Newport Beach tables sea level rise assessment discussion

What Happened: Newport Beach City Council’s planned discussion on professional services for sea level rise assessment was postponed indefinitely at the request of city staff.

A contract with Moffatt and Nichol to conduct a sea level rise assessment on Newport Beach’s public trust lands was on the City Council’s March 13 agenda; state law requires such an assessment. The assessment must be submitted to the State Lands Commission and, according to city staff, include “potential impacts to existing structures and future development.”

Assessments must be submitted by July 1, 2019.

Nearly 1,049 acres of Newport Beach’s Lower Bay would be subject to the required assessment, according to a city staff report.

Moffatt and Nichol, if hired, would assess the effects of sea level rise on Newport Beach’s public tidelands and create maps to show areas affected by rising tides in 2030, 2050 and 2100.

The assessment must also include estimated financial costs associated with sea level rise and a description of now natural and manmade resources would be protected and preserved.

Newport Beach city staff stated the professional services agreement, if approved, with Moffatt and Nichol would cost $134,420.09.

Moffatt and Nichol was one of five vendors to submit a bid for its sea level rise assessment services.

American Geotechnical ($42,450.00), ESA ($98,530.00), Everest International ($179,980.00) and CallisonRTKL ($275,000.00) also submitted bids.

The Moffatt & Nichol bid was for $119,804.00; the $134,420.09 estimate included a 10 percent contingency and a 0.02 percent fee for administration, noticing and travel expenses.

 

What’s On Tap: City staff requested the council’s consideration of the Moffatt and Nichol agreement be tabled indefinitely.

“Staff would like time to work with the consultant(s) further to refine the scope of work so that a reasonable cost may be considered by the City Council in the future,” city staff stated in its request to council members.

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