francisco
Calendar: Regular Calendar
Project Manager: Anna M. Roche
Approve Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection
Summary of Proposed
Commission Action:
Approve Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection , with Moffatt & Nichol -AGS J oint Venture, increasing the contract not-to-exceed amount by $7,000,000, and increasing the contract duration by six years, for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $ 12,750,000 and a total contract duration of 15 years, to continue providing engineering design and support services for the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project due to on -going extensive coordination efforts among multiple stakeholders, technical complexities, additional analysis and design efforts needed to address challenging negotiations between affected stakeholders, and significant delays associated with the California Coastal Commission , subject to Board of Supervisors approval under Charter Section 9.118.
Background: The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is leading efforts to implement one of the City’s first climate change adaptation initiatives, the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project (Project) located at Ocean Beach, south of Sloat Boulevard. The SFPUC partner agencies include San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and San Francisco Public Works. This is one of the first large, cross -agency infrastructure project s being built in the City to address the long- term physical changes needed to combat climate-induced sea level rise in the City, specifically at Ocean Beach.
The Project is necessary to protect the integrity of the SFPUC’s wastewater assets built to protect public health and the environment, including the Lake Merced Tunnel, the Westside Pump Station, and the Oceanside Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Lake Merced Tunnel has a storage capacity of up to 10 million gallons for combined sewage and stormwater flows and is located closest to the section of South Ocean Beach most severely impacted from, and most vulnerable to, continued bluff erosion. The tunnel could become structurally compromised if sudden bluff retreat is experienced, resulting in significant environmental and public health impacts. This project will implement a comprehensive shoreline management and protection plan in partnership with relevant stake holders and regulatory agencies to provide a Agenda Title: Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection
Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
long-term solution to the climate-related shoreline erosion along South Ocean Beach, and to mitigate potential impacts to the Lake Merced Tunnel and other critical wastewater assets at this location.
On July 24, 2018, by Resolution No. 18- 0128, this Commission awarded Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection, to Moffatt and Nichol-AGS Joint Venture (JV), for an amount not-to-exceed $3,750,000 and a contract duration of five years.
To meet the terms of the 2015 California Coastal Commission permit, which expired on June 30, 2024, the SFPUC submitted all required documentation and was prepared to attend the June 12, 2024, Coastal Commission Hearing to secure a new California Coastal Commission permit for the Project.
However, on June 10, 2024, the SFPUC submitted a letter request to the California Coastal Commission staff requesting postponement of the California Coastal Commission hearing. The Project design had reached 95% and was the product of more than a decade of collaboration, planning, technical study, design, and environmental review. These initiatives, in which the SFPUC had invested millions of dollars and countless hours of staff time, required extensive consultation, collaboration, and negotiation among several departments within the City and across multiple levels of government.
In addition, the SFPUC met with Coastal Commission staff on a regular basis to discuss the technical work that supported the Project design. These extensive coordination efforts led the SFPUC to believe that Coastal Commission staff substantially agreed with most of the Project elements.
However, the Coastal Commission staff’s special conditions that were provided in advance of the June hearing, recommended substantial project modification. Because the proposed Project design resulted from extensive collaboration between a wide array of interested parties and stakeholders, implementing even one of the changes identified would take additional time and coordination. After six months of negotiations, the SFPUC and Coastal Commission staff reached substantial agreement on what design change s would be reasonably feasible. After reaching
substantial agreement, the
SFPUC was able to attend the November 14, 2024, Coastal Commission hearing and secured unanimous approval of the permit application. The SFPUC is estimating that additional analysis and re-design efforts, which will require the approval of the Coastal Commission Executive Director, will take at least 18 additional months of design
once contract modifications are
secured.
Scope of Contract: The professional services for this project include alternatives analysis and conceptual engineering, detailed design, and engineering support for the environmental review, federal and state grant opportunities, bid and award and environmental services during construction for the following project elements:
• Removal of existing shoreline armoring
• Low-profile secant pile wall
Agenda Title: Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection
Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
• Stormwater Infiltration Basins
• SFPUC Facility Access
• Coastal Trial & Stairs to Beach
• Public Restrooms
• Coastal Parking Lot
• Intersection Updates to allow removal of Great Highway between Sloat and Skyline Boulevards
• Access to Zoo Parking Lot
• ADA Beach Access
• Dune Mitigation
• Special Status species protection and habitat enhancement • Beach sand replenishment
Amendments to the
Contract:
Amendment No. 1 : On December 17, 2018, SFPUC s taff amended the contract to address an insurance requirement, with no change to the contract amount or duration.
Amendment No. 2: On April 13, 2021, by Resolution No. 21-0056, this Commission approved Amendment No. 2, increasing the contract amount by $2,000,000 and increasing the contract duration by four years, for a total not- to-exceed contract amount of $5,750,000 and a total contract duration of nine years, to address on- going extensive coordination efforts among multiple stakeholders, increased complexity and scope to design elements, increased environmental analysis, and to cover an identified increase in construction duration.
Recommended Amendment No. 3: Staff recommends Commission approval of Amendment No. 3 to increase the contract not-to-exceed amount by $7,000,000 and extend the contract duration by six years, increasing the total not -to-exceed contract amount to $12,750,000 and extending the contract duration to 15 years, to address California Coastal Commission mandated design changes, increased design complexities related to interdepartmental shared scope elements, and an anticipated increase in the duration of construction of the project.
The proposed amendment would address the following changes:
1) Coastal Commission Mandated Design Changes:
a. Additional analysis and design efforts needed to address coastal access.
b. Additional analysis and design needed to address access to existing SFPUC wastewater facilities including Westside Pump Station and Oceanside Treatment Plant.
c. Additional analysis and design needed to address dune mitigation establishment.
Agenda Title: Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection
Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
d. Additional analysis and design needed for additional restroom located at Skyline Boulevard.
2) Increased Design Complexities Related to Interdepartmental Design Elements:
a. Additional analysis needed for traffic related impacts and intersection re -design to incorporate Proposition K Great Highway closure between Sloat and Lincoln Boulevards.
b. Additional design needed for open space trail system and bio- retention basin system between Sloat Boulevard and Skyline Boulevard.
c. Additional design needed to address entry and exit into the San Francisco Zoo.
3) Increased Duration of Construction:
a. Construction sequencing to address traffic flow and access to existing facilities increased construction duration.
b. Additional construction timing needed to construct the open space amenities and additional intersection modifications.
Budget and Costs: Funding Source : Wastewater Enterprise , Facilities & Infrastructure Program-funded Project No. 10015554, Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project.
Original Not-to-Exceed Amount: $3,750,000
Amendment Nos. 1-2 Amount Increase: $2,000,000
Recommended Amendment No. 3 Amount Increase: $7,000,000 Total Proposed Not-To-Exceed Contract Amount: $12,750,000
Schedule: Original Contract Duration: Five years
Amendment Nos. 1-2 Duration Increase: Four years
Recommended Amendment No. 3 Duration Increase: Six years Total Proposed Contract Duration: 15 years
Environmental
Review:
On September 28, 2023, the San Francisco Planning Commission, by Motion No. 21398, certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project (Project) (Case No. 2019- 020115ENV) prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by Motion No. 21398.
On October 10, 2023, by Resolution No. 23-0190, this Commission approved the Project and adopted the CEQA Findings and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program required by the CEQA.
Engineering design and construction services and support under this Amendment for the elements of the P roject that have been approved by this Commission are within the scope of the P roject authorized under the Final EIR.
Agenda Title: Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection
Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
Table 1: PRO.0092 Amendment No. 3 Summary
Phase
Original
Budget
Amendment
Nos. 1-2
Current
Budget
Realigned
Budget
Amendment
No. 3
(This
Request)
Proposed
Budget
Planning $1,255,000 $125,000 $1,380,000 $1,380,000 $0 $1,380,000 Environmental
Support $250,000 $125,000 $375,000 $575,000 $900,000 $1,475,000 Design $1,817,500 $900,000 $2,717,500 $3,795,000 $2,600,000 $6,395,000 ESDC* $427,500 $850,000 $1,277,500 $0 $3,500,000 $3,500,000 Total $3,750,000 $2,000,000 $5,750,000 $5,750,000 $7,000,000 $12,750,000 *ESDC: Engineering Support During Construction
For any new or modified Project elements, engineering services under this Amendment would be limited to design and support prior to construction, and engineering services and support during construction-related activities for the new or modified Project elements will not be initiated under this Amendment until any additional CEQA review, if required, has been completed and until this Commission has reviewed and considered the CEQA determination and has approved the changes to the Project.
The Final EIR, CEQA Findings, and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program are available here: link
. The Planning Commission Motion 21398 is
available here: link.
Local Business
Enterprise Utilization
and Non-
Discrimination In
Contracting:
The Contract Monitoring Division established a 10% Local Business Enterprise (LBE) subcontracting requirement for this contract. The contractor committed to a 10.5% LBE subcontractor participation with its bid submittal, and this amount remains unchanged.
Attachment(s): 1. Background Memorandum
2. Contract Monitoring Division Memorandum
Agenda Title: Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection
Commission Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
Figure 1: Project Location
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
RESOLUTION NO.
WHEREAS, On behalf of the City and County of San Francisco (City), the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is leading efforts to implement one of the City’s first climate change adaptation initiatives, the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project (Project) located at Ocean Beach, south of Sloat Boulevard; and
WHEREAS, On July 24, 2018, by Resolution No. 18- 0128, this Commission awarded Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection , to Moffatt and Nichol -AGS, Joint Venture (JV), for a n amount not-to-exceed $3,750,000, and with a duration of five years, to provide engineering design and support services for the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project; and
WHEREAS, On December 17, 2018, SFPUC staff issued Amendment No. 1 to address an insurance requirement, with no change to the contract amount or duration; and
WHEREAS, On April 13, 2021, by Resolution No. 21-0056, this Commission approved Amendment No. 2, increasing the contract amount by $2,000,000 and increasing the contract duration by four years, for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $5,750,000 and a total contract duration of nine years; and
WHEREAS, Staff recommends that the Commission approve Amendment No. 3 to increase the not-to-exceed contract amount by $7,000,000 and extend the contract duration by six years, for a total not-to-exceed contract amount of $12,750,000 and a total contract duration of 15 years, to allow the contractor to continue providing engineering design and support services for the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project; and
WHEREAS, The Contracting Monitoring Division (CMD) established a Local Business Enterprise (LBE) subconsultant participation requirement of 10% for this contract, and Moffat & Nichol-AGS JV committed to a LBE subconsultant participation of 10.5% with their proposal, and this remains unchanged; and
WHEREAS, On September 28, 2023, the San Francisco Planning Commission certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project (Project) (Case No. 2019-020115ENV) prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) by Motion No. 21398; and
WHEREAS, On October 10, 2023, by Resolution No. 23-0190, this Commission approved the Project and adopted the CEQA Findings and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program required by the CEQA; and
WHEREAS, Engineering design and construction services and support under this Amendment for the elements of the Project that have been approved by this Commission are within the scope of the Project authorized under the Final EIR; and
WHEREAS, For any new or modified P roject elements, engineering services under t his Amendment would be limited to design and support prior to construction, and engineering services and support during construction- related activities for the new or modified Project elements will not be initiated under this Amendment until any additional CEQA review , if required, has been completed and until this Commission has reviewed and considered the CEQA determination and has approved the changes to the Project; and
WHEREAS, The Planning Department is the custodian of records, located in File No. 2019-020115ENV at 49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 1400, San Francisco, California; and
WHEREAS, Staff has made the Project files, including the Final EIR, CEQA Findings, Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, and Resolution No. 23- 0190 available for review by this Commission and the public, and those files are part of the record before this Commission; and
WHEREAS, This Commission has reviewed and considered the information contained in the Final EIR, the CEQA Findings, and all written and oral information provided by the Planning Department, the public, relevant public agencies, SFPUC staff and other expert s and the administrative files for the Project; and
WHEREAS, Funds for this Contract is available from Project No. 10015554 , Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, This Commission, having reviewed and considered the Final EIR and the record as a whole for the Project, finds that the Final EIR is adequate for its use as the decision– making body for the Project and incorporates the CEQA Findings by this reference thereto as though set forth in this Resolution; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, This Commission further finds that the engineering design and support services approved through this action are not substantial project changes or substantial changes in project circumstances that would require major revisions to the Final EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or an increase in the severity of previously identified significant impacts, and there is no new information of substantial importance that would change the conclusions set forth in the Final EIR; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Commission hereby approves Amendment No. 3 to Contract No. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection , with Moffatt and Nichol -AGS JV, increasing the not-to- exceed contract amount by $7,000,000, and extending the contract duration by six years, for a total contract not-to-exceed amount of $12,750,000 and a total contract duration of 15 years, subject to the Board of Supervisors approval under Charter Section 9.118.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission at its meeting of March 11, 2025.
Director of Commission Affairs
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
In
OUR MISSION: To provide our customers with high-quality, efficient, and reliable water, power and sewer services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.
525 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
T 415.554.3155
F 415.554.3161
TTY 415.554.3488
ATTACHMENT 1
BACKGROUND MEMORANDUM
DATE: February 18, 2025
SUBJECT: Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project – Project Background Information in support of the March 11, 2025, Commission Items - Approve Amendment No. 3 to Contract No.
PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection and Approve Increases in Cost and Duration Contingencies for Contract No.
WW-714, Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation, Short-term Erosion Mitigation
The memorandum provides background information on timeline of project development, level o f required coordination among multiple stakeholders, and current status of regulatory approvals with the California Coastal Commission which has led to the proposed Amendment No. 3 to Contract NO. PRO.0092, Engineering Services for South Ocean Beach Coastal Erosion and Wastewater Infrastructure Protection and the need for Approving Increases in Cost and Duration Contingencies for Contract No. WW -714, Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation, Short-term Erosion Mitigation.
This project will implement a comprehensive shoreline management and protection plan in partnership with relevant stakeholders and regulatory agencies to provide a long-term solution to the climate-related shoreline erosion along South Ocean Beach, and to mitigate potential impacts to the Lake Merced Tunnel and other critical wastewater assets at this location . On behalf of the City and County of San Francisco (City), the SFPUC is leading the effort to plan, design, and construct the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project (Project) at South Ocean Beach, which is being implemented in three sequential phases: (1) Short -term Improvements via WW-714 [soft shoreline protection measures, which include moving sand from North Ocean Beach to South Ocean Beach and placing large sand bags to temporarily protect the Great Highway Extension and SFPUC Wastewater infrastructure while the Long -term Improvements are developed via PRO.0092]; (2) Army Corps of Engineers’ Beneficial Use of Dredged Sand [in 2021, the Army Corps placed 380,000 cubic yards of sand dredged from the Main Shipping Channel at South Ocean Beach in partnership with SFPUC and the National Park Service, which is needed for the long- term management of the area]; and (3) Long -term
Improvements [long- term components to address climate -induced erosion described as the Project].
The Project is one of the City’s first climate adaptation initiatives. Partnering with the San Francisco Recreation and Park s Department, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, and San Francisco Public Works, this project addresses the long-term physical changes needed to combat climate-induced sea level rise at Ocean Beach, south of Sloat Boulevard. As a pioneering effort in climate adaptation, the project requires extensive coordination among multiple stakeholders, navigation of inherent technical complexities , analysis and design to effectively integrate diverse agency perspectives and priorities. This integration has resulted in complex, but ultimately productive, negotiations with affected stakeholders. This type of integrated, multi -agency approach is relatively new, and while it is requiring a significant investment of time and resources to align processes and priorities, it has also provided invaluable learning opportunities. These lessons will help streamline and improve future climate adaptation projects, ensuring the City is well- prepared for the challenges of a changing climate.
Treatment Plant. The Lake Merced Tunnel has a storage capacity of up to 10 million gallons for combined sewage and stormwater flows and is located closest to the section of South Ocean Beach most severely impacted from, and most vulnerable to, continued bluff erosion. The tunnel could become structurally compromised if sudden bluff retreat is experienced, resulting in significant environmental and public health impacts.
Ocean Beach comprises a 3.5 -mile stretch of sandy beach that forms the western boundary of San Francisco. It is influenced by complex coastal processes, including an intense wave climate, strong tidal currents, and irregular offshore underwater features. Chronic erosion of the beach and bluffs by climate-related sea level rise and episodic coastal storms occurs at South Ocean Beach. This erosion has undermined and damaged beach parking lots, stormwater drainage facilities, and the Great Highway Extension (portion of the Great Highway between Sloat and Skyline Boulevards), threatens existing underground wastewater system infrastructure, and has constrained public shoreline access and recreational opportunities.
Since the 1990s, the City has responded to the erosion – mainly to protect the Great Highway Extension, an SF Rec and Park asset – through both hard shoreline armoring (e.g., construction of rock and rubble revetments) and soft shoreline protection measures (e.g., beach nourishment and sandbag revetments). In the intervening period, the City has also undertaken planning initiatives aimed at developing a long- term strategy for managing South Ocean Beach. Notably, the city partially funded and participated in the preparation of the 2012 Ocean Beach Master Plan (Plan). Led by the San Francisco Bay Area Planning and Urban Research Association (SPUR), the master planning process The Project is necessary to protect the integrity of the SFPUC’s wastewater assets built to protect public health and the environment, including the Lake Merced Tunnel, the Westside Pump Station, and the Oceanside Wastewater
brought together community members, elected officials, agency representatives, and other stakeholders to develop a sustainable, long-term vision for Ocean Beach, addressing public access, recreational use, environmental protection, and infrastructure needs in the context of erosion and climate-related sea level rise.
The Plan presented 6 key moves that are organized by geographical reaches and are designed to be implemented incrementally by the responsible agencies over a period of decades. This Project is focused on implementing 2 of the 6 key moves at South Ocean Beach (Ocean Beach between Sloat Boulevard and Fort Funston) and includes (1) closure of the Great Highway Extension and (2) the introduction of a multipurpose coastal protection/ restoration/access system.
The terms of a 2014 legal settlement agreement and a 2015 California Coastal Commission permit, which had received subsequent time extensions of a total of 2.5 years with a previous expiration date of June 30, 2024, both establish timelines for developing and implementing a long- term strategy for shoreline management at South Ocean Beach.
On June 10, 2024, the SFPUC submitted a letter request to California Coastal Commission staff requesting postponement of the June 2024 Coastal Development Permit hearing. The Project design had reached 95% design for the Long-term Improvements phase and was the product of more than a decade of collaboration, planning, technical study, design, and environmental review.
These initiatives, in which the SFPUC had invested millions of dollars and countless hours of staff time, required extensive consultation, collaboration, and negotiation among several departments within the City and across multiple levels of government. In addition, the SFPUC met with Commission staff on a regular basis to discuss the technical work that supported the Project design.
These extensive coordination efforts led the SFPUC to believe that Commission staff substantially agreed with most of the Project elements. However, the Commission staff’s special conditions that were provided in advance of the June hearing, recommended substantial project modification. Because the proposed Project design resulted from extensive collaboration between a wide array of interested parties and stakeholders, implementing even one of the changes identified would take additional time and coordination. After 6 months of negotiations, the SFPUC and Coastal Commission staff reached substantial agreement on what design changes would be reasonably feasible. With that substantial agreement, the SFPUC attended the November 14, 2024, Coastal Commission hearing and secured unanimous approval of the C oastal Development Permit.
In 2018, the city amended its local coastal plan, the Western Shoreline Area Plan, to adopt policies that advance the Plan’s general vision for South Ocean Beach. The local coastal program policies concerning managed retreat, beach nourishment, and shoreline armoring strategies aim to preserve and enhance public access, coastal recreation, and scenic resources at South Ocean Beach, while protecting critical wastewater system infrastructure from damage due to coastal hazards. The Project represents the City’s long-term strategy to shoreline management at South Ocean Beach.
The SFPUC is estimating that re -design of these elements, which require the approval of the Coastal Commission Executive Director and continued coordination among multiple stakeholders, navigation of inherent technical complexities, and additional analysis and design to effectively integrate diverse agency perspectives and priorities , will take at least 18 additional months of design once the contract modification for PRO.0092 is secured.
While design continues, protection of this area is necessary. Extending services under WW-714 are needed to allow for continued implementation of Short-term Improvements (soft shoreline protection measures), which include moving sand from North Ocean Beach to South Ocean Beach and placing large sandbags to temporarily protect the Great Highway Extension and SFPUC Wastewater Infrastructure, while the Long- term Improvements phase, which is being designed under PRO.009, continues to be developed.