CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
9/28/2026
1 SUBJECT:
Continuation of Proclamation of Local Emergency at the Pacifica Municipal Pier and the Order of Director of Emergency Services Relating to Temporary Closure of the Pier RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Accept report and by motion, make a determination that conditions of a local emergency continue to exist at the Pacifica Municipal Pier.
2. Determine, by at least a four-fifths vote, that there is a need to continue the emergency action taken pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22050 for the emergency investigation and stabilization of the Pacifica Municipal Pier.
STAFF CONTACT:
Sean Charpentier, City Manager
(650) 738-7409
[email protected]
Jim Porter, Interim Director of Public Works
(650) 738-3767
[email protected]
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
On June 5, 2026, the City Manager, acting in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, proclaimed the existence of a local emergency pursuant to PMC 4-2.05(a) and executed the "Proclamation of the Existence of a Local Emergency at the Pacifica Municipal Pier ("Proclamation"). On June 8, 2026, the City Council of the City of Pacifica adopted Resolution No. 33-2026 to ratify the Proclamation of local emergency regarding the Pacifica Municipal Pier (Attachment 1). The City’s Proclamation was sent to the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Services and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and allows the City to seek state and federal funds relating to the emergency. Pursuant to Government Code section 8630, the City Council must review the need for continuing the local emergency at least once every 60 days until the City Council terminates the local emergency, and must proclaim the termination of the local emergency at the earliest date that conditions warrant. This review of the local emergency proclamation is separate from, and in addition to, the City Council's review of the emergency contracting action described below under Public Contract Code section 22050.
This proclamation of local emergency was based on the following findings. On Thursday, June 4, 2026, Public Works staff were notified of damages to the Pacifica Municipal Pier. Public Works Engineering and Field Services staff responded to the notification and inspected the Pacifica Municipal Pier and found cracking, separation, and displacement of the concrete walkway and structural elements near the abutment and Chit Chat Café (“Conditions”).
Pacifica City Council 2
September 28, 2026
Public Works Field Services staff closed off the Pier and abutment area from public access due to the unstable and unsafe Conditions. The City’s Chief Building Official also issued a “red-tag” for the Chit Chat Café, as the restaurant is unsafe for occupancy. The utilities to Chit Chat Café have been cut and capped off. The preliminary structural engineering assessment from the City’s consultants revealed there is extensive damage which will likely require major reconstruction of the abutment. On June 9, 2026, the City demolished the Chit Chat Café due to the continued settling of the abutment to prevent the structure from falling into the ocean, resulting in significant environmental cleanup costs.
The City completed short-term stabilization by placing rock revetment around the abutment. The City is awaiting a design from its structural engineers for a temporary brace around the first deck to stabilize the Pier until a permanent solution can be identified. The Pier will remain closed until it can be determined that the facility is safe for public use.
Since declaring the local emergency, the City has taken the following steps to stabilize the Pier:
The City completed placement of temporary rock revetment around the pier abutment to provide support and slow its continued settlement. The City continues to monitor the condition of the Pier and is pursuing additional emergency stabilization measures intended to provide interim support for the abutment and first deck of the Pier.
The abutment and first deck of the Pier remain structurally unstable, and the Pier continues to be unsafe for public access. Additional emergency stabilization work remains necessary to reduce the risk of further structural movement.
As part of the emergency stabilization efforts, the City issued an emergency Request for Proposals (RFP) for emergency stabilization work at the Pacifica Municipal Pier. Following the City’s evaluation of the proposal received in response to the RFP, the City selected a qualified contractor and the City Council ratified the resulting emergency agreement on August 24,2026, as described below
Since the previous continuation of the local emergency on September 14, 2026, Power Engineering Construction Co. has continued the investigation and design work authorized under the Phase 2 Task Order and Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP) that the City fully executed on September 3, 2026. Power Engineering is currently developing designs for the emergency stabilization work. Construction is not authorized under the current LNTP and will require separate authorization from the City.
The emergency investigation and stabilization work is being performed under the City's emergency contracting authority pursuant to Public Contract Code sections 20168 and 22050, which authorized the City to procure this work without giving notice for competitive bids. Under Public Contract Code section 22050, the City Council must review the emergency action at its next regularly scheduled meeting after the action is taken, and at every regularly scheduled meeting thereafter until the action is terminated, and must determine, by a four-fifths vote, that there is a need to continue the emergency action. Consistent with that requirement, the City Council reviewed and ratified the emergency contracting action on August 24, 2026, and on September 14, 2026, determined that there was a need to continue the emergency action. Staff recommends that the City Council again determine that there is a need to continue the emergency action. As with the local emergency proclamation, the City Council must terminate the emergency action at the earliest date that conditions warrant so that any remaining work may be completed through competitive bidding.
The conditions that caused the local emergency continue to exist and therefore Staff and the City Manager (Director of Emergency Services) recommend continuance of the local emergency and continuation of the emergency contracting action under Public Contract Code section Pacifica City Council 3
September 28, 2026
22050.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impacts associated with the emergency are covered under the Disaster Accounting Fund and no additional budget authority is necessary as sufficient funds have been previously approved in the Disaster Accounting Fund to pay for the demolition and other associated projects. The continuation of the local emergency will facilitate the ability for the City to request resources including financial support and reimbursement from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for costs incurred in preparation and/or response to the emergency.
ORIGINATED BY:
Public Works
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A: Resolution No.33-2026 and Proclamation of Local Emergency Regarding the Pacifica Municipal Pier (PDF)