DATE: October 21, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Development Services Department
TITLE: APPROVAL OF URGENT TEMPORARY BRACING WORK FOR THE HAMMERHEAD SECTION OF THE OCEANSIDE PIER
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council take the following action with respect to the urgent temporary bracing work to the hammerhead portion of the Oceanside Pier: approve a Public Works Agreement with Jilk Heavy Construction, Inc. (“Jilk”) in the amount of $273,982 for installation of the temporary bracing system; authorize the City Engineer to approve Change Orders up to a total of $100,000 and Project Management costs up to a total of $55,000 for a total not to exceed amount of $428,982; appropriate revenue and expenditure budget in the amount of $3,377,182; and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreements upon receipt of all supporting documents.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On April 25, 2024, a fire occurred on the hammerhead portion of the Oceanside Pier, destroying the former Ruby’s restaurant and the Brine Box food kiosk, as well as the pier safety railing and the deck planking.
In an effort to protect critical Pier infrastructure, including water, sewer and electrical services that extend to the end of the Pier, City Fire crews removed a 5-foot-wide section of decking located approximately 35-feet from the beginning of the hammerhead section. This action was taken to prevent further shoreward movement of the fire underneath the Pier. This section of removed decking will also require replacement as part of the restoration work.
On May 22, 2024, the City Council approved reconstruction of the hammerhead section of the Pier, as well as reconstruction of the restaurant and kiosk buildings at the tenant’s expense.
On February 18, 2025, demolition work was completed by Jilk. The work included removal of the restaurant building, the Brine Box food kiosk, all the pier safety railing, and all the deck planking and stringers within the fire damaged area of the pier hammerhead.
On April 8, 2026, the City Council authorized engineering design services for utility coordination, permitting, technical studies, and preparation of construction documents required for a temporary bracing system and restoration of the Pier hammerhead.
In August 2026, based on estimates provided by the design consultant, staff directly solicited nine (9) different contractors, through direct, informal solicitations, in accordance with the City’s Procurement of Goods and Services Directive AD-21, to submit bids to furnish and install a temporary cable bracing system at the Pier hammerhead. The temporary bracing is intended to stabilize the end of the Pier in advance of anticipated severe winter storm conditions. Two non-mandatory pre-bid meetings were held on August 27 and September 2, 2026, with several contractors attending both meetings.
Bids were due on September 15, 2026. Two responses were received: one from Jilk Heavy Construction, Inc. in the amount of $273,982 and one from Marathon Construction Corporation. Marathon submitted an alternative proposal in the amount of $800,727 that differed from the advertised scope. The alternative proposal included the installation of new timber stringers, new decking, and glu-lam beam “X” braces. The proposed timber would be untreated to facilitate prompt availability; however, the temporary timber improvements would need to be removed when permanent Pier restoration work begins. Marathon estimated that the alternative scope would require approximately three months to complete, which would extend beyond the City’s target date of December 2026.
Although the bid solicitation was conducted through an informal bidding procedure and the bids received exceeded the $235,000 threshold established under Public Contract Code Section 22034, staff recommends awarding the contract to Jilk Heavy Construction, Inc. pursuant to applicable City urgency provisions. The temporary cable bracing system is necessary to stabilize the Pier hammerhead prior to the upcoming winter storm season and is intended to remain in place until the permanent restoration of the Pier hammerhead begins.
Insurance proceeds were received in the amount of $3,377,182, and staff recognizes that this amount exceeds the $428,982 proposed in this report. Appropriating the full amount now will make the funds available for the remaining pier restoration work as it is scoped and scheduled without the need for a separate budget action at the time. Future construction contracts funded from this balance will be brought to City Council for approval in accordance with the City’s purchasing policies.
FISCAL IMPACT
Construction costs for the proposed Project, including staff time, inspections, and project contingency, are estimated to be $428,982. A contingency of $100,000 is requested to address potential site conditions that might require field change orders, avoiding schedule delays and ensuring the project is completed prior to the upcoming winter storm season. So far, the City has received $4,709,432 of insurance proceeds to date from the City’s insurance pool, Public Risk Innovation, Solutions and Management (PRISM). Of those insurance advances, staff requests to appropriate revenue in the amount of $3,377,182 to account 907194624501.4501 and $3,377,182 for project expenditures to account 907194624501.5703.10600. The insurance advances make up the available funds that will be used to complete the proposed project as shown in the table below. Therefore, sufficient funding is available for the proposed project.
|
DESCRIPTION |
AMOUNT |
Account Number |
Available Balance After Appropriation |
|
PWA with Jilk |
$ 273,982 |
Pier Fire Recovery 907194624501.5703.10600 |
$3,464,182 |
|
Contingency |
$ 100,000 |
|
|
|
Project Management |
$ 25,000 |
|
|
|
Inspections |
$ 30,000 |
|
|
|
Total Costs |
$ 428,982 |
|
|
|
Description |
Appropriate |
Account Number |
|
Revenue |
$3,377,182 |
907194624501.4501 |
|
Expense |
$3,377,182 |
907194624501.5703.10600 |
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The referenced documents have been reviewed by the City Attorney and approved as to form.
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Prepared by: Luis Cardenas, Associate Engineer
Reviewed by: Lillian Doherty, Development Services Director
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Bid Tabulation Sheet