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Home My WebLink About09 BATTERY BACKUP 03-03-03AGENDA REPORT Agenda Item Reviewed: City Manager Finance Director 9 MEETING DATE: MARCH 3, 2003 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 03-35 AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A CALIFORNIA STATE ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION GRANT FOR BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEMS FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS SUMMARY Approval of Resolution No. 03-35, will authorize acceptance of a California State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission Grant in the amount of $41,650.00 for the installation of battery backup systems at seventeen signalized intersections within the City. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 03-35, to authorize acceptance of a California State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission Grant for Battery Backup Systems for Traffic Signals. FISCAL IMPACT The cost of materials to install battery backup systems at seventeen signalized locations is estimated to be $59,500.00. The subject grant provides for 70% of the cost of materials ($41,650.00) for these installations. The design costs, installation labor costs, taxes, and construction contingencies are estimated to cost an additional $73,000.00. The total cost for the project is estimated to be $132,500.00. It is anticipated that the remaining funds to complete the project ($90,850.00) will be appropriated at a later date from the City's Gas Tax Revenues. Installation of battery backup systems will require future maintenance costs. Maintenance costs include the replacement of batteries every three years at a current cost of $650.00 per location. Funds for maintenance will be included in the City's Traffic Signal Maintenance Operating Budget (402-6215). Energy costs of the battery backup systems are considered negligible, however, funds will be included in the City's Traffic Signal Energy Operating Budget (402-6225) for any increase in costs. Although the battery backup system project is not approved at this time, it will be presented for City Council consideration as part of the Fiscal Year 2003-04 Capital Improvement Program. Approval of Resolution No. 03-35 Authorizing the Acceptance of a California State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission Grant for Battery Backup Systems for Traffic Signals March 3, 2003 Page 2 BACKGROUND The passage of Senate Bill 84 in 2001 required the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission to develop and implement a matching grant program for cities and counties to install battery backup systems for light emitting diode (LED) traffic signals at priority intersections. The first round of applications for receiving grant funds for battery backup systems required that all indications (red, green, amber, and pedestrian indications) of traffic signals be LED. The City of Tustin had retrofitted all traffic signals within the City with red and green indications in June- July 2001. Therefore, the City could not comply with the ail-LED requirement without expending considerable funds to retrofit the remaining indications. The second round of applications required that only red indications be LED. The City applied under this round and received grant approval notification on January 22, 2003. The adoption of the subject resolution is a prerequisite for receiving award of the funds. The program further requires that the installation be completed by December 31, 2003. DISCUSSION The installation of battery backup systems at traffic signal locations will provide an uninterruptible power source to allow affected signals to operate in case of a power outage. Currently, when there is a power outage, the affected traffic signal will discontinue operation. This blacked out signal condition is covered in the California Vehicle Code, which requires all drivers to treat these signals as all-way stops. However, in reality many drivers do not know this law or simply choose to ignore the law. Typically, when traffic signals are blacked out, the Police Department and Public Works Department attempt to control traffic by placing barricades and stop signs at the affected locations, and in some instances Police Department personnel manually direct traffic. These measures take time to mobilize and divert Police Department and Public Works Department personnel from their primary responsibilities. With the installation of battery backup systems a traffic signal can be operated in flashing red operation for up to twelve hours. The system can also provide full cycle operation for up to six hours if all components of the traffic signal system are LED. This time period typically covers the duration of any planned power outages or rolling energy blackouts. When Senate Bill 84 was first introduced in June 2001, staff began investigating the feasibility of implementing a program to install battery backup systems at various high priority locations. Criteria for installation at certain locations included, traffic volumes, posted speed limits, number of lanes, accident history and roadway geometry. Based upon evaluation of the City's 97 traffic signal locations, the following locations were determined to be high priority locations to receive battery backup systems: Jamboree Road/Edinger Avenue, Jamboree Road/El Camino Real, Jamboree Road/West Drive, Jamboree Road/Bryan Avenue, Jamboree Road/Tustin Ranch Road, Jamboree Road/Irvine Boulevard, Tustin Ranch Road/Auto Center Drive, Tustin Ranch Road/El Camino Real, Tustin Ranch Road/Bryan Avenue, Tustin Ranch Road/Heritage Way, Approval of Resolution No. 03-35 Authorizing the Acceptance of a California State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission Grant for Battery Backup Systems for Traffic Signals March 3, 2003 Page 3 Tustin Ranch Road/Irvine Boulevard, Red Hill Avenue/Edinger Avenue, Red Hill Avenue/Service Road, Red Hill Avenue/Sycamore, Red Hill AvenueNValnut Avenue, Red Hill Avenue/Mitchell Avenue, and Seventeenth Street/Yorba Street South. Although a battery backup system project has not been approved at this time, it will be presented for City Council consideration as part of the Fiscal Year 2003-04 Capital Improvement Program. The recommended action at this time fulfills one component of the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission's requirements to receive funds to implement a City battery backup system for traffic signals. Director of Public Works/City Engineer Dana R. Kasdan Engineering Services Manager TDS:DRK:ccg:battery backup system.doc Attachment: Resolution No. 03-35 Location Exhibit 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO. 03-35 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF A CALIFORNIA STATE ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION GRANT FOR BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEMS FOR TRAFFIC SIGNALS WHEREAS, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 25403.8, the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission (Energy Commission) is authorized to provide grants to city and/or county governments for battery backup systems for traffic signals; and WHEREAS, in order to be eligible for funding, the battery backup systems must be used in conjunction with light emitting diode traffic signals; and WHEREAS, the City of Tustin has applied for funding from the California Energy Commission for battery backup systems with light emitting diode traffic signals. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that if recommended for funding by the California Energy Commission, the City Council of the City of Tustin authorizes the acceptance of a grant up to $41,650.00; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Tustin's Director of Public Works/City Engineer is hereby authorized and empowered to execute in the name of the City of Tustin all necessary documents to implement and carry out the purpose of this resolution and to undertake all actions necessary to undertake and complete the energy efficiency project; PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Tustin held on the 3rd day of March 2003 Tracy Wills Worley, Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk NO SCALE IRVIN£ BLVO. FIRST ST, PROJECT LOCATIONS IPROJECT LOCATIONSI /"~,..,/' TUSTIN RANCH 8~ PROJECT1 LOCATIONS PROJECT LOCATIONS I TUSTIN LEGACY IFORMERL¥ MARINE CORPS AIR STATIONI ! . I~TY '~'-"/ ~[~¥0~]~ LOCATION FILE: EXH- TRAF-BAT~ LEGEND O SYSTEM LOCATIONS PROJECT NAME: TRAFFIC SIGNAL BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEMS