TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Ted Semaan, Interim Public Works Director
Gilbert Gamboa, Acting City Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Accepting as Complete Work Performed by Square Signs, LLC, dba Front Signs for the Vehicle, Parking and Pedestrian Sign Improvements Project (Wayfinding Sign Program) Phase I (No Budget Impact) (Interim Public Works Director Semaan).
A) ACCEPT
B) AUTHORIZE
Body
_________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Formally accept as complete the Square Signs, LLC, dba Front Signs (Front Signs) construction agreement for the Vehicle, Parking and Pedestrian Sign Improvements Project (Wayfinding Sign Program) Phase I;
2) Authorize the filing of the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder; and
3) Authorize the release of retention of $12,079.25 to Front Signs.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The construction agreement with Front Signs for the Vehicle, Parking, and Pedestrian Sign Improvements Project (Wayfinding Sign Program) Phase I was awarded for $210,265.00, with an authorized construction contingency of $31,539.75. Two change orders were approved for the project, totaling $31,320.00, which brings the total amount spent under the agreement to $241,585.00. After acceptance of the work and filing of the Notice of Completion, the retention amount of $12,079.25 will be released to the contractor. Any remaining funds will be returned to the CIP Fund.
BACKGROUND:
On July 18, 2023, the City Council discussed the Wayfinding Master Plan and the Phase I Project and gave directions for updates to the Master Plan, which also included changes to the Phase I Project. City Council approved the addition of the Business Directory Signs in the Phase I Project. The Project was designed by Selbert Perkins Design (SPD).
SPD was re-engaged in October 2023 to align with the City Council’s direction in the Master Plan and complete revisions to the Phase I Project design, addressing both staff comments and City Council instructions.
On March 19, 2024, the City Council authorized the Phase I project to be advertised for construction bids. The Phase I project includes the removal of existing signs and the installation of new signs in the white “Beach Classic” design. The Phase I Project did not include the installation of any street identification signs.
The new installations included:
• Installed 24 Parking Identity Signs
• Installed 7 Parking Entrance Signs
• Installed 6 Parking Entrance Height Restriction Signs
• Installed 10 Parking Direction Overhead (on traffic signals) Signs
• Installed 20 Parking Direction (offsite) Signs
• Installed 7 Business Directory Signs
• Removed 57 Signs
• Replaced 56 Signs
• Added 19 Signs
On July 16, 2024, following a competitive bid process, City Council awarded a construction agreement to Front Signs for this project.
DISCUSSION:
The Wayfinding Sign Program Phase I Project began construction after submitting signs for review in September 2024. The submittal approval and sign manufacturing followed. Installation started in December 2024 and was completed in May 2025, including punch list corrections.
Two change orders were required to complete the project. Change Order No. 1 was necessary due to unexpected utility conflicts that involved relocating two business directories and updating their current site improvements. Change Order No. 2 included a modification to one business directory and minor changes to messaging on other signs.
Wayfinding Sign Program Phase I Project (Funding Recap)
$ 210,265.00 Original Contract Award
+ $ 31,579.35 Original Contingency Authorization
$ 241,844.35 Total Available Budget
$ 210,265.00 Contract Work Completed
+ $ 31,320.00 Change Order Nos. 1 and 2
$ 241,585.00 Total Contract Work and Change Orders
$ 241,844.35 Total Available Budget
- $ 241,585.00 Total Contract Work and Change Orders
$ 259.35 Total Remaining Budget
Front Signs has satisfactorily completed all work and is now requesting formal project acceptance. The five percent retention amount will be released 35 days after the recordation of the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder. All work inspected by the Public Works Department was found to be in conformance with the plans and specifications and of good quality. he designer, SPD, also reviewed the final work and approved the finished installation.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Extensive public outreach for the Wayfinding Master Plan, consisting of online surveys, email surveys, community member interviews, multiple City Council meeting agenda items, multiple Commission meetings, and Business Community meetings, was held spanning June 2015 to May 2018, leading to the approval of the Signage and Wayfinding Master Plan.
Public outreach related to the proposed business directories was conducted through "look and see" events in conjunction with the Downtown Business and Professional Association on July 11, 2023, and the North Manhattan Beach Business Improvement District on July 15, 2023. The noticing of these events was through the City's social media channels, City Council meeting community announcements, and postcards.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the Project and associated contract for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Staff has determined that the Project qualifies for a Class 1 categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301(c), which exempts the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public structures involving negligible expansion of existing or former use. The Project consists of the placement of new signage and the replacement of existing signage on which is a negligible expansion of the existing use (public streets and sidewalks). Therefore, the Project is exempt from further environmental review pursuant to CEQA.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Location Map