The council on Oct. 26 unanimously approved a contract with GHD Inc. to assess the Seal Beach Pier. The maximum cost: $198,000. That includes additional work requests up to $18,000. The council also authorized the city manager to execute the agreement.
This was a Consent Calendar item. The council doesn’t talk about consent items unless a council member pulls one individual discussion. This item was not pulled and was not discussed.
Background
The Seal Beach Pier was last assessed in 2015, according to the staff report prepared by Kathryne Cho, deputy director of Public Works/city engineer.
“Given the age of the assessment and the ongoing maintenance needs of the pier, an updated comprehensive structural assessment is warranted,” Cho wrote.
“The City is seeking a qualified consultant to evaluate the current condition of the pier and identify structural deficiencies. The consultant will provide the labor, materials, equipment, supervision, and related services necessary to complete the assessment and prepare cost estimates for a phased maintenance plan and Capital Improvement Plan,” Cho wrote.
“As part of the assessment, the consultant will prioritize projects based on condition and risk, identify strategies to address the City’s deferred maintenance needs, and provide project descriptions and cost information to support future capital planning and budgeting,” Cho wrote.
The consultant will also recommend a baseline of the pier’s condition, according to Cho’s report. This will help with long-term planning and help monitor the pier’s condition, according to the report.
“Recent large swells associated with Hurricane Marie resulted in the loss of cross braces at two (2) known locations along the side of the pier. Because this damage has already been confirmed, additional assessments, beyond those conducted during a standard inspection, are necessary to determine whether further impacts occurred as a result of the storm,” Cho wrote.
“With significant weather and ocean conditions anticipated during the forecasted strong El Niño season, an updated assessment will provide the City with critical information about the pier’s current condition and vulnerabilities. This assessment will help identify priority repairs and maintenance needs and support the City’s planning for future weather events and their potential impacts on the pier,” Cho wrote.
According to the report, Seal Beach is completing a separate structural assessment of the concrete part of the pier. The proposed assessment would focus on the wooden part of the pier above and below the water.
“On August 19, 2026, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Pier Structural Assessment services, with one (1) official addendum subsequently issued. On September 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., the City Clerk received two (2) responsive proposals for evaluation,” Cho wrote.
According to the report, the firms that submitted proposals were evaluated based on their qualifications instead of on the cost.
“Proposals were reviewed based on each firm’s overall qualifications, relevant experience, availability, familiarity with the City’s policies and facility needs assessments, and understanding of and approach to successfully delivering the Project. Following negotiations, GHD submitted a revised scope of work on October 2, 2026, along with an updated fee schedule that better aligns with the City’s needs and expectations,” Cho wrote.
For more information about the pier, see “Seal Beach Pier: A history of comebacks” at sunnews.org/