TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Joseph DeFrancesco, Interim Public Works Director
Gilbert Gamboa, City Engineer
Pernilla Brandt, Consultant Project Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of Accepting as Complete Work Performed by DBX, Inc. for the Manhattan Beach Boulevard Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement at Aviation Boulevard Project (No Budget Impact) (Interim Public Works Director DeFrancesco).
A) ACCEPT
B) AUTHORIZE
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) Formally accept as complete the DBX Inc. (DBX) construction agreement for the Manhattan Beach Boulevard Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement at Aviation Boulevard Project (MBB Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement Project);
2) Authorize the filing of the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder; and
3) Authorize the release of retention of $31,922.05 to DBX.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
A $543,606 construction agreement for the MBB Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement Project was awarded to DBX on August 20, 2024, with an authorized contingency of $135,901. Seven change orders were approved for the project, and the total amount expended on the contract was $641,940.93. Upon acceptance of the work, filing of the Notice of Completion, and expiration of the 35-day lien period, the retention amount of $31,992.05 will be released to the contractor.
Expenditures for the Project are fully funded through a $1.2 million grant award from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) South Bay Measure M Multi-Year Sub-regional Program - Transportation System & Mobility Improvements Program. Any unspent funds remaining in the project budget will be returned to the Measure M Fund balance.
BACKGROUND:
The MBB Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement Project was developed to address operational deficiencies at one of the City’s key major arterial signalized intersections. Before construction, the existing eastbound left-turn pocket on Manhattan Beach Boulevard was approximately 200 feet in length, accommodating roughly 10 vehicles. During peak commuting periods, heavy eastbound left-turn demand regularly exceeded available capacity, causing vehicle queues to extend into the adjacent through lane and negatively affecting overall traffic flow along the corridor.
To enhance intersection operations, the project has lengthened the eastbound left-turn lane pocket from about 200 feet to 330 feet. It also involved reconstructing the median island west of Aviation Boulevard, modifying the traffic signals, and implementing related roadway enhancements. The MBB Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement Project maintained the existing number of travel lanes, preserved on-street parking, and retained the currently permitted eastbound U-turn movement. Additional project elements included landscape modifications within the median and installation of the first newly approved City identification monument sign in support of the City’s Wayfinding Project objectives. Collectively, these improvements were designed to increase left-turn capacity, reduce congestion, and improve traffic operations and mobility along the Manhattan Beach Boulevard and Aviation Boulevard corridors.
On August 20, 2024, the City Council awarded a construction contract for the project to DBX. The scope of work shown on the project plans and delineated in the specifications includes:
• Extension of eastbound left-turn lane on Manhattan Beach Boulevard
• Traffic signal upgrades and related operational improvements
• Median reconstruction and associated stamped concrete improvements
• Installation of new traffic signage and pavement markings
• Installation of new City monument sign (Wayfinding Project element)
• Landscape modifications and relocation of median features
• Final roadway restoration, striping, and project closeout improvements
DISCUSSION:
Construction of the MBB Eastbound Left-Turn Improvement Project commenced in July 2025 and concluded in April 2026. Seven change orders were necessary to complete the Project. Change Order additions included additional pothole repairs, manufacturing an additional City Monument Sign not originally part of the project, the addition of stamped/colored concrete median, thermoplastic striping as requested by the neighboring City of Redondo Beach, and construction of the monument sign foundation. The total cumulative value of all change orders was $98,334.93, within the construction contingency.
Manhattan Beach Boulevard Eastbound Left-Turn Improvements Project
$543,606.00 Original Contract Award
+ $135,901.00 Original Contingency Authorization
$679,507.00 Total Available Budget
$543,606.00 CONTRACT WORK COMPLETED
$ 28,149.79 Change Order No. 1 - Additional Work and Working Days
$ 8,218.53 Change Order No. 2 - Additional Work and Working Days
$ 0.00 Change Order No. 3 - Additional Working Days
$ 16,603.35 Change Order No. 4 - Additional Work and Working Days
$ 38,118.26 Change Order No. 5 - Additional Work and Working Days
$ 5,145.00 Change Order No. 6 - Additional Work and Working Days
+ $ 2,100.00 Change Order No. 7 - Additional Work and Working Days
$641,940.93 Total Contract Work and Change Orders
$679,507.00 Total Available Budget
- $641,940.93 Total Contract Work and Change Orders No. 1 through 7
$ 37,566.07 Total Remaining Budget
DBX has completed all work and is now requesting formal acceptance of the project. The five percent retention amount of $31,922.05 will be released 35 days after the recordation of the Notice of Completion with the County Recorder. All work inspected by LAE Associates, Inc., and the Public Works Department was found to be in conformance with the plans and specifications and to be of good quality.
Consistent with industry standards, a warranty inspection will be conducted by summer 2027. Any areas observed during the warranty inspection that require remediation will be repaired at that time. This warranty work is included in the construction contract.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
Items related to this Project were agendized for City Council meetings on July 5, 2022, October 4, 2022, February 21, 2023, and May 21, 2024. Public outreach meetings were conducted during the design phase of the Project to inform the public and neighboring businesses of the proposed improvements and their benefit to the community. In addition, DBX, Inc. distributed construction notices to area residents. Throughout the duration of the project, construction updates were posted on the project-specific page on the City website.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The City has reviewed the proposed Project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the Project qualifies for a Class 1(c) categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) of the State CEQA Guidelines, since the Project focuses on the existing intersection improvement, involving no expansion of public facilities. Thus, no further environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Location Map