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Council approves $50,000 transfer and $350,000 contingency for Poplar Street safety project
Summary
The Half Moon Bay City Council authorized a $50,000 transfer from streets-and-roads funds and approved an additional $350,000 contingency to complete Poplar Street traffic-calming and safety work, while directing staff to return with options before executing an $89,000 change order for work adjacent to Highway 1.
Half Moon Bay City Council on Feb. 18 approved a budget amendment that transfers $50,000 from the city’s streets-and-roads fund to the Poplar Street capital project (CIP 0593) and authorizes $350,000 in additional contingency, increasing the project construction budget to about $2.013 million.
The move, made during discussion of Item 3C, follows construction of sidewalks, curb ramps, decomposed-granite pathways and bioretention stormwater features on Poplar Street. City public works staff said the work encountered unforeseen conditions — including variable locations and depths of a PG&E gas main, unsuitable pavement base in places that required full depth reclamation, and additional striping and accessibility fixes near the Highway 1 intersection.
City public works project manager Mazbazir Guggenia and Assistant Engineer Jonathan Mu told council the project’s contractor requested change orders to address unsuitable base material and to replace traffic-loop detection and pavement at the Highway 1 tie-in. The larger of the unplanned items was a change-order request related to full-depth reclamation (estimated about $170,000) that received a contractor credit of about $52,000, and a separate $89,000 estimate to address loops and pavement at the Highway 1 connection. Staff said omitting that $89,000 piece would allow Caltrans’ planned SHOP pavement work to eventually make a permanent tie-in, but Caltrans timing remains uncertain.
Council members debated whether the city should complete the Highway 1 tie-in now or do smaller temporary fixes until Caltrans clarifies its schedule. Council directed staff to proceed with the $50,000 transfer and the $350,000 contingency — a package the city attorney’s office finalized in a resolution — but to return with specific options and estimated costs before spending on the Highway 1 loops or on major changes to the gravel/planter configuration along Poplar.
Council voted on the resolution by roll call: Council Member Nagangest — yes; Council Member Johnson — yes; Vice Mayor Rudnick — yes; Mayor Brownstone — yes. The motion was approved.
Staff and several council members also asked to study whether smaller, temporary repairs could address driveway and drainage “conform” issues immediately, then revisit any larger curb/planter or gravel-street design changes (which may require an amendment to the project’s coastal development permit) if and when Caltrans confirms its scope and timing.
The city will return to council with refined cost estimates and recommended scope before authorizing the specific change order for the Highway 1 tie-in or any CDP amendment. The project budget will be closed out after those items are resolved and remaining contingency reconciled.
