City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: December 17, 2019
Agenda Item: 3.B
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Susan Cline, Director, Public Works, Engineering and Street Services Subject: Pier Bridge Replacement Project Design Contract Modification Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a fourth modification to agreement #9642 (CCS) in the amount of $750,000 with T.Y.LIN International, a California-based company, for environmental services in support of the Pier Bridge Replacement Project, for the Public Works Department. This will result in a new total amount not to exceed $2,000,000, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
2. Authorize budget changes as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report.
Summary
The City of Santa Monica owns and maintains the Santa Monica Pier Bridge (Bridge), a reinforced concrete structure built in 1939 that serves as the sole vehicular access for over six million annual visitors to the Santa Monica Pier. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works performs routine inspections on the Bridge and has reported a Sufficiency Rating of 17 (out of a possible 100) since 2016, deeming it functionally obsolete. The Bridge is programmed for replacement using federal Highway Bridge Program grant funding. The Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement project is currently in the environmental documentation phase. Changed site conditions, including new scenic corridors identified in the City’s Land Use Plan of the Local Coastal Program, and the landmarking of Carousel Park, require additional technical studies and analyses to be conducted. Staff recommends authorizing a fourth modification to the agreement with T.Y. Lin International (TYLin) to facilitate the completion of the environmental phase for the Pier Bridge Replacement Project.
Discussion
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The City owns and maintains the 80-year old reinforced concrete Bridge, which rates 17 out of 100 on the latest bridge inspection reports, listing it as functionally obsolete.
The Council authorized staff to initiate a project to replace the Pier Bridge and to prepare and submit an application for federal transportation funding in August 2010.
Subsequently, the proposed Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project (Project) was determined to be eligible for federal funding under the Highway Bridge Program (HBP), which is administered by the Federal Highway Administration through the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans) Office of Local Assistance.
In September 2012, Council authorized a professional services agreement with TYLin for an amount not to exceed $850,000, to provide public outreach, conceptual design, and environmental documentation services for the Project, including the preparation of the Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment.
In order to complete the environmental review, which required additional preliminary engineering and architectural design services, Council authorized a modification to the professional services agreement with TYLin in an amount of $400,000 for a total contract amount not to exceed $1,250,000.
The proposed Project would replace the Bridge with a new bridge designed and constructed to current design and seismic standards, with a service life of 75 years. Due to the federal HBP grant funding, the Project is subject to both the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as well as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The City previously prepared a draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (DEIR/EA) for the replacement project. The DEIR/EA identified three alternatives for the replacement of the Bridge and was circulated for public review from December 11, 2017 through March 15, 2018.
Immediately after circulation of the DEIR/EA, significant changed conditions occurred, including the identification of new scenic corridors along Ocean Front Walk, from Pico Boulevard to the 1550 Parking Lot, as part of the City’s Land Use Plan of the Local 3 of 5
Coastal Program, as well as the landmarking of Carousel Park by the City’s Landmarks Commission. These changes rendered the existing three alternatives impracticable and relegated some of the technical studies, such as the cultural resources studies, incomplete. Additionally, comments were received during public review concerning the lack of range of alternatives under consideration and the lack of perceived impacts associated with the alternatives.
Through consultation with stakeholders - including the Santa Monica Pier Corporation Board, Disabilities Commission, the Santa Monica Conservancy, the Santa Monica Pier Corporation, as well as staff from the Public Works, Planning and Community Development, and Housing and Economic Development departments - the City prepared eight new build alternatives and submitted a Notice of Preparation for a Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment (REIR/EA).
The City held a public scoping meeting on October 30, 2019 to solicit feedback on the alternatives, with the reception to the alternatives being generally favorable.
In addition to the remainder of the $1,250,000 previously authorized by Council, an additional $750,000 is necessary to complete the environmental review, as well as any supplementary engineering services that may be required. Staff recommends a contract modification to Professional Services Agreement #9642 (CCS) between the City and TYLin in the amount of $750,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,000,000.
The additional scope would include preparation of all required environmental technical studies, and preparation of the REIR/EA and the final version of the document that would be presented to Council for certification. Staff would return to Council upon completion of the environmental phase to request project approval and additional budget authority to begin final design.
Past Council Actions
08/10/2010 (Attachment A) Authorized staff to proceed with initiation of a project to replace the Pier Bridge.
09/11/2012 (Attachment B) Awarded Professional Services Agreement with T. Y. Lin to provide public outreach, conceptual design and environmental documentation services for the Pier Bridge Replacement Project. 4 of 5
11/26/2013 (Attachment C) Authorized City Manager to negotiate a third modification to agreement with TY Lin.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions:
Approximately $1,048,000 of the $1,250,000 previously authorized for preparation of the original environmental documents for the project has been expended and federally reimbursed. The federal funds are administered by Caltrans through the Office of Local Assistance. Caltrans had initially denied the City’s request for the additional $750,000 to complete the REIR/EA. In response to the denial, the City submitted a detailed explanation and justification for the additional funding requested. Staff is maintaining regular correspondence with Caltrans, which is currently re-evaluating the City’s request.
To ensure the project continues moving forward, local funds in the amount of $750,000 have been identified in the General Fund account listed below. Should Caltrans agree to award additional grant funds, the appropriation from the General Fund would be reduced or eliminated. If the City does not complete the environmental phase of the project, Caltrans could request a portion of the previously awarded federal funds be repaid with City funds. Staff seeks authority to increase the amount of the agreement with TYLin International for environmental services by $750,000.
Award of this modification requires the following budget changes:
FY 2019-20 CIP Budget Changes
Funding Source Appropriate Funds
Account Number(s) Amount Account Number(s) Amount
01.380246 $750,000 C0105270.689000 $750,000
Total $750,000
Agreement Modification Request
Agreement # Current Authorized
Amount
Modified
Request Amount
FY 2019-20 Budget
CIP Account #
Total Revised
Contract Amount
9642 (CCS) $1,250,000 $0 C2005270.689000 $1,250,000
9642 (CCS) $0 $750,000 C0105270.689000 $750,000
$1,250,000 $750,000 Total $2,000,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval. 5 of 5
Prepared By: Omeed Pour, Civil Engineer
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
a August 10, 2010 Staff Report
b September 11, 2012 Staff Report
c November 26, 2013 Staff Report
d TYLIN Oaks Initiative Disclosure Form