City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: July 28, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.C
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Christopher Dishlip, Director of Public Works, Engineering and Street Services Division
Subject: Award Bid #SP2709 to Sully Miller Contracting Company for Construction Services and RFP #SP2709 to Cannon Corporation for Construction Management Services for the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvement Project Phase 2B
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award Bid #SP2709 to Sully Miller Contracting Company for construction services for the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvement Project Phase 2B for the Public Works Department;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Sully Miller Contracting Company, in an amount not to exceed $7,609,433 (including a 15% contingency);
4. Award RFP #SP2709-CM to Cannon Corporation to provide construction management services for the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvement Project Phase 2B for the Public Works Department;
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with Cannon Corporation in an amount not to exceed $512,850 over a two-year period with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval; and
6. Authorize budget amendment as outlined in the Financial Impacts & Budget Actions section of this report (requires 5 votes).
Summary
The City of Santa Monica (City) has a longstanding commitment to improving roadway safety and enhancing the overall travel experience for all users. Consistent with the City’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries, as well as the adopted Pedestrian Action Plan (2016), Bike Action Plan Amendment (2020), 2 of 12
and Wilshire Boulevard Safety Study (2020), the City secured a state funded Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant for $4.76 million to complete the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvement Project Phase 2B (Project) at six intersections: 18th Street, 21st Street, 22nd Street, 25th Street, Harvard Street, and Chelsea Avenue.
The Project builds upon the previously completed Wilshire Boulevard Phase 1 from Ocean Avenue to Centinela Avenue (street paving, sidewalk repairs, quick-build traffic calming improvements, curb side loading adjustments, and bus safety and operational enhancements including relocating bus stops to the far-side of signalized intersections), and a new traffic signal at Wilshire Boulevard and 16th Street (Phase 2A). Phase 2B would continue to deliver on pedestrian improvements including curb extensions, median widening, hardened right-turn only treatments, rapid flashing beacons, traffic signal improvements, curbside loading adjustments, and upgraded lighting. Three intersections included in this phase are identified through the City’s Vision Zero analysis as “high priority intersections” while the remaining three locations are identified as “hotspot locations” based on recent crash history, unique intersection geometry, and community input received during the design process.
Per previous Council discussion, staff are exploring additional safety enhancements at other locations on Wilshire Boulevard beyond the grant limits described in this staff report. Staff recommends awarding Bid #SP2709-CT to Sully Miller Contracting Company in an amount not to exceed $7,609,433 (including a 15% contingency) to provide construction services and to award RFP #SP2709-CM to Cannon Corporation in an amount not to exceed $512,850 to provide construction management and observation services.
Discussion
The Wilshire Boulevard Safety Study, adopted by City Council on February 11, 2020, was informed by a year-long community engagement process involving Santa Monica residents, businesses, and visitors. The study identified a pattern of broadside collisions, failure-to-yield crashes, and improper turning movements. Based on the 3 of 12
collision analysis, the study developed targeted recommendations intended to address the most common and severe crash types.
The Project would implement targeted safety improvements at six intersections along Wilshire Boulevard that were identified in the City Council-adopted Safety Study and subsequently highly ranked in the ATP grant application as locations with the greatest documented transportation safety needs. Proposed improvements include curb extensions on all four corners, pedestrian flashing beacons, upgraded street lighting, widened medians, landscaped median improvements, hardened right-turn-only movements from side streets, reduced roadway widths within approximately 140 feet of each intersection, shortened pedestrian crossing distances from 75 feet down to 60 feet, and a new traffic signal at Chelsea Avenue.
These improvements incorporate Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Proven Safety Countermeasures and Safe Systems principles to address the primary factors contributing to severe and fatal crashes. The proposed measures would improve pedestrian crossing conditions, calm vehicle speeds, improve driver yielding behavior, reduce turning conflicts, and strengthen overall intersection safety while responding to the unique operational and geometric characteristics of each location. A summary of the proposed improvements and their associated benefits is outlined below.
Curb Extensions: Curb extensions would be installed at all six intersections to shorten pedestrian crossing distances, improve pedestrian visibility at crosswalks, and slow turning vehicle speeds, particularly for right-turning drivers.
Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs): Rapid flashing beacons would be added at 21st and Harvard Streets to increase driver awareness of pedestrians crossing Wilshire Boulevard. The placement of RRFBs on both the roadside and in the median would improve visibility for approaching drivers in all lanes, increase driver yielding rates, and reduce the potential for “double threat” collisions in which one stopped vehicle obscures a pedestrian from another driver’s view. FHWA’s Proven Safety Countermeasure 4 of 12
program indicates that RRFBs can reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 47 percent at uncontrolled crosswalks.
Widened Medians: Medians on Wilshire Boulevard would be widened at 21st, 25th, and Harvard Streets to enhance safety by narrowing the perceived roadway width, helping reduce vehicle speeds, and providing a pedestrian refuge area for people crossing the street. FHWA research indicates that raised median treatments can reduce pedestrian crashes by up to 46 percent.
Hardened Right-Turn-Only Movements: Physical median islands would channelize sidestreet traffic into controlled right-turn-only movements at five of the intersections, reducing unpredictable vehicle maneuvers and discouraging high-speed turns. These improvements are intended to reduce the likelihood of severe broadside and turningrelated collisions.
Upgraded Lighting: Enhanced intersection lighting at all six intersections would improve nighttime visibility for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists, increasing visibility and overall roadway safety during low-light conditions.
New Traffic Signal: A new traffic signal would be installed at Chelsea Avenue and would include retroreflective signal backplates, a leading pedestrian interval, and signal timing that prioritizes pedestrian crossings. These features would improve both intersection safety and operational efficiency.
The proposed improvements at the six Wilshire Boulevard intersections are intended to enhance overall traffic safety, particularly for vulnerable roadway users such as pedestrians and bicyclists, through targeted interventions that address the primary collision factors associated with severe and fatal crashes identified in the Safety Study.
Vendor Selection – Construction Services
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder Sully Miller Contracting Company
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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; and the reputation and experience of the bidder.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.100
Bid Data
Date
Posted
Posted On Advertise In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
05/04/2026 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica
Daily Press
112 06/03/2026
Submittals Received
Sully Miller Contracting
Company $ 6,616,898.00 PALP Inc. dba Excel Paving Company $7,158,388.00 Nationwide Contracting
Service, Inc. dba
Nationwide General
Construction Services
$ 8,459,628.40 Hardy & Harper, Inc. $ 9,777,000.00
Toro Enterprises, Inc. $8,888,847.60
Best Bidder Justification
The evaluation committee recommends awarding Bid #SP2709-CT to Sully Miller Contracting Company. As the lowest qualified bidder, Sully Miller Contracting Company was determined to be the best bidder based on its competitive bid price, proven ability, capacity, and skill to perform roadway work, as well as its demonstrated capacity to complete the contract within the specified timeframe. This determination was based on their documented performance on multiple recent projects with the City of Santa Monica, including the FY 23–24 Annual Paving Project, the Lincoln Boulevard Resurfacing Project, and the Airport Street and Paving Improvements Project. Their successful delivery of these projects provided the committee with clear evidence of their reliability, responsiveness, and ability to meet City standards. In addition, Sully Miller Contracting Company has sufficient financial resources to support the project and holds a strong reputation within the industry. Their reputation was assessed based on prior project performance with the City, industry references, and their overall standing as a long-established contractor with extensive experience in roadway improvement projects. 6 of 12
Construction Management and Observation Services
Cannon Corporation would provide construction management services for the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvement Project Phase 2B. The firm would be responsible for coordinating weekly progress meetings; reviewing contractor materials and submittals; observing the contractor’s work to ensure construction adheres to project design plans and specifications; answering contractor questions in the field; preparing daily reports; capturing and maintaining progress photos; coordinating with various City departments; distributing construction notifications; and addressing questions or concerns from the public. The firm would provide a full-time construction inspector to assist the City’s inhouse construction manager and for managing materials testing. With a significant number of City projects currently in construction, City staff do not have the capacity to inspect the construction of this type of project, which requires full-time oversight to assist the City’s in-house construction manager who manages multiple projects. The City’s in-house construction manager would manage and perform all public outreach via the project website, social media, mailers and direct notices/signage.
Pre-Qualified Vendors
Accenture Infrastructure & Capital Projects Maestro Development Albert A. Webb Associates MNS Engineers, Inc.
Arcadis U.S., Inc. P2S LP
Berg & Associates, Inc. Psomas
Cannon Corporation Southstar Engineering & Consulting, Inc.
Cumming Management Group, Inc Transtech Engineers, Inc.
Dewberry Design-Builders Inc. Vanir Construction Management, Inc.
Fountainhead Consulting Corporation Willdan Engineering Ghirardelli Associates, Inc. Z&K Consultants, Inc.
Jacobs Project Management Co
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RFQual Data
Date
Posted
Posted
On
Advertised In
(City Charter &
SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Submittals
Received
Date
Publicly
Opened
01/09/2025 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica
Daily Press 182 29 02/10/2025
Justification to Short-List
The shortlist was created through the Request for Qualifications (RFQual) process.
Twenty-nine firms submitted proposals in response to the RFQual for construction management and observation services. The evaluation committee was comprised of staff from Architectural Services and the Engineering and Street Services Division, and they reviewed the statements of qualifications. Based on the firms’ qualifications and directly related experience providing similar services for municipal agencies, staff identified the best-qualified firms and established a list of pre-qualified firms. These pre-qualified firms were then invited to participate in the Request for Proposals (RFP) SP2709-CM to provide construction management and observation services.
Request for Proposals - Construction Management Services Bidder Recommendation
Best Qualified Firm Cannon Corporation
Evaluation Criteria Experience, communication, services to be provided, and cost proposal.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.190
Selection Criteria
Evaluation Criteria The training, credentials and experience of the person or firm; The demonstrated competence, ability, capacity and skill of the person or firm to perform the contract or provide the services; The demonstrated competence, ability, capacity and skill of the person or firm to perform the contract or provide the services; The price which the person or firm proposes to charge, including whether the price is fair, reasonable and competitive.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.190
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RFP Data
Posted On Posted On Advertise In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
04/22/2026 OpenGov N/A 13 05/26/2026
Public Outreach
The Wilshire Boulevard Safety Study Team (Study Team) used a robust, year-long community engagement process that employed a wide range of engagement strategies and tactics to reach a broad range of stakeholders. This included presentations to RFPS Received
Cannon Corporation Transtech Engineers, Inc.
MNS Engineers, Inc. Willdan Engineering
P2S LP Z&K Consultants, Inc.
DCCM Infrastructure, Inc
Justification Award
Cannon Corporation is recommended to provide construction management services from an approved shortlist of pre-qualified firms, developed under SP1982. Seven firms submitted full proposals in response to the Request for Proposals (RFP) SP2709-CM. These proposals were evaluated by a committee consisting of staff from the Engineering and Street Services Divisions. As part of the evaluation process, the committee conducted interviews with the top three highest-ranked firms. The interview phase was used as a determining factor in the final selection. During the interviews, the committee reviewed each firm’s proposed approach, clarified elements of their written proposals, and discussed their previous project experience. Cannon Corporation demonstrated a thorough understanding of the project requirements, provided clear and detailed responses, and showed strong alignment with the City’s expectations. The committee also considered the firm’s proven performance on past City projects, including Fourth Street Phase 2 Construction Management and the Olympic Water Transmission Main Project. Cannon’s demonstrated technical expertise, responsiveness, and successful track record on these projects reinforced their standing as the best-qualified firm to deliver the required construction management services.
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neighborhood associations and commissions, branded banners along the corridor, meetings with key City stakeholder groups, on the ground business outreach and canvassing of the corridor, and a robust online presence with study updates. The Study Team also met with key City staff to discuss traffic safety and operations, including representatives from the Public Works Department, the Big Blue Bus Division, the Santa Monica Police Department, and the Santa Monica Fire Department.
To help inform data collection and evaluation, the Study Team conducted an initial round of outreach early in the process and prior to the development of initial safety recommendations. Once preliminary recommendations were developed, the Study Team returned to neighborhood groups and commissions to present more detailed safety findings and draft recommendations for feedback and adjustments. Throughout this process, the Study Team worked to refine safety recommendations based on feedback. Study notifications were provided in both Spanish and English, and interpreters were available at all hosted meetings. Outreach information and materials can be found on the project website (Attachment C). Outreach during construction would be managed and performed by the City’s in-house construction manager and would include updates through the project website and social media, as well as mailers, direct notices, and signage.
Environmental Review
The Project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 of CEQA.
Section 15301 (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) exempts 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. The Project would not expand or materially change existing City streets or infrastructure. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to these exemptions. Therefore, the Project is exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Past Council Actions
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Meeting Date Description
February 23, 2016 (Attachment A) Pedestrian Action Plan February 11, 2020 (Attachment D) Wilshire Boulevard Safety Study October 13, 2020 (Attachment F) Bike Action Plan Amendment
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to appropriate available Parking In-Lieu Fees/TDM funding from the Special Revenue Source Fund for the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvement Project Phase 2B for construction and construction management services. This funding is derived from fees collected through development agreements as part of the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program. Approval of the recommended actions requires the following budget amendment.
FY 2026-27 Budget Amendment
Release Fund Balance Appropriate Funds
Account Number(s) Amount Account Number(s) Amount
10.365910 – Parking In-Lieu Fees $660,000 C1008180.689550 $660,000 Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from multiple funds to award a contract with Sully Miller Contracting Company for the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvement Project Phase 2B.
Contract Request - Construction
Funding Source FY 2026-27
Request Amount
CIP Account # Total Contract
Amount
Local Return $44,325 C2704600.689130.21032 $44,325
Local Return $14,490 C2704600.689120.21039 $14,490
Gas Tax $96,381 C2604600.689610.98992 $96,381
Special Revenue Source $395,992 C1007600.689000 $395,992 Parking In-Lieu Fees $264,263 C1008180.689550 $264,263
Miscellaneous Grants $2,028,982 C2008180.689290 $2,028,982 Miscellaneous Grants $4,765,000 C2008180.689250 $4,765,000 Total $7,609,433 Total $7,609,433
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If renewals are awarded, budget changes will be included in subsequent year budgets, contingent on Council budget approval.
In addition, staff also seek authority to approve available funding from the Local Return and Special Revenue Source funds (Parking In-Lieu Fees) to award a contract with Cannon Corporation to provide construction management services for the Wilshire Boulevard Safety Improvement Project Phase 2B.
Contract Request - Construction Management Services
Funding Source
FY 2026-27
Request Amount CIP Account # Total Contract
Amount
Local Return $117,113 C2704600.689130 $117,113
Parking In-Lieu Fees $395,737 C1008180.689550 $395,737
Total $512,850 Total $512,850
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Jonathan Maldonado, Civil Engineering Associate Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. February 23, 2016 Staff Report (web link)
B. Pedestrian Action Plan - Final (Web Link)
C. Wilshire Blvd Safety Study - Outreach Information and Material (Web Link) D. February 11, 2020 Staff Report (Web Link)
E. Wilshire Blvd Safety Study (Web Link)
F. October 13, 2020 Staff Report (Web Link)
G. Bike Action Plan Amendment (Web Link)
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H. Sully Miller Oaks_Initiative
I. Sully Miller Levine_Act
J. Cannon Corps Oaks_Initiative
K. Cannon Corps Levine_Act
L. Written comments