City Council Meeting: June 23, 2009
Agenda Item: 1-F
To: Mayor and City Council
From:
Subject: Pier Structural Upgrades and Gangway Project
Recommended
Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize
the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement
with URS Corporation in the amount of $430,000 plus 10% contingency in the
amount of $43,000 for a total amount not to exceed $473,000 to provide design
services for the Pier Structural Upgrade and Gangway Project.
Executive Summary
The Pier Infrastructure
Assessment Study recommended safety improvements to the Santa Monica Pier
including Municipal Pier structural upgrades and the construction of an emergency
gangway. The Municipal Pier structural upgrade
is intended to replace a structurally deficient section of the existing
Municipal Pier with a new structure that is capable of handling the loads
imposed by emergency vehicles. The emergency
gangway will allow the evacuation of the Pier to the west in the event of a
fire or other emergency. URS Corporation
is recommended for final design services including the preparation of bidding
documents associated with the implementation of these improvements. Funds for final design services are available in the annual
Capital Improvement Program budget.
Background
On April
10, 2007, the City Council authorized a professional services agreement
with Moffatt & Nichol to provide engineering design and
inspection services for the Pier Infrastructure Assessment Study (Study). The Study was a comprehensive inspection and
condition assessment of all of the Pier’s above-water and underwater structural
components. The Study provided an
evaluation of the under-deck piping systems, the loading capacity of the
concrete portion of the Municipal Pier, the remaining portions of the Newcomb
Pier deck, the deck over the Santa Monica Aquarium, the Pier’s lighting and
fire protection systems, and the furniture and fixtures of the Pier. The Study was completed and delivered in
November 2008 and included recommendations for a 10-year capital improvement
plan for the Santa Monica Pier. It was
forwarded to Council via an Information
Item on May 19, 2009.
Discussion
The
Study recommended two priority safety improvements to the Santa Monica Pier –the
Municipal Pier structural upgrade and the implementation of an emergency gangway. The Municipal Pier structural upgrade will continue the process of upgrading the Pier
to an H-20 (twenty-ton truck) capacity to provide adequate access for emergency
vehicles and firefighting equipment. The
Study included preliminary design details for the replacement of the existing
Municipal Pier over the surf and tidal zone, which is the area approximately
bordered by the high tide line on the East and the low tide line on the West. The proposed improvements include replacing
the current all-timber construction with concrete piles, concrete pile caps,
and timber stringers and decking. The
use of concrete in this area is recommended because this portion of the Pier is
over water and concrete will provide higher durability and lower maintenance in
the surf zone.
The addition of an emergency evacuation
gangway to the western end of the Pier was also identified in the Study as a
priority. A gangway would allow the
evacuation of the western portions of the Pier in the event that a fire or
other emergency prevented passage on the existing Pier. The emergency gangway would be stored at deck
level when not in use and would be used to load evacuees onto waiting vessels
in the event of an emergency.
Contractor/Consultant
Selection
On March 5, 2009, a Request for Proposals was posted
on the City’s website, inviting proposals from marine engineering consulting
firms to provide design services for the structural upgrades and gangway project. Three proposals were received by the closing
date of March 26, 2009, from the following firms: Moffatt & Nichol,
WorleyParsons Westmar, and URS Corporation.
A selection committee of staff from Public Works, Community Maintenance,
and Housing and Economic Development Departments reviewed the written proposals
and interviewed all three firms. The
selection criteria included the firm’s technical competence; understanding of the
project’s scope; direct experience with similar projects; approach to the work;
staffing capability to meet project timeliness; design experience; quality
control; cost control; qualifications of the project manager, and hourly
billing rates/cost of proposed services.
Based on the proposals and interviews, the selection committee
recommends URS Corporation for design services for this project. URS Corporation has extensive experience on
marine projects such as Pismo Beach Boardwalk, Isthmus Pier Inspection and
Reconstruction in Two Harbors on Santa Catalina Island, Berth 85 Timber Wharf
at the
Financial Impacts &
Budget Actions
Funds for this project are available in the following
accounts:
Account Name Amount
M304006 Pier Infrastructure Improvement $210,100
M304007 Pier Gangway $262,900
Total $473,000
Prepared by:
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Approved: |
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Forwarded to Council: |
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Department
of Public Works |
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City Manager |