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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2001 0606 CC REG ITEM 10FMOORPARK CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT To: Honorable City Council ITEM /0 -F# . City Council, From: Michael Mathews, Senior Management Analyst A416vt Date: May 29, 2001 (CC Meeting of 6 -6 -2001) SUBJECT: CONSIDER RESOLUTION NO. 2001- REVISING THE AMOUNT OF THE APPROPRIATION AND BUDGET FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE [GAS TAX FUND 2605, DIVISION 1810, OBJECT 92531 TO INSTALL BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEMS AND LED CONVERSION (PHASE 3, AMBER) AT CITY - MAINTAINED TRAFFIC SIGNALS. DISCUSSION A. Battery Back -up 1. Background: When traffic signals lose power, the California Vehicle Code dictates that drivers must act as if the intersection is a four -way stop. Unfortunately, reports from recent power outages indicate that some drivers are not stopping. According to the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority, the City of Moorpark is not liable for accidents resulting from loss of power to a traffic signal. However, there are battery - powered devices that will provide power for a short period until electricity is restored. 2. City Signals: The City of Moorpark maintains fifteen (15) signals. Because the City recently installed light emitting diodes (LED) in signal fixtures and pedestrian heads, their low energy consumption means that battery backup systems can be installed to provide up to eight (8) hours of electricity to an intersection. Staf ELeports/SignalBatteries.doe _1 ?�f^ " Signal Batteries June 6, 2001 Page 2 3. Caltrans Signals: Caltrans maintains fourteen (14) signalized intersections along State Highways 118 and 23. They have discussed the possibility of putting battery backup units at Science Drive /L. A. Avenue, Spring Road /L. A. Avenue, Moorpark Avenue /L. A. Avenue, and Tierra Rejada Road /L. A. Avenue. Their testing lab is evaluating the technology over the course of a year. It is possible that City funding may expedite installation. If directed by the City Council, it would be the intent to pursue the possibility of a City - funded project (via permit) to install such systems at all 14 Caltrans signals within the City. If such efforts are successful, staff will return to the City Council with a request for additional funding for that effort. 4. Battery Operation: When battery backup systems are called into service, they can operate in either flashing -red or full service mode. The full service mode will provide service that is identical to normal operation. 5. Installation Costs: Estimates indicate that fully installed battery backup systems cost $4,000 to $6,000 per intersection. Since batteries have a two - year warranty, maintenance costs will be minimal for several years. Industry standards indicate that the batteries should all be replaced at the end of five years at an estimated cost of $900 per battery set. 6. Maintenance Costs: It is anticipated that the batteries will have to be replaced on a five -year cycle. Those added costs, plus the added cost to routine maintenance, is expected to be approximately $300 per signal per year [$4,500 per year]. StatiReports/SignalBatteries. doe Signal Batteries June 6, 2001 Page 3 B. Amber Light Conversion 1. LED - Phase 1 (City Signals): The City recently completed a grant- funded project for the replacement of all of the red, green, and pedestrian signal lights with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights. 2. LED - Phase 2 (Caltrans Signals): The City also recently completed another grant- funded project to procure LED lights for all of the Caltrans signals in the City. That grant provided for the purchase of Red, Green and Pedestrian LED lights for all of the Caltrans -owned traffic signals in the City. Caltrans took delivery of the LED lights and installed them with their forces. 3. Cost Pay -Back: The amber lights do not stay on as long as the other lights, and thus do not use as much energy. This decreased power usage means results in a lower energy cost savings resulting from LED conversion of the amber lights. For this reason the two above mentioned projects did not include the replacement of the amber lights. 4. Energy Conservation: Even though the amortization period for amber lights is longer (approximately forty -six [46] years) the use of LED amber lights will save energy. S. Power Spike: The use of an incandescent amber light in conjunction with LED lights for all other functions causes a "spike in power consumption [wattage] each time the amber light is activated. There have been reports that this power "spike" has caused operational problems with some traffic signal controllers. StafiReports/SignalBatteries.doc 30174 Signal Batteries June 6, 2001 Page 4 6. Caltrans Conversion of Amber Lights: For the above and possible other reasons, Caltrans opted to change out, at their cost, all of the amber lights to LED when they changed -out all of the signal lights in the City. 7. Conclusion: For the above reasons, it is recommended that all for the amber lights on City -owned traffic signals be changed to LED lights. C. Cost Summary Providing battery backup systems to all city- maintained intersections will require a budget amendment in the amount of $90,000 from the Gas Tax Fund. Conversion of the amber light to LED will require an additional $30,000. It is not recommended at this time that the City Council fund a City project to modify the Caltrans -owned traffic signals to battery back -up systems. If it is determined that such funding will expedite such installations, staff will bring to the City Council a separate request for such funding. A re -cap of the cost of the requested project is as follows: ❑ $ 90,000 Battery backup (City signals) ❑ $ 30,000 Amber lights (City signals) ❑ $120,000 Total Cost STAFF RECOMMENDATION (ROLL CALL VOTE) 1. Adopt Resolution No. 2001- 2. Direct staff to pursue efforts to expedite battery backup units for all Caltrans signals in the City. Attachments: Resolution No. 2001 - Sta.ffReports/SignalBatteries. doc 0 0: 17 RESOLUTION NO. 2001 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, REVISING THE AMOUNT OF THE APPROPRIATION AND BUDGET FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL MAINTENANCE [GAS TAX FUND 2605, DIVISION # 8310, OBJECT # 92531 TO INSTALL BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEMS WHEREAS, on June 21, 2000, the City Council adopted the Budget for Fiscal Year 2000/01; and WHEREAS, a staff report has been presented to the City Council requesting a budget increase in the aggregate amount of $120,000; and WHEREAS, Exhibit `A', attached hereto and made a part hereof, describes said Budget amendment and its resultant impacts to the budget line item(s). NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. That a Budget amendment in the aggregate increase of $120,000 as more particularly described in attached Exhibit A, is hereby approved. SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution and shall cause a certified resolution to be filed in the book of original resolutions. PASSED AND ADOPTED this day of , 2001. ATTEST: Patrick Hunter, Mayor Deborah S. Traffenstedt, City Clerk Attachment: Exhibit `A': Appropriation and Budget Detail 176 Resolution No. 2001 - Exhibit `A' BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL BATTERY BACKUP AND AMBER SIGNAL LIGHTS Transfer from Gas Tax RPRPriTP FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER APPROPRIATION REQUEST 2605.0000.0000.5500 Gas Tax Fund Reserve $120,000 Budaet Annronriatinn ACCOUNT NUMBER CURRENT APPROPRIATION SUBJECT APPROPRIATION REVISED APPROPRIATION 2605.8310.0000.9253 $159,135 $120,000 $279,135 Approved as to form: 01,501` '