October 19, 2026
Agenda Item No. __
TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
David A. Webb, Public Works Director - 949-644-3311, [email protected] PREPARED BY:
Michael J. Sinacori, Assistant City Engineer - 949-644-3342, [email protected] TITLE:
West Newport Beach Sand Replenishment – Award of Contract No. 10239-1 (27H04) to Jeremy Harris Construction ABSTRACT:
The City of Newport Beach (City) received construction bids for the West Newport Beach Sand Replenishment project and requests City Council approval to award the construction contract to Jeremy Harris Construction (Jeremy Harris) of Riverside. This project will replenish sand at eroded beach locations in West Newport Beach Groin field area.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Find this project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301(c), Class 1 (maintenance of existing public facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use) of the CEQA Guidelines, because this project has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment; Approve the project plans and specifications;
Find the bid submitted by Elka Construction Inc. to be non-responsive; Approve Budget Amendment No. 27-031 appropriating $1,486,457.10 in increased expenditures in Account 10101-980000-27H04 from the unappropriated Tidelands Capital fund balance; Award Contract No. 10239-1 to Jeremy Harris Construction for the total bid price of $1,487,678 for the West Newport Beach Sand Replenishment project, and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute the contract; and Establish a contingency of $375,000 (approximately 25% of the total bid) to cover the cost of unforeseen work not included in the original contract.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed project is located in West Newport Beach and includes sourcing sand from the mouth of the Santa Ana River (SAR), hauling, and placing sand at eroded beach areas between 36th and 62nd Streets. Intense wave energy from recent storms has had destructive impacts on City beaches by causing extensive sand erosion and forcing the City to declare local emergency.
The County of Orange (County) recently obtained approval of long-term permits from the necessary regulatory agencies to remove sand from the SAR mouth to be placed on City beaches generally from the SAR to the Wedge. The City has an encroachment permit with the County to enter the SAR to source the sand and place it on the beaches. The County is providing permit oversight, including biological monitoring.
At 10 a.m. on October 13, 2026, the City Clerk opened and read the following bids for this project:
BIDDER
TOTAL BID AMOUNT
Low
Elka Construction Inc. *
$ 1,388,500
2nd
Jeremy Harris Construction
$ 1,487,678
3rd
Grigolla & Sons Construction
$ 1,501,000
4th
Beador Construction Company, Inc.
$ 1,777,777
5th
GCI Construction, Inc.
$ 2,901,000
6th
Minako American Corporation
$ 3,226,000
* Low bidder is unable to respond to the City’s needs in a timely manner.
The City received six bids for this project. While evaluating the bids, it was determined the low bidder was unable to meet the City’s bid requirements and needs and was therefore non-responsive. Staff recommends awarding to the next lowest bidder, Jeremy Harris, who possesses a California State Contractor’s License Classification “A”, as required by the project specifications. A review of references for Jeremy Harris shows satisfactory completion of similar contracts for other municipalities.
Jeremy Harris’ bid was 26% below the engineer’s estimate of $2,000,000. The difference between the low bid and the engineer’s estimate appears to be due to favorable bids for loading, hauling and placing sand. Pursuant to the contract specifications, the contractor will have 45 consecutive working days to complete the work. Work is scheduled to start immediately after award.
The project plans and specifications are available for review at the following link: Awarding Contracts. This link will expire 10 days after the City Council meeting date.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Should the City Council approve the proposed budget amendment, sufficient funding would be available in the Capital Improvement Program budget for the award of this contract.
This project provides for a base bid of 50,000 cubic yards (CY) of sand with two additives, each for 25,000 CY of additional sand, for a total of 100,000 CY. The total bid price to be awarded includes the cost of 100,000 CY. The following funds will be expended.
Account Description
Account Number
Amount
Tidelands Maintenance
10001-980000-27H04
$
150,000.00
Tidelands Maintenance
10001-980000-26H04
$
31,242.90
Tidelands Capital
10101-980000-27H04
$
1,486,457.10
Oceanfront Encroachment
16701-980000-27H04
$
200,000.00
Total:
$
1,867,700.00
Proposed fund uses are as follows:
Vendor
Purpose
Amount
Jeremy Harris
Construction Contract
$
1,487,678.00
Jeremy Harris
Construction Contingency
$
375,000.00
Various
Printing & Incidentals
$
5,022.00
Total:
$
1,867,700.00
Tidelands revenue is generated from the operation of the City’s tidelands including rents from moorings, piers and leases, as well as income from parking lots. Currently, the operating expenditures of the Tidelands exceed the revenues and is subsidized by the General Fund. The Tidelands Capital Fund was created to allow for the sequestration of incremental increases from tidelands rent adjustments.
Oceanfront Encroachment revenue is received from annual permit fees paid by private property owners who live along the oceanfront for permitted improvements on the public right-of-way. The funds are restricted for oceanfront restoration and improvement and maintenance to enhance public access and use of ocean beaches as restricted by the Local Coastal Program.
Staff recommends establishing $375,000 (approximately 25% of the total bid) for contingency purposes and unforeseen conditions associated with construction.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301(c), Class 1 (maintenance of existing public facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use) Section 15302(c), Class 2 (reconstruction of existing facility involving negligible or no expansion of capacity) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because this project has no potential to have a significant effect on the environment.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Location Map
Attachment B – Budget Amendment
Attachment C – West Newport Beach Sand Replenishment Project Contract No. 10239-1 _-3
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West Newport Beach Sand Replenishment – Award of Contract No. 10239-1 (27H04) to Jeremy Harris Construction October 19, 2026
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