SR 08-23-2011 3Ic,~yof City. Council Report
Santa blonica~
City Council Meeting: August 23, 2011
Agenda Item:J "" Z
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director of Public Works
Subject: Mitigated Negative Declaration and Bidding Documents for the Pier
Emergency Gangway and Phase 4 Structural Upgrade Project
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached resolution approving the Mitigated Negative Declaration for
the Pier Emergency Gangway and Phase 4 Structural Upgrade Project and the
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.
2. Authorize the Director of Public Works to proceed- with the development of
bidding documents for implementation of the Pier Emergency Gangway and
Phase 4 Structural Upgrade Project .
Executive Summary
The Pier Emergency Gangway is a public safety upgrade to evacuate the western end
of the Municipal Pier (Pier) in case of emergency. The project consists of installing a
gangway from the southern fishing platform on the Pier to a floating barge. The Phase
4 Structural Upgrade Project replaces a 363 foot long section of the Pier from
approximately the high tide line to the concrete section to the west that was constructed
in the 1.980's. Additionally, the project involves demolition of the existing timber
structure and replacement with concrete piles and pile caps as well as replacing timber
stringers and decking to match the existing Pier surface.
The California Environmental Quality Act guidelines require the City to assess the
projects potential impact on the environment. The City prepared an Initial
Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration that concludes that the proposed project would
have no significant impact on the surrounding environment with the incorporation of
mitigation measures. The Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program is designed to
ensure compliance with mitigation measures during project implementation. This report
recommends that City Council adopt the attached resolution approving the .Mitigated
Negative Declaration/Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program and authorize the
Director of Public Works to proceed with the development of bidding documents to
implement the improvements to the Pier as described in this report.
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Background
Previous Council Actions
On April 10, 2007, City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a
Professional Services Agreement with Moffat & Nichol to complete the Pier
Infrastructure Assessment Study. The Pier Infrastructure Assessment Study evaluated
the condition of the existing infrastructure and recommended potential upgrades to the
Santa Monica Pier. Among the recommended improvements to the Municipal Pier are a
series of structural upgrades and the installation of an emergency evacuation gangway.
On June 23, 2009, City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a
Professional Services Agreement with URS Corporation for design of the Santa Monica
Pier Phase 4 Structural- Upgrades and Emergency Gangway. To date, URS has
performed schematic design work to support the Mitiga#ed Negative Declaration. The
Director of Public Works would direct URS to proceed with the development of bidding
documents for both the Phase 4 Structural Upgrade and Emergency Gangway upon
Council adoption of the resolution approving the Mitigated Negative Declaration.
Discussion
The structural upgrades to the Santa Monica Pier were undertaken in a phased
approach. Phases 1 through 3 were completed from 2004 to 2007 and included the
replacement or repair of piles, stringers and deck boards on the Municipal Pier and
Newcomb Pier. The proposed Phase 4 project removes and replaces the entire existing
timber structure from bent 41 to bent 59 of the Municipal Pier (approximately 360 feet
long by 36 feet wide). The existing timber piles and caps would be replaced with
concrete and existing timber stringers and decking would be replaced in kind. The
construction effort may include a temporary trestle on the north side of the Pier from
bent 41 to bent 59 to provide a platform for the contractor's work. A minimum 15 feet
wide pedestrian and emergency vehicle access passageway to the western end of the
Pier would be maintained at all times.
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The proposed emergency gangway would connect the lower fishing platform along the
south side of the Municipal Pier to a 36 feet by 60 feet removable floating barge
anchored to the sea floor, which could accommodate approximately 300 people. The
gangway is a public safety upgrade to evacuate the western end of the Pier in case of
fire or other emergency.
Landmarks Commission Action
The Santa Monica Pier was designated a City of Santa Monica Landmark in 1976. This
project must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Landmarks Commission.
Staff will appear before the Landmarks Commission in the fall of 2011 to seek a
Certificate of Appropriateness prior to seeking a bid for construction.
Environmental Analysis
A draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepared pursuant to
Sections 15063(c) and 15070(b) (1) of the California Environmental Quality Act
Guidelines to address the potential environmental- effects of the improvement elements
recommended in the Pier Infrastructure Assessment Study. The Initial Study/Mitigated
Negative Declaration identified environmental impacts that would be potentially affected
by the project. Areas that were found to have a "less than significant impact" or "no
impact" were Aesthetics, Agriculture/Forestry Resources, Air Quality, Greenhouse Gas
Emissions, Geology/Soils, Hazards/Hazardous Materials, Hydrology/Water Quality,
Mineral Resources, Neighborhood Effects, Noise, Population/Housing, Public Services,
Recreation, Shadows, and Utilities/Service Systems. Areas that were found to have a
"less than significant impact with mitigation incorporated" were Biological Resources,
Construction Effects, Cultural Resources, Land Use/Planning, and
Transportation/Traffic.
The Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration was circulated fora 30-day public
review period from June 17, 2011 to July 18, 2011_. Two comments were received on
the Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. The comments and responses to
the comments are included in the Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. The
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Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration concluded that, with the incorporation of
proposed mitigation measures, the proposed project would not result in significant
impacts. The required mitigation measures are detailed in the Mitigation Monitoring and
Reporting Program, which is included in the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
and attached to the proposed Resolution.
Public Outreach
During the circulation period for the Mitigated Negative Declaration, City staff met with
the Landmarks Commission on July 11, 2011 to provide information on the proposed
project and environmental approval process. The Landmarks Commission had no
comments on the draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration.
Next Steps
The next steps in the project include:
1. The final design for both the Gangway and the Phase 4 Structural Upgrades
(summer/fall 2011).
2. Obtaining a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Landmarks Commission (fall
2011).
3. Assembling the bid documents (fall/winter 2011).
4. Putting the project out to bid (winter 2011lspring 2012).
5. Returning to City Council (spring 2012) for the award of the construction contract
and project construction (spring 2012).
Project construction will avoid the summer busy season on the Pier (4~h of July to Labor
Day) and the construction contract will be structured to avoid impacts during the
summer season.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The recommendations presented in this report do not have a budget or financial impact.
Prepared by: Eric Bailey, P.E., Civil Engineer
Approved:
e
Martin Pastucha
Director of Public Works
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
Attachments: 1 -Resolution
2 -Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration
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ATTACHMENT NO. 2
FINAL INITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION
Reference Resolution No.
10601 (CCS)
Attachment available for
review in the City Clerk's
Office