TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Talyn Mirzakhanian, City Manager
FROM:
Joe DeFrancesco, Interim Public Works Director
Gilbert Gamboa, City Engineer
Marzena Laskowska, Principal Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution Making a Determination that the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Project 602745-24 Cycle 4 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Curb Ramp Project Qualifies for a Categorical Exemption Pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines, Approving Plans and Specifications, and Awarding a Construction Contract to Oppenheimer National for $140,996.56, Including Contingency (No Budget Impact) (Interim Public Works Director DeFrancesco).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 26-0023
Body
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RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 26-0023:
1. Make a Determination of Exemption Pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines Section for the CDBG Project 602745-24 Cycle 4 ADA Curb Ramp Project (Cycle 4 Ramp Project);
2. Approving the Plans and Specifications for the Cycle 4 Ramp Project;
3. Awarding a Construction Contract to Oppenheimer National for the Cycle 4 Ramp Project for $116,996.56; and
4. Authorizing the City Manager and/or his/her designee to approve an extra work contingency up to $24,000.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Sufficient funds of $140,996.56 are currently available for the agreement, including contingency, within the Grants Fund. This Project is funded by the CDBG Program. A Budget and Expenditures Summary is attached.
BACKGROUND:
The goal of the CDBG Program is to enhance the quality of life for low- and moderate-income individuals, prevent neighborhood decline, and address other critical community development needs. As part of this initiative, CDBG funds may be used to improve mobility and accessibility for people with disabilities and seniors by removing physical barriers that impede travel.
The City of Manhattan Beach has participated in the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) CDBG Program, administered by the Los Angeles Community Development Authority (LACDA), for the past 25 years. On July 5, 2023, the City Council approved a Participating City Cooperation Agreement with LACDA to continue its participation in the Los Angeles Urban County CDBG Program for three years, from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027.
On January 21, 2025, the City of Manhattan Beach conducted a public hearing regarding the proposed use of CDBG funds for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 as required by HUD and approved a resolution authorizing the allocation of CDBG funds and execution of an agreement for the Cycle 4 Ramps Project.
On February 12, 2025, the City of Manhattan Beach executed an agreement with LACDA to allocate $102,256 of Fiscal Year 2024-25 CDBG Funds, and unallocated, carry-over CDBG funds for $11,516 for a total amount of $113,772 of CDBG Funds.
On July 23, 2025, the City of Manhattan Beach executed an amendment to incorporate $86,200 from its 2025-2026 CDBG allocation, thereby raising the total CDBG Funds allocated to the project budget to $199,972.
On December 2, 2025, the City Council approved an appropriation along with a corresponding revenue adjustment in the Grants Fund for the designated CDBG funding amounting to $199,972 for the Cycle 4 Ramps Project.
DISCUSSION:
The scope of work for the Cycle 4 Ramps Project encompasses the installation of 12 concrete curb ramps that comply with ADA standards, situated in residential neighborhoods and near schools.
The primary scope includes ADA curb ramps along Meadows Avenue, featuring two ramps at Tennyson Street, one ramp at Keats Street, one ramp at Bryant Place, and three ramps at Voorhees Avenue.
The additional scope consists of ADA curb ramps along 17th Street, which includes four ramps at Laurel Avenue (Additive 1) and one ramp at Poinsettia Avenue (Additive 2). These proposed sites aim to enhance accessibility and ensure pedestrian safety in residential areas and near schools.
Bids for the Cycle 4 Ramp Project (Bid No. E1307-26C) were solicited on a competitive basis under the provisions of the California Public Contract Code in January 2026. The Project was advertised in the City’s publisher of record (The Beach Reporter), on the City of Manhattan Beach Public Works Department Bid Opportunities webpage, and on the City’s Bid Portal with OpenGov (an online service that connects vendors, suppliers, and contractors to government procurement opportunities).
Seven bids were received and opened on February 19, 2026. In accordance with the Public Contact Code Section 20103.8, the lowest bid was determined by comparing the total bid price of all Base Bid items and all Additive Alternate Bid items. The bids ranged from a low bid of $116,996.56 to the highest bid of $387,181.14 as follows:
Contractor Calculated Total Bid Amount
Oppenheimer National $116,996.56
Nobest, Inc. $196,410.00
Pavement Rehab Company $222,000.00
Jerusalem Construction, Inc. $250,410.85
EBS General Engineering, Inc. $281,318.00
Gentry General Engineering, Inc. $314,612.26
Shiraz Construction $387,181.14
All bids were analyzed for arithmetical errors, completeness, accuracy, etc. Oppenheimer National’s bid, contractor’s license, and references were reviewed by staff and found to be responsive. Representatives of agencies where work has been performed by Oppenheimer National have indicated that the work performed was comparable to the Project scope of work and to their satisfaction. In addition, prior completed projects for the City indicate that Oppenheimer National has the knowledge and capability to complete the work in accordance with the plans and specifications. The current project was discussed with representatives of the firm, and they expressed confidence in their bid and a desire to perform the work in a timely and acceptable manner.
Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council award a construction agreement to Oppenheimer National for $116,996.56, which includes the base, additive 1, and additive 2 bid amounts, and that the City Manager and/or his or her designee be authorized to approve change orders for up to $24,000 (20%) for additional work. Construction is anticipated to start in Spring 2026 and be completed by Summer 2026. Allowable construction hours will be from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
A Public Hearing was held on January 21, 2025, on the City’s proposed use of the CDBG Program funds. To comply with federal regulations, the public was afforded a minimum of 30-day notice of this Public Hearing to provide an opportunity to comment on the City’s proposed use of the CDBG Program funds. The Public Hearing Notice was published on December 12, 2024, in The Beach Reporter, and posted on the bulletin boards at City Hall, Joslyn Community Center, and Manhattan Heights on December 11, 2024.
Furthermore, once the project progresses to the construction phase, public outreach will include construction update notices, message boards, social media coordination, and updates on the City’s website.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The proposed project was evaluated for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and a determination was made that the project qualified for a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines (the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use; including existing highways, streets, or sidewalks). There are no features that distinguish this project from others in the exempt class; therefore, there are no unusual circumstances.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT/ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution No. 26-0023
2. Agreement - Oppenheimer National
3. Plans and Specifications (Hyperlink)
4. Budget and Expenditures Summary
5. Location Map