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Update 11/1/2024:
Another major milestone on the Fishing Pier Renovation Project! With the award of the construction contract and final signatures completed in October, the Fishing Pier Renovation is about to start!
Construction will begin first week of November with the first items of work to include in-water works items of installing new sheet piles, replacement of three missing piles, removal of damaged cross bracing, and underwater work to repair numerous other damaged piles. Once the missing piles have been replaced, reconstruction of the decking, railings and lighting can commence.
Completion of the entire renovation is projected for Spring 2025. This ambitious schedule is dependent upon several factors and may change depending upon materials delivery, weather, and other variables.
Join us for a brief recognition of the project’s start with a Kick-Off event on Thursday, November 7th, at 12:15pm. There will be a succinct overview of the Project work, expected timeline, and remarks by City staff and the Mayor.
We look forward to sharing more project updates in the near future, and fishing with you in 2025!
Update 10/1/2024:
Great progress towards the Fishing Pier Renovation Project! At the September 18th Regular Council Meeting, a construction contract was awarded for the renovation work to DRS Marine Inc., the lowest responsive and responsible bidder out of 7 total bids for the project.
The planned renovations include structural work as well as completely new decking and railings, improved lighting, and amenities such as new benches, picnic tables, and receptacles. ADA-accessible tables and seating are also included in the renovated plan. The substructural support and reinforcement, as well as the work on the pier-attached breakwater component, should extend the lifespan of the pier by another 50 years. The renovation is funded mostly by a federal CFP grant awarded in 2023 for $2.5 million.
Efforts for this pier renovation started in 2019, culminating in a large win in 2023 when the City was awarded a $2.5 million federal CPF Grant, facilitated by Congressmen Thompson and Garamendi. This grant enables the City to plan for a long-lasting renovation that enriches the pier with significant enhancements for the community to enjoy.
Since the grant award in 2023, the City has been focusing on completing the necessary studies and permitting processes required in order for the grant monies to be released. Notably, a NEPA Environmental Review and Permit was required for grant monies to be released, and the permitting process typically takes a minimum of a year for submission and then approval.
The NEPA Environmental permitting and State agency reviews were completed in August 2024, allowing the City to solicit construction bids for the project. In effort to speed up the timeline for work to begin, the City has divided the construction and materials purchase into separate contracts.
With this contract now awarded, construction is tentatively anticipated to begin later this fall, with completion projected in Spring 2025. This ambitious schedule is dependent upon several factors and may change depending upon materials delivery, weather, and other variables.
We look forward to sharing more project updates in the near future, and fishing with you in 2025!
Update 8/16/2024:
The project is out for formal construction bids! The City received authorization from HUD to proceed with expenditures of grant funds for construction. The estimated construction cost is approximately $2.4 million. Bids are due 2 pm, Friday September 6, 2024, at which time City staff will publicly open and read the bids. Staff will evaluate the bid proposals and then recommend award of the construction contract to the contractor who submitted the lowest responsive and responsible bid. Award of the contract is planned for a special September Council meeting tentatively scheduled for September 11, 2024.
Since construction material needed for the in-water work has an approximate 4 to 6 week lead time, the bid documents note that this material (pile sleeves, and timber cross bracing) will be City-furnished. Staff, using the project specifications, is soliciting separate bids from materials suppliers, while the balance of the project will be bidding. This process may save 3 to 4 weeks in the overall delivery, since the City would be able to place the order as soon as the council approves the award of construction contract, whereas the contractor would not place the order until he has an executed contract and an approved material submittal. Below is a link to the contract bid documents.
Background: The Martinez Municipal Fishing Pier (“Pier”), was originally constructed in 1934, with various additions and sections rebuilt in 1976. The Pier and surrounding parkland comprise a popular regional recreation area used by thousands of residents and visitors each year. The Pier also hosts a monitoring station for the California Department of Water Resources.
Over the course of the following decades, the Pier has experienced natural degradation and elements of the existing Pier are reaching the end of their useful life. In September of 2021, the Pier was closed based on health and safety reasons related to structural deficiencies. Following the closure, the City completed temporary repairs and reopened a portion of the Pier; however, the Pier has continued to fall into disrepair and has since closed again. A larger renovation is needed to address the full scope of repairs to restore long-term and safe access to the Pier.
To cover the cost associated with renovation of the Pier, the City applied for and received a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) grant to ensure the Fishing Pier’s useful life is extended for at least the next 30 years. However, before work on repairs can be initiated and project funds be issued, the City is required to obtain the necessary permits from the appropriate environmental agencies and HUD. The City has been working diligently and since completed the requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) and secured all the necessary environmental permits.
As a subsequent action to fulfil HUD and National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”) requirements, the City is also required to complete further environmental review to ensure the project would not have a significant impact on the environment. Due to the project’s lack of environmental impacts, the City determined that the project is eligible for a “Categorical Exclusion”.
View the Environmental Review for City of Martinez Municipal Fishing Pier Renovation Project.