CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: October 5, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
TITLE: AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FOR THE MONUMENT BRIDGE AT CANAL TRAIL PROJECT NO. 02-26 AND AUTHORIZE
THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT
WITH FJ&I ENGINEERING, INC.
SYNOPSIS
The Monument Bridge at Canal Trail Project (No. 02-26) (Project) will provide safety and accesscontrol improvements underneath the Monument Boulevard bridge deck at Mohr Lane. The purpose of this item is to consider acceptance of the lowest responsive and responsible bid, submitted by FJ&I Engineering, Inc., and to authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with FJ&I Engineering, Inc.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Citywide Bridge Maintenance Program is a funded project in the approved FY 2026-2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The bridge program funds the implementation of recommended bridge repairs required to maintain a reliable transportation system. The Monument Boulevard Bridge at the Canal Trail Project No. 02-26 will construct CMU walls, install grouted Caltrans Class I rip-rap, and add secure steel access gates beneath both sides of the Monument Boulevard Bridge along the flood control channel, along with associated demolition, earthwork, traffic control, and environmental protection work.
The Monument Boulevard bridge is located at the intersection of Monument Boulevard and Mohr Lane and spans the Contra Costa County flood control channel. It is a single span bridge with a reinforced concrete bridge deck and abutments. The center line of the bridge deck is the boundary between the City of Pleasant Hill and the City of Concord. The City of Pleasant Hill is responsible for the maintenance beneath the west side of the bridge deck, and the City of Concord maintains the east side. The Contra Costa County Flood Control District (CCCFCD) maintains the concrete lined channel, as well as the landscape area surrounding the north and south bridge abutments.
In recent years, the area beneath the Monument Boulevard bridge has experienced significant accumulations of garbage and debris associated with prolonged unauthorized encampment activity. The City of Pleasant Hill has undertaken major cleanup efforts in previous years, dedicating substantial staff time and incurring significant contractor and waste-removal costs to address these conditions. Left unaddressed, this debris and waste accumulation creates elevated public-health risks, including mosquito breeding, rodent activity, and decomposition hazards that can lead to serious disease exposure for the surrounding community.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Division of Maintenance structural engineers routinely inspect the City’s long span bridges every two years through a federally mandated program. Caltrans provides the City with a bridge inspection report, which identifies needed repairs on the bridge deck, the superstructure, as well as the substructure. The last inspection was in February 2025, and damage to the bridge girders was identified due to unauthorized fires. Additionally, although the City, the CCCFCD, and the City of Concord have all previously installed metal fencing to restrict access to the area and prevent further accumulation of debris and potential damage, this fencing has proved insufficient, as individuals were able to bypass the barriers and, in some locations, began digging into the bridge abutment structure itself.
Caltrans has identified this activity as a potential threat to the structural integrity of the bridge, with safety consequences if left uncorrected. Caltrans’s February 2025 work recommendation is to fill in the erosion holes and prevent future erosion caused by unauthorized encampments.
Given the limitations of the existing fencing, the City determined that more substantial and durable structural solutions are necessary to permanently secure the area, protect the bridge infrastructure, and prevent recurrence of these public-health and safety hazards. The City contracted with ENGEO, a geotechnical consultant, to provide plans, specifications, and estimate (PS&E) for the project. The proposed improvements, including CMU walls, grouted rip-rap underneath the bridge deck, and secure access gates, will close off the vulnerable space beneath the bridge, restore the area to a clean and safe condition, and safeguard the structure going forward.
A portion of the improvements are within the City of Concord’s right-of-way, and the City of Concord will benefit from safety and access control modifications being constructed by the project. Staff has met with the City of Concord’s City Engineer and agreed upon Concord’s “fair share cost,” which equates to all the proposed base bid work within the City of Concord limits. A formal agreement between the City of Concord and the City of Pleasant Hill is currently being finalized and is anticipated to be considered by the Concord City Council on October 27, 2026.
Subsequent to approval by the City of Concord, the Pleasant Hill City Manager will execute the cooperative agreement.
Environmental Review
The Monument Bridge at Canal Trail Project (No. 02-26) involves constructing CMU walls, installing grouted rip-rap, and installing secure steel access gates in areas currently occupied by existing fencing and previously disturbed ground. All improvements will occur within the same locations and rights-of-way where facilities already exist, and the project will not expand the physical footprint or operational capacity of the existing system. The work consists of the replacement, reconstruction, and minor alteration of existing public facilities for safety and accesscontrol purposes. Accordingly, the Zoning Administrator has determined that the project is categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, Sections 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) and 15302 (Class 2 – Replacement or Reconstruction), because the project replaces and improves existing structures without expanding use.
Analysis
The Notice Inviting Bids for the project was distributed to construction exchanges on July 31, 2026, and advertised in the Contra Costa Times on August 6, 2026. A total of eight bids were received and publicly opened and read on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall.
In accordance with the project bid documents, the City will award the contract based on the lowest responsive and responsible total base bid. The table below summarizes the base bid amounts, with the lowest bid indicated in bold.
No. CONTRACTOR BID PRICE
1 FJ&I Engineering, Inc.* $179,680.00
2 BNO Builders, Inc. $220,000.00
3 Cowan & Thompson Construction, Inc. $238,632.40
4 Central Pacific Construction $267,000.00
5 Inder Design Build LLC $298,828.00
6 Kerex Engineering, Inc. $321,828.00
7 Frontline General Engineering Construction, Inc. $385,700.00 8 Valentine Corporation $493,369.00
The Engineer's Estimate (EE) for construction of this project is $250,000 for the base bid. The lowest bidder, FJ&I Engineering, Inc., submitted a bid of $179,680.00. Staff reviewed the top three bids and confirmed that all three came in below the Engineer's Estimate, reflecting a competitive bidding environment. Based on this analysis, staff finds the bid prices favorable and reasonable, and the bid submitted by FJ&I Engineering, Inc. is acceptable.
FJ&I Engineering, Inc. has successfully completed the City's 2024 Storm Drain Maintenance Project and is currently performing the 2024 Storm Drain Repair Project on Shelly Drive and Ruth Drive. The firm has satisfactorily performed on its past and current contracts, consistently meeting City standards. Based on its experience, performance history, and demonstrated professional competency, staff has determined that FJ&I Engineering, Inc. is a responsible bidder.
FJ&I Engineering, Inc.'s bid proposal documentation is complete, and staff has determined that the firm is the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Under public contracting requirements, the City Council must either award the construction contract to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder or reject all bids. Staff recommends that the City Council award the construction contract to FJ&I Engineering, Inc.
The bid proposal allocates project costs as $91,300.00 to the City of Pleasant Hill and $88,380.00 to the City of Concord, for a total base bid construction cost of $179,680.00. A construction contingency of 15 percent, or $26,952.00, is included, consistent with standard practice for this type of project. The total construction cost, including contingency, is $206,632.00.
FISCAL IMPACT
The project construction costs are funded as identified in the 2026-2031 CIP (CP-26-005) and summarized in the table below:
Project Revenues Project Expenditures
Gas Tax $118,252.00 Construction Cost $179,680.00
City of Concord $ 88,380.00 Contingency (15%) $26,952.00 Total $206,632.00 Total $206,632.00
The Engineering Division has confirmed with the Finance Division that sufficient funds will be available for this project at the time of construction.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public Contact was made through posting of the City Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, at the Pleasant Hill Senior Center, and at the Pleasant Hill Police Department. The agenda and staff report are posted on the City’s web page.
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Staff recommends that City Council take the following action:
1. Move to adopt the resolution to accept the bid and award a construction contract for the Monument Bridge at Canal Trail Project No. 02‑26, and authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with FJ&I Engineering, Inc.
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDED ACTION
No alternatives recommended.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Proposed Resolution
Agreement
Cooperative Agreement with City of Concord
Prepared by: Shawn Hung, Associate Engineer
Reviewed by: Ann James, Public Works Director
Approved by: Ethan Bindernagel, City Manager