City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 28, 2025
Agenda Item: 5.D
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Engineering and Street Services
Subject: Award Construction Contract to Doty Bros. Equipment Company for Pier Electrical Utility Relocation
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemptions pursuant to Sections 15301, 15302, 15303, and 15311 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines and find that the project was previously analyzed in the certified Santa Monica Pier Bridge Replacement Project Recirculated Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment in accordance with CEQA; and
2. Award Bid #SP2741 to Doty Bros. Equipment Company for construction services for the Pier Electrical Utility Relocation Project for the Public Works Department;
3. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Doty Bros.
Equipment Company in an amount not to exceed $1,526,929 (including a 10% contingency).
Summary
The City of Santa Monica is committed to replacing the 85-year-old structurally deficient Santa Monica Pier Bridge (Bridge) with a new, seismically safe bridge prior to the LA 2028 Summer Olympics. The Pier Electrical Utility Relocation Project (Project) would relocate electrical equipment that is currently situated in a utility room directly under the Bridge. The equipment serves businesses on the Santa Monica Pier. In preparation for the upcoming demolition and reconstruction of the Pier Bridge, this equipment would be relocated out of the way of construction to a new, permanent location in Beach Parking Lot 1N. Staff recommends Doty Bros. Equipment Company 2 of 6
to provide construction services in an amount not to exceed $1,526,929 (including a 10% contingency).
Background
Council authorized staff to proceed with the final design of the Pier Bridge Replacement Project on June 13, 2023 (Attachment A). Over the past 18 months, the City’s design consultant and staff have been diligently working on the final design, bidding documents, and outreach and are close to advertising the larger bridge construction project. During the design phase, it was determined that electrical utility relocations would be necessary as the existing electrical utility room would be demolished during the proposed bridge construction project. In order to meet the construction deadline of completed construction prior to the 2028 Olympics, the electrical equipment must be relocated in advance of the proposed bridge construction. Advanced utility relocation is a recommended industry best practice. Successfully completing this proposed work ahead of the larger bridge project helps mitigate schedule and budget risks, schedule uncertainty, and adverse effects on the larger bridge replacement project. Staff are currently working on obtaining approval from final state and federal agencies before bidding the larger project. The construction award recommendation for the larger bridge project is expected be presented to Council between the summer and fall of 2025.
Bridge construction is anticipated to commence by the end of 2025 and be completed by the end of 2027.
Discussion
The Pier Electrical Utility Relocation Project represents a crucial preparatory construction step for the main Pier Bridge Replacement Project. If the Utility Relocation Project was bid at the same time as the main Pier Bridge Replacement Project, this portion of the work could delay the start of the bridge replacement construction by up to six months. This advanced utility relocation work would limit the risk of the future Pier Bridge Replacement Project not being completed by the 2028 Olympics. The Project would relocate the electrical equipment that is currently situated in a utility room directly under the Pier Bridge to a location outside of the proposed bridge construction zone.
The Project would ensure the continuity of reliable power service to the Pier throughout 3 of 6
the Pier Bridge Replacement Project. The scope of the Project includes the installation of a new main circuit breaker, transformer, concrete vault and slab, manhole, concrete boxes, capacitor, conduits, wiring and safety bollards. A level and clear working space would be created to access and maintain the electrical equipment. The new equipment installed would be durable and made for use in marine environments. City staff and contractors would work closely with Southern California Edison (SCE) to schedule and coordinate all work. There would be at least three or four power outages to switch over from the old to the new equipment. These outages would occur overnight during nonbusiness hours. SCE and the Public Works staff would work closely to minimize the number and duration of the planned power outages. In addition, SCE and the Public Works staff would provide advanced notices to the Pier tenants about planned power outages. Construction is expected to occur between April 2025 and December 2025.
Vendor Selection
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder Doty Bros. Equipment Company
Evaluation
Criteria
Price; the ability, capacity, and skill of the bidder to perform the services; the capacity of the bidder to perform the contract within the time specified; the sufficiency of the bidder’s financial resources; the reputation and experience of the bidder. Prior experience performing and completing similar utility relocation work in the City of Santa Monica.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.180
Bid Data
Date
Posted Posted On Advertise In (City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
11/12/2024 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily
Press
38 12/12/2024
Submittals Received
Doty Bros. Equipment Company $1,388,117.50
Metro Builders & Engineers Group, Ltd. $1,632,781.00
Best Bidder Justification
Staff recommends Doty Bros. Equipment Company, the lowest bidder, as the best bidder based on bid price, previous project experience with Southern California Edison and other similar municipal agencies, and the successful completion of past projects with similar scopes, including utility relocation work. 4 of 6
Public Outreach
Utility relocation construction is expected to begin in April 2025 and last for six to eight months. In 2023 and 2024, City’s Engineering staff periodically presented the Pier Electrical Utility Relocation Project and Pier Bridge Replacement Project to the Pier Board, Pier Board’s subcommittee, Pier businesses, Pier Corporation, and the Heal the Bay Aquarium. Staff recently presented proposed construction activities, project team roles, and the preliminary schedule for this work. SCE and Public Works staff would continue to communicate with Pier tenants regarding the planned power outages and the planned construction activities with open lines of communication.
During construction, the Public Works staff would maintain an ongoing dialog to receive feedback from the public and disseminate project information, ensuring constant outreach to the public, Pier tenants, and other stakeholders. Public Works staff would respond to the day-to-day concerns of the community, visitors, and local businesses.
Prior to and during construction, City staff and the contractor would distribute notifications to Pier tenants and adjacent properties detailing the project scope, construction schedule, and planned power outages. Periodic updates would be provided, as necessary. Social media and the project website would be utilized to notify the public about general construction updates. Staff would return to Council during the Pier Bridge Replacement Project contract award to provide details on public outreach for the larger project.
Environmental Review
The relocation of electrical and SCE utility facilities is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301, Section 15302, Section 15303, and Section 15311 of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301 exempts (Class 1 Existing Facilities) projects from CEQA, which include the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Section 15302 exempts 5 of 6
(Class 2 Replacement or Reconstruction) the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure will be located on the same site as the structure replaced and will have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced. Section 15303 (Class 3 - New Construction of Small Structures) exempts construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures including utility extensions and accessory structures/facilities. Section 15311 (Class 11 – Accessory Structures) exempts construction, or placement of minor structures accessory to (appurtenant to) existing commercial, industrial, or institutional facilities, such as SCE utility facilities. The project would relocate the existing utility room under the Pier Bridge and includes the replacement of electrical equipment and other small accessory facilities in a nearby location. Therefore, the project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301, Section 15302, Section 15303, and Section 15311 of the CEQA Guidelines.
In addition, on June 13, 2023, Council certified the Recirculated Final Environmental Impact Report / Environmental Assessment for the Pier Bridge Replacement Project (State Clearinghouse No. 2014121041), which analyzed the environmental impacts of reconstruction of the Pier Bridge including the utility relocation work. Therefore, no further environmental review is required.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
6/13/2023
(Attachment A)
Certification of Recirculated Final Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Assessment for the Pier Bridge Replacement Project and Authorization to Proceed with Final Design and Bidding Documents
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Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Local Return Fund to award a contract with Doty Bros. Equipment Company to provide construction services for the Pier Electrical Utility Relocation Project.
Contract Request
Funding Source FY 2024-25
Request Amount
CIP Account # Total Contract
Amount
Local Return
Fund 27
(Prop C)
$1,526,929 C2705270.689130 $1,526,929
Prepared By: Steven Hull, Engineering Support Services Administrator Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. June 13, 2023 Staff Report (Web Link)
B. Doty_California_Levine_Act_Disclosure
C. Doty_Oaks_Initiative_Disclosure_Form