City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: April 14, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.C
1 of 4
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Christopher Dishlip, Director of Public Works, Architecture Services Division Subject: Award Bid SP2658 to JM Communications for the Sewer Lateral Beach Restrooms Project
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Statutory Exemption pursuant to Section 21080.21 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15302 (Replacement/Reconstruction) of the CEQA Guidelines.
2. Award Bid #SP2658 to JM Communications for construction services of the Beach Restrooms Sewer Lateral Repair Project for the Public Works Department; and
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with JM Communications, in an amount not to exceed $438,926 (including a 15% owners’ allowance and 10% contingency) for Beach Restrooms Sewer Lateral Repair.
Summary
Council has previously directed staff, through the Realignment Plan approved in 2025, to invest in safety, parks, and public spaces that feel welcoming citywide. This project entails the replacement of deteriorated sewer laterals serving the beach restrooms at six locations. The existing laterals, constructed with outdated materials, have reached or exceeded their typical service life. Recent inspections and operational observations have confirmed signs of failure, necessitating immediate proactive replacement to restore full functionality and prevent escalation of issues.
These defects have led to recurring operational challenges within or near the hightraffic restroom facilities. In a beach environment, such failures pose heightened 2 of 4
risks, including contamination of adjacent coastal areas, public health hazards to beachgoers and staff, and environmental impacts on marine ecosystems. Staff recommend awarding Bid #SP2658 to JM Communications and entering into a contract for construction services for an amount not to exceed $438,926 (including a 15% owner’s allowance and 10% project contingency) for the Beach Restrooms Sewer Lateral Repair Project.
Discussion
The existing laterals, constructed with outdated materials and aging infrastructure standards, have reached or exceeded their typical service life. Over time, these lines have become increasingly vulnerable to root intrusion, sediment buildup, structural cracking, and corrosion, all of which compromise normal wastewater conveyance.
The recommendation to replace the failing sewer laterals at the six beach restroom locations was based on routine maintenance records, documented service disruptions (such as slow drains, odors, and backups), and field evaluations.
In addition, visual and operational observations conducted by staff at the beach confirmed recurring issues. These high-traffic public facilities experience seasonal peaks, which intensify the impact of any system failures particularly during summer months, holidays, and large community events, which further amplify both the operational challenges and the public impacts associated with lateral failures. In a coastal setting, even minor malfunctions can quickly escalate into sanitation concerns, potential contamination risks, and service interruptions that affect beachgoers, maintenance staff, and the surrounding environment. Proactive replacement at this time will mitigate the likelihood of emergency failures, reduce long-term maintenance costs, improve overall system reliability, and ensure uninterrupted service during peak visitation periods.
Vendor Selection
Bidder Recommendation
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Best Bidder JM Communications, Inc
Evaluation Criteria Price, experience, and project team Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.180
Submittals Received
JM Communications,
Inc
$351,141.15 Demo Leaders, Inc $638,001.00
Mehta Mechanical
Company
$387,000.00 Global Builders, Inc $698,888.00
The Nazerian Group $488,123 R Dependable Const, Inc $825,000.00 Crosby Plumbing, Inc $506,912.45 California Constructors $1,394,875.00 RAMCO $518,730.00
Bid Data
Date Posted Posted On Advertise In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Dated Publicly
Opened
8/11/2025 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily
Press
78 9/29/2025
Best Bidder Justification
The evaluation committee recommends awarding RFB SP2658 to JM Communications, Inc. as the best-qualified bidder based on bid price, relevant experience, and the strength of its project team. The project requires specialized equipment, appropriate contractor licensing, and technical expertise. The recommended bidder has demonstrated the capability to successfully perform and complete similar projects throughout California and submitted the lowest responsive bid.
Environmental Review
This project is statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 21080.21, which states that CEQA does not apply to any project of less than one mile in length within a public street or highway, or any other public right-of-way, for the installation of a new pipeline or the maintenance, repair, restoration, reconditioning, relocation, replacement, removal, or demolition of an existing pipeline. Additionally, the project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities) and 4 of 4
15302 (Replacement/Reconstruction) of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301 provides exemption (Class 1) for the operation, repair, maintenance, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures or facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of use. Section 15302 (Class 2) provides exemption for the replacement or reconstruction of existing structures and facilities where the new structure would be located on the same site as the structure replaced and would have substantially the same purpose and capacity as the structure replaced.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Beach Fund to award a contract with JM Communications, Inc. for construction services of the Sewer Lateral Beach Restroom Project.
Contract Request
FY 2025-26
Request Amount
CIP Account # Total Contract
Amount
$398,926 C1108720.689000 $398,926
$40,000 C1109170.689000 $40,000
$438,926 Total $438,926
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Jared Schultz, CIP Project Manager
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. JM_-_Levine_Act_Disclosure_Form_2025_2-26-25 (2)-flat B. JM_-_Oaks_Initiative_Disclosure_Form (2)-flat