CITY OF SAN CLEMENTE - File #: 26-145

Date	Action By	Action	Result	Action Details	Meeting Details	Video
8/4/2026	City Council			Not available	Meeting details	Video

Submitted By: Public Works

Prepared By: Belgin Cuhadaroglu, P.E, Senior Civil Engineer

Subject:

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CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT TO ASAD HOLDINGS, LLC DBA ORANGEBLUE GENERAL CONTRACTORS FOR THE VICTORIA SIDEWALK STABILIZATION AND SAFETY MAINTENANCE PROJECT NO. 17355, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $169,644, AND FINDING THE PROJECT CATEGORICALLY EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT

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Summary:

The City Council is being asked to consider adoption of a Resolution (Attachment 1) awarding a construction contract to Asad Holdings, LLC dba OrangeBlue General Contractors (OrangeBlue General Contractors), in an amount not to exceed $169,644 (Attachment 2) for the Victoria Sidewalk Stabilization and Safety Maintenance Project No. 17355, located on Avenida Victoria in front of the Pier (Attachment 3). The maintenance project will expand the existing sidewalk by an additional six to eight feet at the San Clemente Pier Trolley Stop on Avenida Victoria enhancing pedestrian safety and sidewalk use for Trolley patrons, while stabilizing the existing sidewalk.

Existing Sidewalk Proposed Improvements

Background:

City staff presented the Victoria Sidewalk Stabilization and Safety Maintenance Project to the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission (Commission) on June 23, 2026, seeking comments and recommendations on the conceptual design. The Commission made a motion after discussing the project to refer the item back to the Design Review Subcommittee (DRSC) for further review, with a focus on landscaping and shade improvements. Previous renditions of the project were reviewed by DRSC and the minutes indicate they requested an additional review of the final project design. However, the Beaches, Parks and Recreation Commission lacks the authority to refer matters to DRSC. Therefore, City staff seeks direction on whether to refer the scaled back maintenance project to the DRSC prior to the award of a construction contract by the City Council.

The objective of the Victoria Sidewalk Stabilization and Safety Maintenance Project is to alleviate congestion at the heavily visited San Clemente Pier Trolley Stop along Avenida Victoria. During peak visitor periods, the existing sidewalk becomes congested, forcing pedestrians to navigate around Trolley patrons or walk in the road. In order to alleviate the congestion, and to stabilize the existing sidewalk and the slope, staff has created a maintenance project to widen the sidewalk by six to eight feet over an approximately 50-foot-long sloped planter area immediately west of the trolley stop and to install a retaining wall.

The project consists of widening the sidewalk with matching tiles, site grading, installation of a railing, a new tile mural, irrigation, and landscaping. The existing large Coral Tree at the site may remain if that is the City Council's desire. The existing walkways, stairs, curbs, paving, a decorative light pole, and handrails will be protected in place during construction. It is also the project's intent to minimize the impact on the community by maintaining public access to the tunnel via one of the side staircases and temporarily closing only one lane of Avenida Victoria for use by construction equipment.

Depending on the extent of excavation required, some existing improvements or utilities may need to be adjusted or relocated, and these are included in the design work. Those improvements include a restaurant advertising sign supported by multiple timber poles, an underground electrical utility line with a pull box located near the base of the light pole, along with mature plants and an irrigation system.

Along with the sidewalk widening, structural repairs to the underpass will be completed in two phases. The first phase (which is the current proposed project award) involves the sidewalk project and repairs to the tunnel wing walls. The second phase will focus on repairs to the tunnel near the railroad grade. The second phase will require permits from and coordination with the railroad due to the proximity to the tracks.

Upon completion of a bid package for the improvements, staff notified local contractors and advertised the project for competitive bidding on the PlanetBids website and in the SC Times. Eight bids were received on April 9, 2026, ranging from $169,644 to $617,000. Bids are tabulated in Table 1, Bid Summary below:

Table 1. Bid Summary

Company Name	Company Location	Base Bid Amount
OrangeBlue General Contractors	Laguna Hills, CA	$169,644
Premo Construction Inc	Irvine, CA	$198,600
GQ Builders, Inc.	Rancho Santa Fe, CA	$203,880
Prestige Prime Engineering	El Cajon, CA	$208,725
Oppenheimer National	San Juan Capistrano, CA	$212,000
Wright Construction Engineering Corp	San Marcos, CA	$259,000
GCI Construction, inc.	San Clemente, CA	$528,000
HZS Engineering Inc.	Orange, CA	$617,000

Based on the lowest bid from OrangeBlue General Contractors and other construction costs, the total estimated construction cost is summarized in Table 2 below.

Table 2. Cost Summary

Project Management	$ 10,000
Construction Management and Inspection	$ 40,000
Construction	$169,644
Estimated Total Construction Cost	$219,644

As required by state law and City policy, the selected contractor must provide performance and payment bonds simultaneously with the execution of the construction contract. Project plans and specifications are on file in the City Clerk’s office.

Considerations Identified by Staff:

The area is quite limited and is heavily utilized by beach visitors, trolley users, and vehicular traffic. The existing sidewalk near the trolley stop becomes congested during peak visitor periods often forcing pedestrians into the adjacent traffic lane and creating safety hazards. The proposed maintenance improvements will address these deficiencies and enhance safety conditions in the area.

Council Options:

• Direct staff to present the maintenance project to the DRSC for review and recommendations or proceed with the project as proposed.

• Adopt Resolution No. 26-128 (Attachment 1), awarding the contract for the project to OrangeBlue General Contractors as the lowest responsible bidder submitting a responsive bid, and finding the project categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Sections 15301 and 15303 of the state CEQA Guidelines, Class 1 and Class 3, respectively, and authorizing the City Manager to execute a construction contract in an amount not to exceed $169,644.

• Modify and adopt Resolution No. 26-128 for the Victoria Sidewalk Stabilization and Safety Maintenance Project.

• Continue the item and direct staff to provide additional information.

• Do not adopt Resolution No. 26-128 and put the project on hold.

Environmental Review/Analysis:

This project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Class 1 and Class 3 of the State CEQA Guidelines, Sections 15301 and 15303, respectively - Existing Facilities and New Construction or Conversion.

Fiscal Impact:

The estimated total construction cost of $219,644 is within the approved project budget of $450,000, which includes $410,000 from Account No. 011-864-45300-000-17355, Victoria Sidewalk Stabilization and Safety Maintenance Project, Gas Tax RMRA Fund. In addition, the Pier Pride Foundation will contribute up to 25 percent of the actual construction cost, with a minimum contribution of $40,000.

Potential Action(s):

recommendation

If the City Council concurs with the contents of the staff report, appropriate actions include:

1. Provision of direction to present the project to the DRSC for review and recommendations or proceed with the project as designed.

2. Adoption of Resolution 26-128 and find the Victoria Sidewalk Stabilization and Safety Maintenance Project No. 17355, categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Sections 15301 and 15303 of the state CEQA Guidelines, Class 1 and Class 3, respectively (existing facilities and new construction or conversion);

3. Award the Victoria Sidewalk Stabilization and Safety Maintenance Project No. 17355 construction contract to OrangeBlue General Contractors, as the lowest responsible and responsive bidder; and

4. Authorize the City Manager to execute a construction contract with OrangeBlue General Contractors in an amount not to exceed $169,644, in a form substantially similar to Contract No. 26-48.

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Attachment:

1. Resolution No. 26-128

2. Construction Contract with OrangeBlue General Contractors (without attachments; attachments on file with the City Engineer)

3. Location Map

Notification:

All Bidders.

Legislation Details