SR-6F (6)
Re&O lutiOVl NO q W3 cas)
6F
PCD SF RF JR solsorc1 winword Santa MOnica, Cahforn~aEP 23 1997
Council Meeting September 23, 1997
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to Approve a Resolution Pursuant to MUnicipal Code
Section 2 24 080 to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute
Contracts for the Purchase of Optlcom Traffic Signal Pre-emption
Equipment from John C Henberger Co I Inc
Introduction
This report recommends the City Council approve a resolution pursuant to Municipal
Code Section 224080 to authonze the City Manager to negotiate and execute
contracts within available budget authonty for the purchase of Optlcom traffic Signal
pre-emption equipment from John C Henberger Co Ilnc
DIScussion
The City's Parking and Traffic Englneenng DIvIsion regularly purchases traffic Signal
pre-emption equipment for new Installations, and repair and maintenance of eXisting
equipment Traffic Signal pre-emption IS a system that changes traffic Signals to
"green" or holds a traffic Signal "green" for the direction of travel of a Fire Department
emergency vehicle This system proVides for safer travel for emergency vehicles as
well as the generai public
1 6F .J
SEP 2 3 1997
---- - -- --- -
Currently, all of the sIgnal pre-emption equipment throughout the City, Including those
used by the DIVISIon and the Fire Department, IS 3-M Optlcom equipment Henberger
IS the local dlstnbutor for 3-M Optlcom signal pre-emption systems and equipment In a
JOint project between Traffic Englneenng and the Fire Department, Traffic Englneenng
regularly modifies the traffic signals and the Fire Department equips their vehIcles with
the pre-emption equipment Although one other provider claims to have pre-emption
equipment, the Santa MOnica Fire Department has tested their equipment and IS not
satisfied with their performance or reliabilIty It IS Important that this safety system be a
rehable umform system to ensure the safety of both the Fire Department personnel and
the general public
The Parking and TraffiC Englneenng DIvISion contacted numerous citIes In California as
well as out -of- State public agencies regarding their expenence With signal pre-
emption equipment The overwhelming majonty of the contacted agencies ( over mnety
five percent) use 3-M Optlcom equipment versus the other product provided by
TOMAR The 3-M Company has a long hIstory of providing pre-emption equipment to
publiC agencies Their product IS reliable and well developed and they provide good
service to their clients A few agencies which were contacted stated that they had tned
TOMAR equipment for a short while and that they were not satisfied With the
performance of their equipment and that eventually they had sWitched to Optlcom
equipment
2
----
In 1995, City of Phoenix conducted an extensive testing of the pre-emption systems
Their testing procedure was to evaluate the compatibility between the two sytems and
the ability to preempt a traffiC signal from a distance of 1,800 feet at 35 miles per hour
This distance and speed will allow pedestnans and vehicles on the cross street to
safely clear before the arrival of the emergency vehicle It also allows the dnver of the
emergency vehicle to determine If the optical strobe has captured the pre-empt and
bnng the apparatus to a safe stop If the pre-emption does not occur properly
PhoeniX's evaluation Indicated that TOMAR equipment did not meet the city's
reqUIrement for emergency pre-emption system The study also concluded that the
two systems (Optlcom and TOMAR) are not compatible ThiS could pose a problem In
terms of emergency mutual assistance With the neighboring Cities since most clbes use
3M Optlcom system
Based on the above and the recommendation of the City's Fire Department, staff
recommends only Optlcom equipment for use In the City of Santa MOnica
Bud!=letlFlscallmpact
The purchases of the equipment are made from eXisting CIP accounts or eXisting
diVISion budget line Item accounts Amounts Will vary from year to year depending on
available budget authOrity For FY 97/98, $120,000 has been budgeted at CIP account
#01-770-415-20098-8900-99270 for the purchase and installation of Optlcom
3
equipment In addition, $120,000 has been proposed for each of the following two
years for Optlcom equipment
Recommendation
It IS respectfully recommended the City Council approve the attached resolution
pursuant to MUnicipal Code Section 224080 to authorize the City Manager to
negotIate and execute contracts within available budget authonty for the purchase of
Optlcom traffic signal pre-emption equipment from John C Henberger Co I Inc
Prepared by Suzanne Fnck, Director of Planning and CommunIty Development
Ron Fuchlwakl, City Parking and Traffic Engineer
Jamal Rahim!, Senior Traffic Engineer
(solsorc1)
4
--
-
RESOLUTION NO 9203 (CCS)
CIty Council Senes
~
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE
CONTRACTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF OPTICOM TRAFFIC SIGNAL PRE-
EMPTION EQUIPMENT FROM JOHN C HENBERGER CO I INC
WHEREAS, the City of Santa MOnica Parkmg and Traffic Englneenng DIVISion
has a requirement for traffic signal pre-emption equipment. and
WHEREAS, the traffic signal pre-emption equipment must be compatible With
Optlcom traffic signal pre-emption equipment, and
WHEREAS, to the staffs best knowledge only one company can supply this
equipment, and
WHEREAS, the products and services rendered In the past by thiS company has
provided high quality, durable eqUipment at a fair price, and
WHEREAS, to seek competitive bids for said equipment would cause
unnecessary expense and delay
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOllOWS
SECTION 1 That the City Council finds that the reqUirement eXists to purchase
Optlcom traffic signal pre-emption equipment
5
~
-
SECTION 2 That to seek competlttve bids for said equipment would cause
unnecessary expense and delay
S~CTION 3 That the City Manager, or his designee, IS hereby authonzed to
purchase Optlcom traffic signal pre-emption equipment from John C Henberger Co,
Inc without competitive bids
SECTION 4 The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be In full force and effect
APPROVED AS TO FORM
-ftUu1~~
City Attorney: _
ADOPTED AND APPROVED THIS DAY OF 1997
MAYOR PRO TEM
6
..
.
Adopted and approved tlus 23rd of September 1997
. 4-;-~
Robert Holbrook, Mayor Pro Tern
L Mana M Stewart. City Clerk of the CIty of Santa Maruca, do hereby certIfy that the
foregomg ResolutIon 9203 (CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Clty CouncIl held on
the 23rd of September. 1997 by the followmg vote
Ayes COlincilmembers Ebner, Feinstem. Genser. Greenberg. Holbrook, Rosenstem
);Toes Councllmembers None
AbstaIn Councllmembers None
Absent CouncIlmembers O'Connor
ATTEST
~~~_~O-;~.~
Mana M Stewart, CIty Clerk
-~ ~-