SR-303-009 (13)~_ . .
City Council Report
~ City of
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: July 25, 2006
Agenda Item: ~ ~- ~
To: Mayor and City Council
Chair Person and Redevelopment Agency
From: Craig Perkins, Director - Environmental and Public Works Management
Subject: Modification of Professional Services Agreement No. 8467 (CCS) (RAS)
with URS Corporation for the Palisades Bluff Improvement Project
Recommended Action
It is recommended that the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency authorize the
City Manager and the Executive Director, respectively, to:
1. negotiate and execute a modification to Professional Services Agreement No.
8467 (CCS) (RAS) with URS Corporation in an amount not to exceed $99,000 for a
total contract amount of $1,006,500 to provide environmental program
management services for the Palisades Bluff Improvement Project; and,
2. authorize the City Engineer to issue any necessary modifications to complete
additional work within budget authority.
Executive Summary
One of the high priority projects approved by Congress as part of the federally funded
transportation act was the Palisades Bluff Improvement Project. In order to expedite the
environmental analysis and clearances for the project, the Planning and Community
Development Department transferred the administration of the environmental contract
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with Rincon Consultants Inc., and the professional services agreement with URS
Corporation to the office of the City Engineer. As part of that work effort, URS will
oversee Rincon Consultants Inc., the environmental analysis firm. Staff is
recommending that URS Corporation provide environmental program management
services for the Palisades Bluff Improvement Project. Funds in the amount of $99,000
need to be appropriated to the existing professional services agreement with URS
Corporation to provide the additional management services. URS Corporation has
proven experience in managing the environmental documentation and approval phase
of complex geotechnical projects. The total contract amount will be $1,006,500.
Discussion
The Palisades Bluffs rise 30 to 150 feet above Pacific Coast Highway from the McClure
tunnel to the northerly City limits. After the Northridge earthquake and disaster level
storms in the 1990's, the Palisades Bluffs were considered a high priority project by the
City. The City applied and obtained congressional funding for the project in 1998. The
project is currently undergoing the environmental clearance process.
Previous Council Actions
On February 12, 2002, the City Council approved a professional services agreement
with URS Corporation to provide a geotechnical study for the Palisades Bluff
Improvement project. The geotechnical study evaluated the current conditions of the
soils within the existing bluff area and provided recommendations to mitigate existing
damage and potential future deterioration of the bluffs.
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On April 27, 2004, the geotechnical study for the Palisades Bluff Improvement project
prepared by URS Corporation was completed and presented to the City Council. The
City Council approved and expressed support for the mitigation strategies and termed
the project as an "investment in a signature part of our City" and authorized staff to
proceed with the selection process for design and return to the City Council for contract
award.
On A~ril 26, 2005, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with
URS Corporation to design the Palisades Bluff Improvement Project.
On February 24, 2006, the City entered into a professional services agreement with
Rincon Consultants, Inc., to provide the environmental analysis needed for the
Palisades Bluff Improvement Project.
Budget/Financial Impact
Funds in the amount of $99,000 are available for this contract increase in Account No.
C170685.58900 "Palisades Bluff Project."
Prepared by: Spiros Lazaris, P.E., Civil Engineer
Craig ~ rkihs
Director - Environmental and Public
Works Management Department
Forwarded to Council:
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1 ~l, / .:,;,
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P ont Ewell
Manager
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