CC SR 20260303 I - Crenshaw North of Crest Emergency Contract
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 03/03/2026
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider declaring an emergency for a deteriorating storm drain and associated
replacement on the northbound direction of Crenshaw Boulevard approximately 830-feet
north of Crest Road.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Adopt Resolution No. 2026-___ “A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING AND DECLARING, BY A
FOUR-FIFTHS VOTE OF THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL, THAT AN EMERGENCY
EXISTS WHICH WILL NOT PERMIT THE COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION OF
BIDS TO REPAIR A STORM DRAIN LOCATED ON CRENSHAW BOULEVARD
APPROXIMATELY 830-FEET NORTH OF CREST ROAD, AND AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO AWARD A CONTRACT TO REPAIR AND REMEDIATE
THE SAME”; and,
(2) Approve a budget reallocation of $450,000 in the CIP Fund from Fiscal Year 2025-
26 Capital Improvement Program - Storm Drain Improvements at Montemalaga
Canyon (Project 8726) to Storm Drain Asset Management Program & Master Plan
Update (Project 8701); and
(3) Authorize the City Manager to execute any emergency agreements to conduct the
repairs and associated work in a form approved by the City Attorney for ratification
by the City Council at a future meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT: The recommended actions will result in a fiscal impact of up to
$450,000 for construction and associate professional services costs
such as construction management and inspection. The approved
Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
budget includes $1,000,000 in the Stormwater Asset Management
Program. That funding amount planned for a City-wide condition
assessment of the storm sewer system and some emergency
repairs; however, the emergency repair funding has now been
consumed by another emergency storm drain repair (Hawthorne
Boulevard at Indian Valley sinkhole).
Therefore, additional funding is required to cover the emergency
repair of the requested Crenshaw Boulevard storm drain. Staff
recommend transferring $450,000 of the $695,000 program for the
Storm Drain Improvements at Montemalaga Canyon (CIP Project
8726) in the FY 2025-26 CIP since that project will not start
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construction June 30, 2026. Staff will propose CIP Project 8726 for
construction funding for the City Council’s consideration as part of
the FY 2026-27 CIP process. In the interim, Staff will install protective
measures in advance of any storm and since CIP Project 8726 is not
under traffic conditions, it is more suitable for interim protective
measures. VR
Amount Budgeted: $1,000,000 – CIP 8701
Additional Appropriation: Budget transfer required, see below
Account Number(s): Transfer from:
330-400-8726-8802 $450,000
Transfer to:
330-400-8701-8XXX $450,000
(CIP Fund– Storm Drain Asset Mgmt Program & Master Plan Updated & Storm
Drain Improvements at Montemalaga Canyon) VR
ORIGINATED BY: Brandon Mesker, Associate Engineer
REVIEWED BY: Deanna Fraley, PE, Principal Engineer
Ramzi Awwad, Public Works Director
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Resolution No. 2026-___ (forthcoming as late correspondence)
BACKGROUND:
In January 2025, a resident reported concerns that a location on the northbound lane of
Crenshaw Boulevard approximately 830 feet north of Crest Road appeared to be sinking.
Shortly thereafter, Staff conducted a camera inspection of the existing storm drain system
beneath the reported location. The camera inspection revealed that the existing metal
pipe was rusted out along the flowline and required replacement; however, there was no
indication at that time that the pipe was collapsing or the roadway was subsiding. Staff
began the process of preparing engineered plans and specifications through a consultant
engineer to obtain construction bids for replacement of the pipe.
In August 2025, as part of a routine inspection, Staff observed separation of a portion of
the curb and gutter located above the storm drain line. As a precautionary measure, the
City installed steel plates across Crenshaw Boulevard while engineering and bidding of
the replacement project was in progress.
After observing the expansion of a sinkhole on Hawthorne Boulevard at Indian Valley
Road shortly after recent rainstorms, Staff immediately obtained an additional camera
inspection of the Crenshaw Boulevard storm drain to be sure that the condition there was
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not also worsening due to the recent rainstorms which revealed further deterioration of
the storm drain warranting an immediate response
DISCUSSION:
The new camera inspection results identified separation and settlement of a portion of the
metal storm pipe near the median, indicating further deterioration of the system and the
possibility of a sinkhole forming as shown in Figure 1 below. Although regular inspections
are continuing and a lane closure will be implemented if warranted, Staff recommend that
the City Council authorize immediate action to replace the storm drain pipe as quickly as
possible by authorizing the City Manager to approve agreements, under a declared
emergency, for ratification by the City Council at future meeting.
Figure 1 – January 2025 and February 2026 CCTV Results
Chapter 2.42 of Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC) and California Public
Contract Code Sections 22002 and 22032(c) require that replacement of the storm drain
go through a formal bidding procedure, because the cost is estimated to exceed a
threshold of $220,000. However, Chapter 2.42.060 – Exceptions to Competitive Bid
Requirement provides that, in the event of an emergency requiring immediate repairs to
a public facility in order to restore continued safe roadway operations or municipal
services, or to avoid danger to life or property, the City may proceed to replace or repair
the facility in accordance with the provisions of Public Contract Code § 22035 or any
successor statute thereto.
The foregoing roadway conditions constitutes an emergency within the meaning of Public
Contracts Code §1102, because the roadway conditions have deteriorated to the point
the same constitute a sudden, unexpected occurrence that poses a clear and imminent
danger, requiring immediate action to prevent or mitigate the loss or impairment of life,
health, property, or essential public services which may be addressed by the City Council
as discussed below. Public Contracts Code §22050 authorizes, in the case of an
emergency, the City Council to direct the repair or replacement of a public facility without
giving notice for bids. Before doing so, the City Council must make the finding, based on
substantial evidence set forth in the minutes of its meeting, that the emergency will not
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permit a delay resulting from a competitive solicitation for bids, and that action is
necessary to respond to the emergency.
Following such finding, by a four-fifths vote, the City Council may delegate, by resolution,
authority to the City Manager, or a designee, to order such actions and to enter into such
contracts as are necessary to address and remediate the emergency. The City Manager,
or designee, shall report to the City Council at its next meeting the reason justifying why
the emergency continues to exist and why action, outside of the normal bid ding process
is necessary to respond to the emergency. The City Council must, at every regularly
scheduled meeting, thereafter, reaffirm by four-fifths vote, there is a need to continue to
remediate the emergency and until the action(s) taken to do so has been completed.
Declaring an emergency allows staff to work with construction contractors to refine the
repair scope and expedite quote solicitation, compared to the traditional bidding process,
which requires the development of much more detailed plans and specifications along
with a lengthy bidding timeline. Declaring an emergency also allows repairs to begin
several months earlier than the traditional bidding process.
Considering that development of the engineered plans and specifications was already
nearly complete, Staff will use those plans and specifications to obtain expedited quotes
from qualified contractors. Staff will reach out to three contractors to help ensure the City
obtains fair and reasonable prices and will prioritize availability to respond as quickly as
possible.
As a result of declaring an emergency tonight, Staff will provide a progress report to the
City Council at each regularly scheduled meeting, as a Consent Calendar Item, until the
emergency project is complete and a notice of completion is brought to the City Council
for approval. Staff anticipate construction can be completed on this project within
approximately three months, barring unforeseen circumstances.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommend the City Council adopt the attached resolution (Attachment A) declaring
an emergency, approve a reappropriation of $450,000 from Fiscal Year 2025-26 Capital
Improvement Program Project 8726 – Storm Drain Improvements at Montemalaga
Canyon to Project 8701 – Storm Drain Asset Management Program & Master Plan
Update, and authorize the City Manager to approve any necessary agreement under the
declared emergency for ratification by the City Council at a future meeting.
ALTERNATIVES:
In addition to Staff recommendation, the following alternative action is available for the
City Council’s consideration:
1. Take other action or provide direction, as deemed appropriate.
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