SR-303-009 (7)
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Council Meeting: January 22, 2002 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
Chairperson and Redevelopment Agency
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Professional Services Contract with URS Corporation in an amount not to
exceed $400,000 Including Contingency for a Geotechnical Study of the
Santa Monica Palisades Bluffs Project
Introduction
The report recommends that the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency authorize
the City Manager and the Executive Director, respectively, to negotiate and execute a
Professional Services contract with URS Corporation in an amount not to exceed
$400,000, including contingency, for a Geotechnical Study of the Santa Monica
Palisades Bluffs Project.
Background
The Palisades Bluffs rise 30 to 150 feet above Pacific Coast Highway from the McClure
tunnel to the northerly city limits. The slope of the bluff is steep to near vertical at
various locations with deeply eroded gullies and areas of landslide debris. After the
January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake, various sections were impacted by earthfalls,
debris and mud flows, fractures and slides. The damage was exacerbated by further
sloughing after the disaster level storms of 1995 and 1998.
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In 1994, 1995 and 1998, the City retained the services of Dames and Moore,
geotechnical engineers, to conduct an evaluation of the earthquake and storm damaged
areas of Palisades Park and the bluffs. Several remedial measures were taken as a
result of the recommendations from the studies including:
Relocating portions of the fence in Palisades Park;
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Installing subsurface drains in the face of the bluff;
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Landscaping restoration; and
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Grading Palisades Park to direct the existing surface drainage into underground
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storm drain devices to reduce the amount of surface runoff.
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In 1998, Congress passed the Transportation Equity Act for the 21 Century. One of
the high priority projects approved under that Act was the Santa Monica Palisades
Bluffs project. The federal funds authorized for the construction of the project amounts
to $6,000,000.
Discussion
The geotechnical study will involve field and laboratory testing and a feasibility study
that will include recommendations to mitigate further deterioration of the bluffs. Staff will
return to Council at a later date with a recommendation from the geotechnical
consultant.
On June 26, 2001, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for geotechnical services was
issued. On August 3, 2001, 11 proposals were received. A selection committee
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consisting of staff from Environmental and Public Works Management, Community and
Cultural Services, Planning and Community Development, and the City Manager’s
Office selected five firms as the most qualified: Law Crandall, Kleinfelder, Fugro West,
URS Corporation and Leighton and Associates.
The selection criteria included the firm’s understanding of the project’s scope, direct
experience on similar projects and approach to work, technical competence and
qualifications of the proposed staff and the ability to meet the desired time frames.
Based on all of the relevant rating factors, the selection committee recommends URS
Corporation.
URS Corporation has extensive experience in managing complex geotechnical projects
for the public sector. Dames and Moore (a subsidiary of URS Corporation) conducted a
geotechnical investigation of the Santa Monica Palisades Bluffs to assess damage in
the aftermath of the 1994 Northridge earthquake. In 1995, Dames and Moore conducted
field reconnaissance and developed a map of the bluff rim after heavy storms. In 1998,
the URS Corporation provided geotechnical recommendations for mitigation of a
localized bluff failure near the California Incline following El Nino rains. URS Corporation
also performed extensive geotechnical analysis and design for tunnels at the Stone
Canyon project located in the Santa Monica Mountains for the City of Los Angeles-
Department of Water and Power. In the City of Monterey Park, the firm has completed
numerous geotechnical investigations for hillside single-family dwellings.
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Representatives of the agencies listed were contacted and all references commended
the firm as being very competent, professional, knowledgeable experts in the
geotechnical field and able to conform to project timelines and control costs.
Budget/Financial Impact
Funds for $400,000 for the Geotechnical Study of the Santa Monica Palisades Bluffs
Project are available in Account No. C17068501.589000, Palisades Bluff Project,
funded from the Earthquake Recovery Redevelopment Fund.
The City’s General Fund will lend the project funding to the Redevelopment Agency,
and the Redevelopment Agency will repay the City from available tax increment
revenues. A Reimbursement formalizing the Agreement between the City and the
Agency for the above referenced capital improvement project was executed on
September 21, 2001. The Reimbursement Agreement will be amended when additional
budget authority is approved or when a construction contract is awarded by City Council
for the bluff work.
FUNDS AVAILABLE $ 749,360.46
FUNDS REQUIRED FOR
GEOTECHNICAL STUDY :
Contract $ 350,000
Contingency 50,000
Total $ 400,000
REMAINING BALANCE $ 349,360.46
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Recommendation
A. Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services
contract for a geotechnical study of the Santa Monica Palisades Bluffs with URS
Corporation, in an amount not to exceed $350,000 and approve $50,000 in
contingency funds for the contract;
2. Authorize the City Engineer to issue any necessary modifications to the contract
to complete additional work within budget authority; and
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B. Staff recommends that the Redevelopment Agency authorize the Executive
Director to execute a professional services contract for the geotechnical study of
the Santa Monica Palisades Bluff Project with URS Corporation, in an amount not
to exceed $350,000 and approve $50,000 in contingency funds for the contract.
Prepared by: Kate Vernez, Asst. to the City Manager, Government Relations
Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works Mgmt.
Anthony Antich, P.E., City Engineer
Jeff Mathieu, Director, Resource Management
Tina Rodriguez, Redevelopment Administrator
Barbara Stinchfield, Director, Community and Cultural Services
Karen Ginsberg, Assistant Director at CCS Administration
Dave Britton, P.E., Sr. Civil Engineer
Spiros A. Lazaris, P.E., Civil Engineer
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