Title
Recommendation to Accept the Work of McGuire and Hester, Inc for High Priority Shoreline Rock Slope Repairs on the Bay Farm Island Dike and Terminate Emergency Action to Repair Bay Farm Island Dike. [Requires four affirmative votes]
In accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), this project is statutorily and categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines Section 15269(c) relating to actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency. (Public Works 31041C35000)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A strong storm moved across Northern California December 14, 2024, with large waves, strong winds and heavy rain. Higher than expected king tides with significant wave action damaged various sections of Alameda’s shoreline. The west-facing shoreline of Bay Farm Island, an area subject to some of the largest waves in the Bay experienced significant damage from the storm.
Given the emergency nature of the required repair work, staff was unable to complete a full publicly advertised procurement for this work per the California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act (Pub. Contract Code, §§ 22000-22045 [CUPCCAA]) and the City of Alameda’s (City) typical non-emergency process. In accordance with Alameda City Charter 3-15.2 and CUPCCAA (specifically, Government Code § 22050), the Assistant City Manager, as designee of the City Manager, authorized a not to exceed $500,000 contract with McGuire and Hester, Inc. to begin making the repairs. City Council ratified that agreement on January 21, 2025 and adopted a resolution appropriating $354,000 from the Bay Farm Island Dike Fund (Fund 286) to augment previously appropriated funds in the City’s capital budget for shoreline maintenance.
The improvements executed under this McGuire and Hester, Inc. contract are complete in accordance with City specifications. Staff recommends City Council acceptance of the work and termination of the emergency action related to Bay Farm Island Dike repairs.
BACKGROUND
Please see the following file for background information:
File # 2025-4676 January 21, 2025 City Council Meeting
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7088623&GUID=368DCD60-D1A2-435F-B8F0-D8F99FC5B057>
DISCUSSION
On January 21, 2025, City Council ratified an agreement with McGuire and Hester, Inc. to make emergency repairs to the western shoreline of Bay Farm Island. High priority areas subject to further erosion following the December 14, 2025 storm now have replenished rip rap or armor rock protection to absorb and disperse the wave energy. Repairs were also made to damaged portions of the Bay Trail, which is now reopened for public access. The improvements executed under the subject contract are complete in accordance with City specifications. Staff recommends City Council acceptance of the work and termination of the emergency action related to Bay Farm Island Dike repairs and termination of the emergency action related to Bay Farm Island Dike repairs.
This section of Bay Farm Island’s shoreline is part of the Subregional Adaptation Plan <https://www.alamedaca.gov/Departments/Planning-Building-and-Transportation/Sustainability-and-Resilience/Subregional-Adaptation-Plan>, which is considering long-term sea-level rise adaptation in the Oakland-Alameda subregion with the long-term goal of removing Bay Farm Island from the FEMA floodplain map. Until the long-term plan is solidified and funded, repairs to the existing dike may continue to be needed. This emergency work does not preclude planning or implementing these long-term sea-level rise adaptation strategies.
City staff continues to assess the City’s many miles of shoreline and coordinate with regulating entities on repairs.
ALTERNATIVES
• Accept the improvements completed by McGuire and Hester High Priority Shoreline Rock Slope Repairs on the Bay Farm Island Dike; or
• Remand the project back to staff for further consideration and evaluation of the completed improvements.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
On January 21, 2025, City Council adopted a resolution appropriating the remaining fund balance of $354,000 from the Bay Farm Island Dike Assessment District Fund (Fund 286) to Capital Improvement Project C35000. Project C35000 already had funds appropriated from the Harbor Bay Business Park Assessment District 92-1 (Fund 283) for shoreline maintenance that was also used for this work. As additional dike repair work is identified and/or near- and long-term adaptation solutions need funding, levying an assessment on the properties within the Bay Farm Island Dike Assessment District 93-1 may be considered. There is no impact to the General Fund.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the Alameda Municipal Code, and Alameda City Charter Sec. 3-15.2.
This project supports the City Strategic Plan priority to Invest in Infrastructure and Build Resilience to Climate Change and Water Level Rise.
This action is subject to the Levine Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
In accordance with CEQA, this project is statutorily and categorically exempt from further environmental review pursuant to Public Resources Code § 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines § 15269(c) which apply to “[s]pecific actions necessary to prevent an emergency.” Public Resources Code § 21060.3 defines “Emergency” as “a sudden, unexpected occurrence, involving a clear and imminent danger, demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate loss of, or damage to, life, health, property, or essential public services. ‘Emergency’ includes such occurrences as fire, flood, earthquake, or other soil or geologic movements, as well as such occurrences as riot, accident, or sabotage.”
For purposes of CEQA, the emergency determination that triggers Public Resources Code § 21080(b)(4) and CEQA Guidelines § 15269(c) is based on the Public Works Director’s assessment of the damage, erosion of land and exposed soil subject to rapid further erosion with additional high tides and wave action this wet season, and which therefore requires immediate action to avoid these outcomes.
CLIMATE IMPACT
Climate change will bring more frequent and intense storms. Until long-term sea-level rise adaptation plans are implemented with the long-term goal of removing Bay Farm Island from the FEMA floodplain map, repairs to the existing dike will be made for continued shoreline protection.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation to accept the work of McGuire and Hester, Inc for high priority shoreline rock slope repairs on the Bay Farm Island Dike.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Smith, Public Works Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director