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
Bianca Cardenas, Senior Civil Engineer
SUBJECT:Title
Consideration of a Resolution Awarding an Agreement to Moffatt & Nichol in a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $228,550 for the Pier Structural Inspection Condition Assessment (Budgeted) (Interim Public Works Director Semaan).
ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-0099
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-0099 awarding an agreement to Moffatt & Nichol in an amount not to exceed $228,550 for the Pier Structural Inspection Condition Assessment.
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Sufficient funds of $325,000 are currently budgeted for this project. Approximately $228,550 will be utilized from the State Pier and Parking Lots Fund for the Pier Structural Inspection Condition Assessment.
At this time, staff has not identified any supplemental State funding available for this effort.
BACKGROUND:
The Manhattan Beach Pier was constructed between 1917 and 1920 and serves as a historic symbol of the City. In 1995, it was designated as California Registered Historical Landmark Number 1018. Since then, it has experienced multiple modifications and restorations. The reinforced concrete structure extends approximately 930 feet and reaches over 400 feet out into the Santa Monica Bay. Its innovative design includes a Roundhouse building at the Pier's rounded end, a steel-reinforced concrete deck and pilings, decorative globe light standards, and distinctive sea foam green railings along the edge. The Roundhouse contains an aquarium and restrooms.
In the 1950s, Los Angeles County completed a major repair project that involved applying pneumatically placed concrete to areas showing deterioration. This project resulted in the current freeform shape of the piles and girders. In the 1980s, corrosion in the reinforcing steel caused concrete to spall from the structure, creating hazardous conditions for persons walking under the Pier. As the Pier is owned by the State of California, in 1988, the City entered into an operating agreement with the State of California, under which the City assumed maintenance responsibilities for the Pier. Revenues generated through the Pier parking lots fund the maintenance and operations of the complex. In 1988, a comprehensive structural assessment of the Pier was conducted, which identified structural deficiencies and recommended rehabilitation. In 1992, a major rehabilitation project was completed, which included the full removal and replacement of the Pier deck and much of the support structure.
The last condition assessment was conducted in 2011, and localized structural repairs were made in 2012 to address concrete cracks and spalls throughout the structure, as well as the replacement of utility pipeline hangers. In 2018, the Pier’s utility pipelines were replaced as part of the Pier Utilities and Roundhouse Improvements Project. The Pier railings were replaced in 2024.
DISCUSSION:
The Pier is frequently subjected to strong wave forces and is located in a corrosive marine environment, which accelerates structural deterioration. To effectively address this issue, it is advisable to implement a regular inspection program for the Pier. Although inspection standards can vary based on different factors, concrete marine structures should typically be inspected every 5 to 10 years, with a thorough, in-depth inspection conducted every 10 to 15 years.
Request for Proposals
The City issued a request for proposals (RFP) on May 14, 2025, for structural inspection of the Pier, where Consultants recommended an inspection regimen conforming to the latest applicable standards for waterfront facilities. The City received five proposals on June 18, 2025. Staff ranked the firms and proposals as follows:
1. Moffatt & Nichol
2. Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc.
3. KPFF Consulting Engineers
4. Bowman Consulting Group Ltd.
5. Lloyd Engineering, Inc.
Cost proposals ranged from $238,500 to $469,200.
The evaluation committee of City staff assessed these proposals based on specific selection criteria as follows:
• Demonstrated understanding of the requested scope of services;
• Consultant’s proposed personnel’s experience with comparable work;
• Identification of, and approach to, key challenges, efficient utilization of staff resources, and quality control;
• Staffing qualifications and experience (demonstrated technical ability) of key personnel and Sub-Consultants; and
• Consultant’s familiarity with local (sensitivity) conditions.
Upon evaluation, interview, and positive reference checks, staff recommends entering into an Agreement with Moffatt & Nichol to perform the condition assessment. Moffatt & Nichol has roughly 80 years of expertise in inspection, rehabilitation, and engineering design of waterfront facilities and have helped plan, build, and maintain marine structures. They conducted the City of Manhattan Beach’s Pier inspections in 1988 and 2011 and also designed the rehabilitation of the Pier in 1992 and 2011. The Consultant’s methodology is the clearest amongst the proposals in describing the proposed inspection levels and requirements. The majority of their assigned staff has decades of experience on similar projects, understands key project issues, and proposed an appropriate level of staffing for the size and complexity of the City’s important landmark. The proposed inspection regimen includes the following tasks:
1. General Administration and Meetings
2. Site Inspection and Evaluation
• Above Water Inspection - Inspection of the deck, railing, understructure, and piles above the water line to detect deterioration, cracking, spalling, and/or corrosion.
• Underwater Inspection - Use of dive vessels and divers to inspect piles underwater. This task will involve a thorough hands-on inspection of all wet piles from the seafloor to the waterline. Additionally, marine growth would be removed by divers on 10% of wet piles at three one-foot horizontal strips to detect any cracking, spalling, and/or loss of pile girth.
3. Testing, Analysis, and Specialized Testing Equipment (Additional Services)
• Although staff does not detect any significant deterioration of the Pier at this time, it is possible that the recommended inspection may identify deterioration that would require utilization of Task 3’s specialized testing, which includes destructive or partially destructive testing methods (concrete core sampling). This task is not expected to be part of the base inspection effort and will only be carried out after receiving approval from the City Engineer.
4. Data Reporting
• Inspection Report and As-built Plans - Development of a full as-built plan for the Pier, including locations of current deterioration.
5. Recommendations for Rehabilitation and Prioritization
6. Rough Order-of-Magnitude Construction Costs
Upon the City’s confirmation of the required tasks, Moffatt & Nichol agreed to cap their proposed cost at a maximum of $228,550, thereby shifting their bid from the second-lowest to the lowest cost proposal. Pursuant to Manhattan Beach Municipal Code Section 2.36.130 (Professional Services), the City has the authority to select the firm that is most qualified and is not limited to making a selection solely on cost.
After completing the condition assessment, City staff will have a clearer understanding of the Pier's condition and ultimately provide recommendations for rehabilitation. The level and location of any deterioration would dictate whether repairs are performed immediately or through future capital improvement projects.
PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The RFP for professional services was advertised on the City's website and OpenGov, a public online bid notification portal. Outreach will occur with the Round-House Aquarium staff, beachgoers, and other applicable stakeholders whenever necessary, and will include notifications as appropriate.
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 Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301 Class 1 (minor alteration of existing public facilities, involving negligible or no expansion of use) of the State CEQA Guidelines. Although an environmental review is not necessary prior to approval of the agreement, additional environmental review may be required prior to, or concurrent with, the award of a construction contract for which a consultant may provide design services in the future.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed this report and determined that no additional legal analysis is necessary.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Resolution No. 25-0099
2. Agreement - Moffatt & Nichol
3. Location Map