May 19, 2026
Public Works
DATE: May 19, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works / City
Engineer
Hillal Hamdan, PE, Senior Civil Engineer
Subject:
Appropriate Funds for the Santa Fe Avenue Slope
Stabilization Project
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed action includes $72,623.62 previously transferred from the Santa Rita Road Stabilization Project and the transfer and appropriation of $205,502.81 from
the Active Transportation Program for Cutting/Hoffman
Project for a total design phase budget of $278,126.43
for the Santa Fe Avenue Slope Stabilization Project. In addition, staff is requesting City Council direction to include $1,000,000 from the Insurance Reserve Fund to
the General Capital Fund in the fiscal year 2026–2027
budget for future construction funding (Account Strings:
20136031-400533-23086 and 20136031-400642-23086).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
A slope failure along Santa Fe Avenue in March 2023
caused erosion and damage to the public right-of-way,
drainage system, and adjacent properties. Interim
measures are in place, but a permanent solution has not been developed. City staff is requesting City Council
approval to appropriate funds to initiate the design of a slope stabilization project.
AGENDA
REPORT
May 19, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution to RATIFY the transfer of
$72,623.62 from the Santa Rita Road Stabilization
Project; APPROPRIATE $205,502.81 from the Quick-
Build project funded through California’s Active
Transportation Program for Cutting/Hoffman Project to
fund design and geotechnical services; and
APPROPRIATE $1,000,000 from the Insurance Reserve
Fund to the General Capital Fund in the Fiscal Year
2026–27 budget for construction of the Santa Fe Avenue
Slope Stabilization Project - Public Works Department
(Hillal Hamdan 510-621-1612/Daniel Chavarria 510-620-
5478).
BACKGROUND
On March 10, 2023, a slope failure occurred along Santa Fe Avenue in Point Richmond when water-saturated soil above underlying rock slid downhill (Attachment 1). The slide removed vegetation and soil, sending mud and debris into the roadway, nearby properties, and the storm drainage system. A geotechnical investigation determined that the failure was primarily caused by uncontrolled surface runoff from Golden Gate Avenue above the site. Drainage infrastructure had become buried, and a clogged inlet allowed water to pond and overflow onto the slope, triggering the failure.
Emergency stabilization measures, including plastic sheeting and sandbags, were installed to limit water infiltration and reduce erosion. A follow-up inspection confirmed that these temporary measures remain in place and continue to provide interim erosion control.
These interim measures did not address the underlying drainage deficiencies or provide a permanent stabilization solution. City staff continues to receive inquiries from nearby residents regarding long-term slope stability and potential impacts to adjacent properties and public infrastructure.
Staff evaluated three approaches to address the slope instability:
1. No Action / Continued Monitoring
Maintain temporary stabilization measures and monitor conditions. Risk: Continued erosion and potential failure during storms. Limitation: Does not address underlying drainage issues.
2. Interim Repairs Only
Perform localized hillside repairs or maintain temporary stabilization measures. Risk: Provides only short-term risk reduction.
Limitation: Delays, but does not resolve, long-term instability.
May 19, 2026
3. Full Design and Engineered Stabilization (Recommended) Develop a comprehensive engineering design addressing both slope stability and drainage deficiencies.
Benefit: Provides a long-term solution, reduces risk, and establishes reliable construction cost estimates.
Consideration: Requires upfront investment and construction funding at a later stage.
Based on the engineering field report, staff recommend Option 3 as the most effective long-term solution (Attachment 2). Funding for the design phase is available from previously completed capital projects, including the Santa Rita Road Stabilization Project and the California’s Active Transportation Program (ATP) Quick Build – Cutting/Hoffman Project.
The proposed $278,126.43 appropriation will fund additional geotechnical analysis, engineering design, and preparation of construction documents. This work will define the project scope, refine cost estimates, and prepare the project for construction.
The project will proceed in two phases:
Design Phase (current action): $278,126.43
Construction Phase (future action): Estimated $1,000,000 (subject to refinement following design)
Design is anticipated to be completed in 2026, subject to consultant performance and site conditions. Construction timing will be refined following completion of design and is subject to future Council appropriation and project constraints.
Including $1,000,000 from the Insurance Reserve Fund in the FY 2026–27 budget will position the City to begin construction promptly following City Council approval.
Construction is anticipated to be completed in early 2027.
Project risks include uncertainty in final construction costs, potential changes in site conditions due to future weather events, and dependence on future funding appropriations. Delaying design may increase the risk of additional erosion and higher long-term repair costs.
Advancing the Santa Fe Avenue Slope Stabilization Project into the design phase will allow the City to address the drainage deficiencies that contributed to the 2023 slope failure and reduce ongoing risk to public infrastructure and adjacent properties.
City staff recommends that City Council adopt a resolution that transfers and appropriates unspent funds to initiate design services and include $1,000,000 from the Insurance Reserve Fund in the FY 2026–27 budget for construction funding (Attachment 3).
May 19, 2026
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Project Location Map
Attachment 2 – Engineering Field Report
Attachment 3 – Resolution