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Pacifica continues local emergency for damaged municipal pier; city cites roughly $64 million initial repair estimate
Summary
The City Council voted unanimously to continue a local emergency for the Pacifica Municipal Pier after a staff update said temporary stabilization is underway, roughly 300 boulders (about 900,000 lb) were placed, and an initial damage estimate submitted to the state is about $64 million, including $3 million for emergency repairs.
The Pacifica City Council unanimously voted to continue a local emergency for the Pacifica Municipal Pier after a city manager update on damage and stabilization work.
City Manager Sharpentier told the council the city’s priority has been stabilizing the abutment and the first span. "For the last 10 days, we've been working on temporarily stabilizing the damage to the abutment by placing about 300 large boulders, approximately 900,000 lb of support," Sharpentier said. Staff said they are also analyzing options to brace the first span from below with new piles but that constructability is challenging because of tidal conditions and distance from shore.
Sharpentier said the city has requested a governor’s proclamation of emergency and is asking for state technical and financial assistance. The city submitted an initial damage estimate (IDE) to the state of about $64 million, he said, which includes roughly $3 million for emergency repairs and "another 60 plus million to bring the pier back to its original uses." He added the larger figure draws in part from a 2023 estimate of approximately $20 million that predated the latest damage.
Council members pressed staff on timing for the engineering evaluation by GHD. Sharpentier said staff hopes to have the report "within the next couple of weeks" but emphasized they will not divert resources from temporary stabilization while in emergency mode.
Roland Yip, deputy director of public works and city engineer, described the boulders used in stabilization work. "They range up to like 3 to 4 tons," Yip said, and the larger stones "hold pretty well," although smaller stones can shift in strong surf.
Public commenters urged the council to consider environmental protections and community amenities as recovery proceeds. Ron Meckle urged protecting marine life that colonizes pier columns and suggested informational kiosks and spotting scopes. Resident Kimberly Finales pressed staff for a concrete plan for the span that appears most at risk, citing concerns about a predicted El Niño and temporary sea-level impacts.
Sharpentier said the county has moved on a parallel track: San Mateo County Executive Mike Callagy declared a county state of emergency for the pier damage on June 18, and staff said the Board of Supervisors was being asked to ratify that declaration on June 23.
After discussion the council approved a motion to continue the local emergency; Vice Mayor Wright moved, Councilmember Beckmeyer seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
Next steps the city identified include finishing the GHD engineering evaluation, continuing temporary stabilization, coordinating with CalOES and state staff on the IDE review, and pursuing state proclamation and assistance. Staff also said they will update the pier webpage and the City Manager’s newsletter with new information for residents.
The council did not provide a timetable for full restoration; city staff described the IDE as preliminary and said cost estimates will be refined as more information becomes available.
