City officials conducted a public workshop on April 1 at Liberty Station Conference Center to share information – and receive public input – on the Ocean Beach Pier Renewal project.

Mayor Todd Gloria said the purpose of this initial OB Pier workshop and others to follow is to “find out what people love the most about the pier whether it be fishing, the views, the cafe, etc.”

Pressed before the workshop on what an actual dollar estimate for replacing OB Pier might be, Gloria replied: “Our preliminary reviews are talking about a project that would be north of $40 million, and could be as much as $100 million.”

“We’re looking to solicit opinion and get input – positive, negative or otherwise,” said Matthew Martinez, a port engineer with consultants Moffatt & Nichol, which issued a 2018 report evaluating repair, rehabilitation, and replacement options for OB Pier. Martinez added: “The City has considered the evidence and the replacement is the most likely (option). These structures are never intended to last forever. So you get into an increasing scenario of very expensive repairs to keep it open. At some point, it makes more sense to cut bait and go fish.”

Martinez pointed out that the design for an OB Pier replacement could be done in two years while adding that construction “if it goes down that road will be into 2028.” He said a prospective timeline for pier replacement is available at obpierrenewal.com.

“The Ocean Beach Pier is a local treasure as well as a national and international treasure that is visited by over half a million people a year,” said District 2 Councilmember Jennifer Campbell. She added, “It’s important that you make your voices heard and share your visions for the future of the pier.”

“Ultimately, no one conceives of a world where there isn’t an OB Pier,” noted Gloria. “We want to make sure that what we construct or repair with the OB Pier is something that people will love for another 60-plus years. I hope that we can bring people from around the City to work together on a shared solution that is implementable as soon as possible.”

The mayor expressed hope that the City and the public can reach a consensus on a new pier design “that accomplishes X, Y, and Z. This is where we want to start the conversation.”

The City anticipates a lengthy public engagement process because of OB Pier’s iconic status. “It’s an important part of our Southern California lifestyle,” said Gloria adding, “Bottom line, we’re hoping to start the process for getting consensus so that we can go to federal and state funders and other folks to get the actual money necessary to execute the project.”

Gloria pointed out that repairs necessary to keep the OB Pier operational have become habitual in recent years following winter storms necessitating “shutting the pier, for weeks or months at a time, to provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs.” He added, “That kind of budgeting approach is not sustainable and a wise use of taxpayer dollars.”

Asked to estimate how long, and what the cost might be, in replacing OB Pier, Gloria responded: “Unclear. We are sincere in asking for the public’s input on what they want to see for OB Pier. This is a multi-year process: It’s not going to be tomorrow. I think the goal ought to be that a future generation of San Diegans looks back and thanks us for the work that we did here today.”

OCEAN BEACH PIER

Opened in 1966, Ocean Beach Pier debuted as a sport fishing pier with no fee for accessing it and no fishing licenses required. During its first 25 years, the pier received normal ongoing maintenance required by exposure to the harsh marine environment of wind, waves, and salt. In 1991, the pier underwent major structural rehabilitation.

Since the early 2000s, exposure to large waves and ongoing degradation has required structural pier repairs with increasing frequency. The pier is currently closed to the public after being damaged by storms and high surf in January, which has happened several times. The City will assess the full extent of the damage, once the storm season has passed, then decide the potential for repairing and reopening the pier.

Based on the findings of a 2018 study of the OB Pier, the City has determined that pursuing a potential replacement of the pier is the best option, all things considered. Consultant Moffatt & Nichol documented various structural problems with the pier, determining that it has reached the end of its service life.

The City is now working with Moffatt & Nichol to design the preferred alternative for the potential replacement of the pier. The City will host a series of upcoming community workshops, which began April 1, to share information about the project and gather input from community members.

A 12-member task force was created to represent the community’s interest in the project. Members include Corey Bruins, president OBTC; Denny Knox, OBMA executive director; Andrea Schlageter, chair OBPB; community member Stuart Seymour; engineer Ralph Teyssier; community member Mark Winkie; Nicole Ueno, OB Community Corp. Planning Board; James Nagelvoort, director and City engineer, Strategic, Capital Projects; Elizabeth Schroth-Nichols, deputy City engineer; Delfa Genova, City associate civil engineer & project manager; Kohta Zaiser, City deputy director of community engagement; and Manuel Reyes, city council representative from District 2.

Photo by Jim Grant