Administrative
Report
N.2., File # 24-1305 Meeting Date: 8/20/2024
To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: GREG KAPOVICH, WATERFRONT & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TITLE
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING A CONSULTING SERVICES AGREEMENT
TO DESIGN AND PERFORM NECESSARY STUDIES FOR A PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH PROJECT
ON MOLE D IN KING HARBOR
APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH MOFFATT & NICHOL TO DESIGN A PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH ON MOLE D OF KING HARBOR FOR AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $649,648 AND THE TERM AUGUST 20, 2024 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026
PROVIDE DIRECTION ON WHETHER TO INCLUDE A REPLACEMENT BOAT HOIST AS PART OF
THE PROJECT STUDIES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On October 18, 2022, the City Council approved the Public Amenities Plan, which called for the construction of a Public boat launch in King Harbor on Mole D. On October 3, 2023, the Redondo Beach City Council approved a request for proposals (RFP) for a qualified consultant team to design the public boat launch. The City received two responses from teams well qualified to design the boat launch. Based on a review of the written proposals by a selection committee comprised of City staff from the Waterfront & Economic Development Department, Engineering Department, City Manager’s Office, and a representative of the Harbor Commission, the two firms were invited to participate in oral interviews. Following the interviews, the selection committee selected Moffatt & Nichol as the preferred finalist to design the project, with associated sub-consultants, as they presented the best combination of King Harbor knowledge, past project experience, and cost.
City staff have been actively working with the Department of Boating and Waterways (DBAW) to seek funding assistance for the project. DBAW has grant funding available for preparation of permit ready plans and construction of the boat launch. However, the pre-planning process, referred to as Phase 1, is not covered by the grant and must be completed by the grant applicant. The proposed contract with Moffatt & Nichol will complete Phase 1, which includes:
· Completion of the necessary studies including parking, traffic, circulation, environmental, demand, etc.
· Develop design concepts that are aligned with the goals of the Amenities Plan, best practices for boat launch design, and the aforementioned studies
· CEQA analysis
· Entitlement approvals from the Harbor Commission and Coastal Commission · Consultant assistance with the DBAW grant application to secure funding for the final design,
N.2., File # 24-1305 Meeting Date: 8/20/2024
· Consultant assistance with the DBAW grant application to secure funding for the final design, future permitting, and construction phases of the project After applying and, hopefully, receiving funds from DBAW for the remaining elements of the project, a contract amendment will be negotiated with Moffat and Nichol to prepare construction plans and specifications, assist with final permitting, and to support construction management and project oversight.
To date, the only public launch in this harbor is the existing boat hoist near Basin 3. The boat hoist is a service that lowers boats into the water and was located within King Harbor due to the absence of a formal boat launch ramp. The future boat launch on Mole D will be in close proximity to the existing boat hoist at Basin 3. At the time the Public Amenities Plan was approved by City Council, there was discussion on whether or not to remove the existing boat hoist to make-way for the new public boat launch. Considerations were made that each facility would require space to accommodate independent requirements for traffic, parking, and circulation. Preliminary site planning indicates that there is insufficient space for both facilities. It is recommended that the City Council consider removing the boat hoist from the pre-planning process.
BACKGROUND
Unlike many regional harbors, King Harbor has historically been without a public boat launch, instead relying on a boat hoist on Mole D near the International Boardwalk. Over the past few decades, multiple attempts have been made to find a suitable location for a public boat launch, including a location on Mole C in 2015, and a location near Mole B in 2017. In 2022, the City Council approved the Waterfront Amenities Plan, which called for among other improvements, the construction of a Public boat launch on Mole D.
With approval of the proposed contract, Moffatt & Nichol would be tasked with creating a design based on technical studies and environmental review that will build upon the approved Public Amenities Plan. The Consultant shall perform an existing conditions analysis, complete necessary technical and environmental studies, confer with a subcommittee of the Harbor Commission, perform public outreach, and review the requirements outlined by the City’s LCP, DBAW, Coastal Commission, and any other relevant agencies. The integration with the Promenade will also be taken into consideration, which is primarily a north/south pedestrian walkway connecting Moles B, C, and D, as identified in the King Harbor Public Amenities Plan. The consultant will seek approval of entitlements from the Harbor Commission and Coastal Commission, as well as assist staff in seeking grant funding from the DBAW to fund the final design and construction of the Boat Launch, which is referred to as Phase 2 of the consulting services. It should be noted that a Boat Launch Facility grant (BLF) from DBAW is essential to completing final design and construction of the project.
PHASE 1 TIMELINE
• August 2024 Contract Award/Project Kickoff
• Finish by February 2025 DBAW Grant Application (for Phase 2) • Finish by February 2025 Technical Studies
• Finish by October 2025 Environmental Studies
• Finish by July 2026 Entitlements - HC/Coastal Approval *Five months of contingency has been added to accommodate unforeseen delays thus resulting
N.2., File # 24-1305 Meeting Date: 8/20/2024
*Five months of contingency has been added to accommodate unforeseen delays thus resulting in a contract completion date of December 31, 2026
Moffatt & Nichol has demonstrated exceptional experience on projects of similar scope and scale within King Harbor and throughout the United States, and their proven experience allows them to draw from a deep bench of professionals that will enable them to effectively lead the project. Moffatt & Nichol has successfully designed and constructed boat launches and other waterfront projects across southern California, including the boat launches in Santa Barbara Harbor and Dana Point Harbor, as well as the recently constructed Harbor Patrol Docks on Mole B in King Harbor. In addition, Moffatt & Nichol has assembled an experienced team of engineers, architects, environmental professionals, and other various disciplines required to analyze and create a new public boat launch on Mole D that will serve as a regional asset. For these reasons, staff recommends City Council approve the proposed Agreement.
REPLACEMENT BOAT HOIST CONCERNS
It is recommended the City Council provide direction on whether the consultant should include a replacement boat hoist in the project’s technical studies. At the time the Public Amenities Plan was approved by City Council, there was discussion on whether or not to remove the existing boat hoist to make-way for the new public boat launch. Considerations were made that each facility would require space to accommodate independent parking requirements, a vehicle turn-around circle, and ingress/egress routes that could create complications when designing for both facilities on Mole D.
Final Council direction on the matter will assist the consultant with refining the necessary parking, traffic, circulation, and demand studies to include one or both of the launch facilities.
Since the discussion at City Council, staff has been in consultation with representatives of DBAW as well as prospective boat launch design consultants to gather more details to the requirements. The new boat launch will require 30 parking stalls per boat lane provided, of which some require to be 55 feet in length to accommodate boat trailers. The number of lanes provided will be based on a demand study completed by the boat launch consultant but the Public Amenities Plan anticipated two lanes, 60 dedicated parking stalls, of which 13 stalls are 55 feet in length. In addition to parking, vehicles with trailers will require a turning circle at the top of the boat launch to accommodate a reversed approach into the water. The minimum turning circle diameter for a 19-foot long vehicle pulling a 20-foot boat is 48 feet in diameter, in accordance with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation. The same vehicle pulling a 32-foot boat requires a turning circle of approximately 80 feet in diameter. Prior to approaching the turning circle, queue lanes are required to allow vehicles to queue and prepare their boats for launch, and finally, ingress/egress routes for vehicles with trailers must be planned to connect Harbor Drive to the boat launch area itself. The prospective site for the boat launch on Mole D is currently developed with a commercial restaurant building and a surface parking lot shared by surrounding commercial businesses. Elimination of any surface parking stalls to accommodate the turn-around circle, queue lanes, ingress/egress paths, and the boat launch itself must be replaced elsewhere within the waterfront pursuant to Measure C. Due to the real spacing constraints on Mole D, the Public Amenities Plan recommended the nearby boat hoist be removed so that design consultants were not burdened with designing two such scenarios within close proximity of one another. Furthermore, installation of a new boat hoist would require said boat hoist to meet current building code requirements which could further adjust the footprint of the hoist when considering more robust foundation, pilings, and construction methods. For all of these reasons, staff recommends City Council direct staff and the consultant to not include a replacement hoist and to move forward with the necessary studies (traffic, parking, circulation, etc.) without the
N.2., File # 24-1305 Meeting Date: 8/20/2024
hoist and to move forward with the necessary studies (traffic, parking, circulation, etc.) without the consideration of a boat hoist.
COORDINATION
The Waterfront and Economic Development Department coordinated the scope of the proposed consulting services agreement with the City Manager’s Office, the Public Works/Engineering Department, and a member of the Harbor Commission. The agreement terms were prepared by the City Attorney’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT
The not-to-exceed cost of the proposed Agreement is $649,648 and includes completion of the necessary Phase 1 studies, project design and permitting work. Funding for the contract was approved as a part of the FY 2024-25 Budget.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
· Agmt - Consulting Services Agreement with Moffatt & Nichol