City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: August 11, 2026
Agenda Item: 4.C
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Christopher Dishlip, Director of Public Works, Engineering Services Division Subject: Award Bid #SP2574 to Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. for Construction Services for the Street Lighting Modernization Program – Package 2, and Authorization to Enter Into a Third Modification to Agreement #9337 with Willdan Engineering for Design and Construction Support Services
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt findings of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15302 (Replacement or Reconstruction), and 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines;
2. Award Bid #SP2574 to Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. for construction services for the Street Lighting Modernization Program – Package 2 project for the Public Works Department;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $4,276,998.00 (including a 15% contingency), with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval; and
4. Authorize the City Manager to execute a third modification to agreement #9337 (CCS) in the amount of $50,000 with Willdan Engineering for design and construction support services for the Public Works Department. This would result in a nineteen-year amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $685,000, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The Street Lighting Modernization Program – Package 2 (Project) would convert aging high-voltage series street lighting circuits to modern 120-volt multiple circuits and replace older luminaires with energy-efficient light emitting diodes (LED) fixtures. The Project would consist of three coordinated street-lighting improvements: (1) the 2 of 8
conversion of high-voltage circuits, (2) the Copper Wire Protection Program which would install security lids and related improvements to protect street lighting infrastructure from copper wire theft, and (3) the Olympic Drive Lighting Enhancements, which would improve lighting along Olympic Drive adjacent to Tongva Park to enhance pedestrian visibility and public safety. Bundling these capital improvements into a single construction contract allows the City to streamline construction, reduce mobilization costs, and coordinate work within overlapping corridors. Staff recommends awarding Bid # SP2574 to Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. and executing an agreement in an amount not to exceed $4,276,998.00 (including a 15% contingency) to provide construction services. Staff also recommends amending agreement #9337 (CCS) with Willdan Engineering for a new total amount not to exceed $685,000 and extending the agreement for an additional three years to December 31, 2030, for design and construction support services to support the Street Lighting Modernization Program.
Discussion
Street Lighting Modernization Program
The Street Lighting Modernization Program consists of five projects to convert the City’s remaining series circuits to multiple circuits (Figure 1). • Package 1: Completed in November 2018.
• Package 2: The current Project, if awarded, is anticipated to be completed in 2027.
• Package 3: Completed in May 2025.
• Package 4: Staff anticipates the design for this package to be completed in FY2026-27, followed by construction in FY2027-28.
• Package 5: Staff anticipates that the final package would be designed and constructed in FY2027-28 and FY2029-30, contingent on budget availability.
The total cost to complete the remaining two packages (Packages 4 and 5) is estimated to be $17-19 million.
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Figure 1. Street Lighting Modernization Program Map
Street Lighting Modernization Program – Package 2
The Project would convert existing high-voltage series street lighting circuits to modern 120-volt multiple circuits and replace aging luminaires with energy-efficient LED fixtures.
The project includes replacement of existing electrical wiring, installation of new conduits and pull boxes, installation of new electrical service equipment, and replacement of existing luminaires. These improvements would enhance system reliability, reduce maintenance requirements, and allow the City to benefit from energyefficient lighting technology. The Project would modernize street lighting on the following streets in the Ocean Park neighborhood:
• Second Street from Strand Street to southern City limits. • Third Street from Pico Boulevard to southern City limits. • Fourth Street from Pico Boulevard to Hill Street.
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• Ozone, Navy, and Marine Streets from Highland Avenue to Lincoln Boulevard.
Copper Wire Protection Program
The Copper Wire Protection Program addresses ongoing copper wire theft from street lighting infrastructure throughout the City. Theft of copper wiring from street lighting pull boxes can disable entire lighting circuits, resulting in dark streets and increased maintenance costs. The Project would install tamper-resistant security lids and related improvements at street lighting pull boxes in an area of the City bounded by Pico Boulevard to the north, Lincoln Boulevard to the east, Ocean Avenue to the west, and the southern City limit to the south, to deter theft and protect City infrastructure.
Olympic Drive Lighting Enhancements
The Olympic Drive Lighting Enhancements project would install new lighting improvements on Olympic Drive adjacent to Tongva Park to improve nighttime visibility and enhance safety for pedestrians and cyclists. The Project would install six new pedestrian lighting poles with associated conduit, wiring, and service connections to improve illumination levels along the corridor.
Design and Construction Support Services
Staff recommends authorizing a third modification to professional services agreement #9337 (CCS) with Willdan Engineering to provide additional funding for design and construction support services for the Street Lighting Modernization Program – Package
4. Additional funds are needed for both design and construction phases to update the Package 4 plans and specifications to include the installation of new pedestrian lighting poles with receptacles to provide electrical infrastructure for holiday tree lighting along Montana Avenue from 6th Court to 17th Street, and to perform additional coordination with Southern California Edison.
Past Council Actions
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Meeting Date Description
2/8/2011 (Attachment A) Awarded RFP for Street Lighting Design Services (SP2121) to Willdan Engineering
9/27/2016 (Attachment B) Awarded bid #SP2406 for Street Lighting Modernization – Package 1
7/18/2023 (Attachment C) Awarded bid #SP2598 for Street Lighting Modernization – Package 3 and authorized Modification #2 to professional services agreement #9337 (CCS) with Willdan Engineering Vendor Selection – Construction Services
Bidder Recommendation
Best Bidder Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc.
Evaluation Criteria The following criteria listed under SMMC Section 2.24.100(a) were determined to be applicable in selecting the best bidder:
(1) Price; (2) The ability, capacity, and skill of the bidder to perform or provide the materials or services; (3) The capacity of the bidder to perform the contract or provide the service promptly, within the time specified, and without delay or interference; (4) The sufficiency of the bidder's financial resources; and (5) The character, integrity, reputation, judgment, training, experience, and efficiency of the bidder.
Municipal Code SMMC 2.24.100(a)
Bid Data
Date
Posted Posted On
Advertise In
(City Charter & SMMC)
Vendors
Downloaded
Date Publicly
Opened
5/21/2026 City's Online
Bidding Site
Santa Monica Daily
Press
65 6/22/2026
Best Bidder Justification
Submittals Received
Elecnor Belco
Electric, Inc. $3,645,960.00 Servitek Electric, Inc. $4,778,992.00 Alfaro
Communications
Construction, Inc.
$3,719,128.51 Select Electric, Inc. $4,877,113.00
International Line
Builder’s, Inc. dba
ILB Electric
$4,599,635.00 Crosstown Electrical
and Data, Inc. $5,513,945.00
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Staff recommends awarding Bid #SP2574 to Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. as the best bidder based on the evaluation of the applicable criteria identified in SMMC Section 2.24.100(a), including the contractor's bid price; ability, capacity, and skill to perform the work; capacity to complete the work within the required schedule and without delay or interference; sufficiency of financial resources; and demonstrated character, integrity, reputation, judgment, training, experience, and efficiency. The contractor's qualifications were supported by previous experience completing electrical improvements for state and municipal agencies throughout California, including, but not limited to, Caltrans Districts 3, 7, and 8 fiber optic cable upgrades, communications system installations, ramp metering systems, traffic signal modifications, and lighting improvements, and the City of Industry’s Nelson Avenue Intersection Improvements at Puente Avenue and Sunset Avenue. In addition, references contacted by City staff confirmed satisfactory performance on similar projects. The City rejected the bid of the apparent low bidder, Elecnor Belco Electric, Inc., based on a bidding irregularity in the bid pricing table that was self-disclosed by the bidder after the close of bidding.
Community Outreach
Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026 and last for nine months. Prior to and during construction, the contractor, Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc., would distribute construction notifications to residents and businesses located near project areas. Notifications would provide information regarding project scope, construction schedules, and potential traffic or access impacts. Periodic updates would be provided as necessary through construction notices and the City’s communication channels.
Social media would be utilized to notify the public about general construction updates.
Environmental Review
The award contract for the Street Lighting Modernization Program is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15302 (Class 2 - Replacement or Reconstruction) and Section 15303 (Class 3 – New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15302 exempts 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. Section 15303 exempts the construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures; the installation of small new equipment and facilities in small structures; and the conversion 7 of 8
of existing small structures from one use to another where only minor modifications are made to the exterior of the structure. This project would replace the existing street lighting system with a new street lighting system, which would include new pedestrian lighting poles. Therefore, the project is exempt pursuant to Sections 15302 and 15303.
Furthermore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2, apply to these exemptions.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the General and Local Return Funds to award a contract with Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. to provide construction services for the Street Lighting Modernization Program – Package 2 Project. Funds are currently budgeted in the Capital Improvement Program and have been set aside for this project.
Contract Request Construction
Funding
Source
FY 2026-27
Request
Amount
CIP Account # Account
Description
Total Contract
Amount
Local Return $1,373,380 C2704590.689110
Streetlight
ModernizationMeasure M$1,373,380
Local Return $1,001,647 C2704590.689120
Streetlight
ModernizationMeasure R$1,001,647
Local Return $1,156,613 C2704590.689130
Streetlight
ModernizationProp C$1,156,613
General Fund $50,000 C0104590.689000 Streetlight
Modernization $50,000
General Fund $595,000 C0109130.689000
Copper Wire
Protection
Program
$595,000
General Fund $100,358 C0107920.689000 Park Safety
Enhancements $100,358
Total Construction $4,276,998
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Staff also seeks authority to approve available funding from the General Fund to increase the amount of professional service agreement #9337 with Willdan Engineering for design and construction support services for the Street Lighting Modernization Program. Funds are currently budgeted in the Capital Improvement Program and have been set aside for this project.
Agreement Modification Request
Agreement # Current
Authorized
Amount
FY 2026-27
Budget Request
Amount
CIP Account # Total Revised
Contract Amount
9337 $635,000 $50,000 C0104590.689000 $685,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval.
Prepared By: Saman Nedjati, Civil Engineer
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. February 8, 2011 Staff Report
B. September 27, 2016 Staff Report (Web Link)
C. July 18, 2023 Staff Report (Web Link)
D. PSA #9337
E. PSA #9337 Modification #1
F. PSA #9337 Modification #2
G. California Levine Act Disclosure - Willdan
H. Oaks Initiative Disclosure Form - Willdan
I. California Levine Act Disclosure - Alfaro
J. Oaks Initiative Disclosure Form - Alfaro