Municipal Pier Renovation - Approval of Design

Recommendation:

It is recommended that City Council:

1. Approve Alternative 1 as the preferred design for the Municipal Pier and Pier Plaza Project.

2. Adopt an Environmental Negative Declaration for the Municipal Pier Renovation Project by adopting the attached resolution.

3. Direct staff to solicit proposals for construction of a restaurant to be located at the end of the pier.

Background:

In 1992 the City of Hermosa Beach was allocated $1.5 million in County of L.A. Proposition A (The Safe Neighborhood Act) funds for improvements to the Municipal Pier. In February of 1995 the City hired the design team of HLA Infrastructure (Alpha Engineering) and Paul Zajfen Architects (IBI Group) to prepare an assessment of the existing pier structure and development of repair and architectural plans for phase I of the project.

In July of this year, after months of negotiation, the City reached an agreement with the County Lifeguards with regards to design of new lifeguard facilities to be constructed in conjunction with the Pier Plaza Improvements. The County agreed to provide a total of $1,200,000 in funding towards improvements to the lifeguard building, new parking garages for their emergency vehicles and a new 911 center. These changes will provide Hermosa Beach with a state of the art lifeguard facility which will be integrated into the new pier plaza design.

Recently, with the November 5th voter approval of additional Proposition A funding, the City of Hermosa Beach was granted an additional $1,000,000 in funding for the Pier Improvements. In addition the City was granted FEMA funding of $90,000 towards repairs to the pier necessitated by the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Originally phase I of the project consisted of retrofit improvements to the structural elements of the pier and construction of a pier plaza area. With receipt of these additional funds the scope of work as defined in phase I of the project can be increased to include items of work originally delineated in phase II.

Work on the structural retrofit portion of the design has gone through initial plan check and is virtually complete. The project architect, Paul Zajfen, has prepared two preliminary design options for the expanded phase I. Design of the preferred option should be complete within three months from the date of City Council direction on this item.

The Staff Environmental Review Committee, at their meeting of June 13, 1996 considered the environmental impacts of the project, and based on the initial study check-list found that the project could not have a significant effect on the environment (The initial study check-list is on file in the Community Development Department). The Committee therefore recommended an Environmental Negative Declaration. The modifications to the project are not substantial and do not alter any of the initial study findings.

Analysis:

Alternative 1 as prepared by Paul Zajfen in coordination with the County lifeguards and City staff consists of all improvements originally specified as phase I work including structural retrofits to the pier piles, bent caps and deck and a redesigned of pier plaza area.

The proposed new plaza will expand beyond that originally proposed in phase I. The result is a completely covered parking area for emergency vehicles. A new 911 space, women's locker room and additional storage will also be incorporated into the new under plaza design. On top the new plaza will utilize the same pavement and lighting types as being constructed on Lower Pier Avenue. The lifeguard building exterior facade will be renovated using complementary materials to those in the streetscape.

This alternative additionally proposes to remove the degraded restroom presently located to the south of the plaza. A new restroom facility and storage area would be constructed on the north side of the proposed plaza. The distinctive stepped design of this structure will provide spectacular ocean, beach and plaza overviews. Again the same upscale materials used in the Lower Pier Avenue streetscape will make up the finish for this beautiful structure.

The Pier itself will be retrofit to bring its structure back to original design standards. Epoxy coatings and removal and replacement of spalled and delaminated concrete sections will enhance the Pier's appearance as well as it's structural integrity. Items of work originally specified to be performed in phase II such as a new deck surface, stainless steel handrails with integral fiber optic lighting, removal of the existing structure and installation of benches will provide for a complete improvement. The only items of phase II work left undone would be the construction of fishing platforms and the cafe/observation deck at the end of the pier. It is suggested that a tenant be sought for the proposed cafe and that this structure be built to specification when a lease is agreed to.

Costs to complete Alternative 1 include:

1. Pier Structural Retrofit Costs $ 680,000

2. Plaza, Lifeguard, Restroom, and Deck* $1,950,000

3. Lighting, Benches and Handrail $ 920,000

4. Overhead and Profit $ 292,500

5. Contingencies $ 195,000

6. Architecture and Engineering $ 241,500

7. Inspection and Management $ 200,000

* Option to Renovate Exist restroom.

Total Cost Alternative 1: $4,479,000

Alternative 2 would allow for a somewhat smaller plaza area and eliminates the removal of the existing restroom to the south and reconstruction of the restroom/amphitheater facilities on the north side of pier plaza.

Costs to complete Alternative 2 include:

1. Pier Structural Retrofit Costs $ 680,000

2. Plaza, Lifeguard, and Deck $1,620,000

3. Lighting, Benches and Handrail $ 920,000

4. Overhead and Profit $ 243,000

5. Contingencies $ 162,000

6. Architecture and Engineering $ 241,500

7. Inspection and Management $ 200,000

Total Cost Alternative 2: $4,066,500

The Department of Public Works feels that the renovation of the pier plaza area should include improvements to the nearby restroom facility. It is therefor suggested that Alternative 1 be the preferred preliminary design for the Municipal Pier and Pier Plaza Project.

Fiscal Impact

The following is an updated list of available funding for the Pier Renovation Project showing the previously mentioned additions:

Proposition A, 1994 $1,500,000

Proposition A, 1996 $1,000,000

County Lifeguard Building Repairs $ 500,000

County Lifeguard Plaza, 911 Upgrades $ 700,000

FEMA, Northridge Earthquake Mitigation $ 90,000

Coastal Conservancy Grant $ 200,000

Sewer Fund $ 100,000

Lighting Fund $ 100,000

4% Utility User Tax Fund $ 300,000

Total Suggested Funding $4,490,000

If the suggested funding is implemented there would be funding available to build either of the prepared design alternatives.