Resolution 2025-023, authorizing the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Moffatt & Nichol, Inc. for coastal engineering and environmental services related to the Carmel Beach Coastal Protection and Access Improvement Projects, with a not-to-exceed budget of $399,013 (Estimated time - 15 min)

Adopt Resolution 2025-023 (Attachment 1), authorizing the City Administrator to execute a Professional Services Agreement (Attachment 2) with Moffatt & Nichol, Inc. for coastal engineering and environmental services related to the Carmel Beach Coastal Protection and Access Improvement Projects, with a not-to-exceed budget of $399,013.

Background

In June 2021, the City Council adopted Resolution 2021-033, approving the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which included the Beach Sand and Wall Inspections project, with an allocated budget of $25,000. This project aimed to assess the rates of beach and sand loss along the coastline by reviewing existing data and aerial imagery. These inspections were essential for understanding coastal erosion trends and identifying areas that required further intervention or preservation efforts.

In June 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-048, approving 25 Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) for Fiscal Year 2022/23, including the Sea Level Rise/Coastal Engineering Report project. This project was allocated a budget of $150,000 and was structured to gather critical data and analysis to inform long-term decisions related to the durability and maintenance of the City's coastal resources and infrastructure. Recognizing potential overlaps in objectives, this project was efficiently combined with the Beach Sand Survey and Wall Inspections project, which had been carried over from the previous fiscal year.

In November 2022, the City Administrator executed a contract with EMC Planning Group, Inc. (EMC) to analyze four key coastal sections outlined in the Climate Committee Implementation Appendix. These sections were as follows:

1. Armored private properties on the bluffs at the north end (Pescadero Canyon area).
2. Mostly natural, unarmored North Dunes area.
3. Unarmored dunes along private property between Eighth Ave. and Del Mar Parking Lot.
4. Mostly armored bluffs along Scenic Road south of Eighth Ave.

The goal of this project was to assess the current coastal conditions, identify vulnerabilities to sea level rise and erosion, and develop actionable recommendations for long-term coastal management. EMC's approach was structured around a series of tasks aimed at evaluating these conditions and preparing an action plan including the following scope:

• Coastal Engineering Condition Evaluation – Assessing the structural condition and resilience of coastal protection infrastructure
• Shoreline and Beach Change Analysis – Analyzing historical and current trends in beach and shoreline changes, including both seasonal fluctuations and long-term erosion patterns.
• Shoreline and Beach Erosion Exposure Modeling – Modeling future erosion risks under various scenarios, including sea level rise and storm surges.
• Coastal Hazard and Sea Level Rise Vulnerability, High Priority Adaptation Identification, and Action Plan – Identifying vulnerable areas and proposing high-priority adaptation strategies for each coastal section.

In July 2023, a "no cost" amendment (Amendment No. 1) was executed to the EMC agreement, adding an additional task to review the City’s existing hazard policies, specifically the Local Coastal Program (LCP). This was to ensure alignment with the City’s adaptation strategies and guide future updates to the LCP as necessary.

In April 2023, Haro, Kasunich, and Associates performed an assessment and evaluated the condition of key shoreline infrastructure (stairs, revetments, and sea walls) and identified critical repairs necessary to ensure long-term coastal resilience. These assessments were performed following extensive damage observe following winter storms in 2022/23. Their findings are contained within the Carmel Beach Coastal Protection Assessment Report (Attachment 3) and included the following recommendations:

• Seawalls: Of the 11 existing seawalls, 2-4 were identified as needing repairs, with the Fourth Avenue Outfall Wall marked as a high priority for immediate repair.
• Beach Access Stairs: Of 11 beach access stairs, 9 were found to be in need of repair, with three identified as high priority due to severe damage, two of which had been closed following winter storms.
• Rock Revetments: Of 6 existing rock revetments, 4 require repairs, with 3 of these being high priority due to their critical role in protecting coastal infrastructure.

In June 2023, Council adopted Resolution 2023-067, approving 16 new Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) for FY 2023/24, including carry-over projects from FY 2021/22 and 2022/23. To address the most urgent repairs identified in the assessment by Haro Kasunich, the Shoreline Infrastructure Repairs project was allocated a budget of $250,000. The total estimated cost for the engineering design, environmental permitting, and construction of all necessary repairs is expected to exceed $2 million over the next few years. This initial $250,000 allocated for FY 2023/24 was intended to begin the engineering and design work for these repairs, focusing on the highest-priority tasks, including repairing the Fourth Avenue Outfall Wall seawall and restoring the high-priority beach access stairs, particularly those that were closed due to storm damage.

In March to May 2024, City Staff performed repairs to re-open select stairs that experienced additional damage from storms in winter 2023/2024. These repairs were able to be completed within 30 to 60 days to reopen access and were performed under an Emergency Coastal Development Permit (ECDP). Multiple stairs remain closed due to more extensive structural repairs required or lack of beach sand causing an unsafe transition at the bottom stair landing. At this time, it was determined a more robust plan be developed and an engineering firm consulted to design the repairs and evaluate more long term solutions to maintain select beach/stair access year round and increase the resiliency of existing infrastructure to resist future storm damage and sea level rise.

Summary

In June 2024, the Council adopted Resolution 2024-047 for the FY 2024/25 CIP, which included the carry-over of previous fiscal year projects, including the Shoreline Infrastructure Repair Project (with an increased budget of $400,000) and the Shoreline Wall – Fourth Avenue Outfall Project (with a budget of $250,000) described in more detail below.

Shoreline Infrastructure Repair Project (FY 2024/25):
This project will begin engineering and design for the highest-priority shoreline repairs and beach access stair restorations. It will use materials similar to those already in place, streamlining the regulatory approval process. The initial phase will help estimate future costs and develop a phased approach for the repairs. A Request for Proposal (RFP) has been prepared to hire a consultant with expertise in environmental permitting, coastal and structural engineering, and cost estimating. Funding for this project includes the $250,000 allocated in FY 2023/24, plus an additional $100,000 reallocated from the Coastal Engineering Study, Phase 2, and approximately $50,000 from a FEMA grant for stair repairs.

Fourth Avenue Outfall Seawall Repair (FY 2024/25):
The Fourth Avenue Outfall seawall was identified as the highest priority for repair in the 2023 Carmel Beach Coastal Infrastructure Condition Assessment. The seawall has significant structural issues, including an undermined foundation, cracks, and exposed corroded steel. The assessment recommended complete reconstruction, including the drainage box culvert outfall. This new project for FY 2024/25 has a budget of $250,000 for engineering design and environmental permitting. Construction is estimated at $900,000 and will be included in the 5-Year CIP for FY 2025/26.

Consultant Selection Process (2024):
To proceed with planning, design, and construction of the two projects above, a professional engineering consultant is required. In May 2024, the City advertised Requests for Statements of Qualifications (SOQs) from consultants to develop a multi-phased plan for coastal protection and access improvements. The project aims to develop an improvement and repair capital improvement program to maintain safe coastal access via stairways and perform coastal protection improvements for existing seawalls and revetments.

In July 2024, the City received three submissions from EnGeo, MME, and Moffat & Nichol. After a comprehensive evaluation by a Selection Committee, Moffat & Nichol was determined to be the most qualified for the project.

Scope of Services, Fee, and Schedule:

 
As outlined in the Professional Services Agreement, Moffat & Nichol will perform the following tasks:

The base fee for these services was negotiated at $341,001. The anticipated timeline includes completing Task 1 within 3 months, while Tasks 2 and 3 are expected to be ready for construction by Spring/Summer 2026, mainly due to environmental permitting requirements.

Additionally, a budget of $58,012 is allocated for as-needed geotechnical support services throughout the agreement term, which expires on June 30, 2027. This work may be authorized pending the repair or replacement recommendations from Task 1 – Existing Condition Survey Report and is summarized below.

The following table recaps the current budget associated with the Carmel Beach Coastal Protection project with a total budget of $650,000.

 All expenditures for these projects are covered in the Capital Projects fund Account No. 301-311-00-43008

In June 2021, the City Council adopted the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which included the Beach Sand and Wall Inspections project, with an allocated budget of $25,000. This project aimed to assess the rates of beach and sand loss along the coastline by reviewing existing data and aerial imagery. These inspections were essential for understanding coastal erosion trends and identifying areas that required further intervention or preservation efforts.

In June 2022, the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-048, approving 25 Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) for Fiscal Year 2022/23, including the Sea Level Rise/Coastal Engineering Report project. This project was allocated a budget of $150,000 and was designed to gather critical data and analysis to inform long-term decisions related to the durability and maintenance of the City's coastal resources and infrastructure. Recognizing potential overlaps in objectives, this project was efficiently combined with the Beach Sand Survey and Wall Inspections project, which had been carried over from the previous fiscal year.

In June 2023, Council adopted Resolution 2023-067, approving 16 new Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) for FY 2023/24, including carry-over projects from FY 2021/22 and 2022/23. One of these projects was the Shoreline Infrastructure Repairs project, which was allocated a budget of $250,000. This project arose from the recommendations in the Coastal Engineering Study, specifically its Shoreline Conditions Assessment. The assessment evaluated the condition of key shoreline infrastructure and identified critical repairs necessary to ensure long-term coastal resilience.

In June 2024, the Council adopted Resolution 2024-047 for the FY 2024/25 CIP, which included the carry-over of previous fiscal year projects, such as the Shoreline Infrastructure Repair Project (with an increased budget of $400,000) and the Shoreline Wall – Fourth Avenue Outfall Project (with a budget of $250,000).