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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/02/1997, C-5 - AGREEMENT WITH GST/CALL AMERICA FOR FIBER OPTIC CONDUIT INSTALLATION COUnCI L j acEnaa Rep= ,5 CITY O F SAN LUIS O B I S P O FROM: Michael D.McCluskey,Public Works Director SUBJECT: Agreement with GST/Call America for Fiber Optic Conduit Installation CAO RECOMMENDATIONS: 1) Approve an agreement with GST/Call America for installation of fiber optic conduit 2) Authorize the Mayor to execute the agreement 3) Appropriate$42,000 from the unappropriated balance of the General Fund to a new CIP project account for this work 4) Transfer$17,000 from the Traffic Signal Interconnection Project budget to a new CIP project account for this work DISCUSSION GST/Call America, after reading about the City's master fiber optic plan in the newspaper, recently approached City staff to determine if there was a possibility of a joint partnership in conduit trench construction, thereby saving money for both parties. GST/Call America is in the process of determining the best fiber optic routing for its services and, as a portion of this routing, wanted to confirm that certain routes the City was choosing to connect its facilities would be mutually beneficial to both agencies. After much discussion, it was determined that at least one route would be mutually beneficial for both the City and GST/Call America. That route, as shown on Exhibit A, follows an adopted City fiber optic route along Broad Street (State Highway 227), between Orcutt Road and South Street. This portion of the project, already a part of the City's Traffic Signal Interconnection Project, is fimded under Caltrans Minor A and Minor B Capital Projects program. This portion of the project involves a single conduit that will carry both signal interconnect cable and fiber optic cable (interconnecting City facilities). Therefore, rather than having two projects install fiber optic conduits in the same street and disrupt traffic twice it makes sense to share in the costs of a single installation project at this time. Thus, funds the City commits to installation costs in this stretch will be fully reimbursed by Caltrans upon completion of the project. The second portion of the route, from the intersection of Broad and South Streets to the intersection of Monro and Palm Streets, is not on the City's master fiber optic conduit plan route. However,this route solves the problem identified on the City's master plan, which was how to eventually connect Fire Station#1 with City Hall. The City's currently adopted plan is based upon known or planned water, sewer, or storm drain projects in which conduit work could be included economically. No combii;ation of these three types of projects was specifically identified in order to make the connection from Fire Station#1 to City Hall. The routing provided by GST/Call America does so in one economic and simultaneous project. The second segment also provides the benefit that no temporary disconnection or rerouting of fiber optic facilities will be needed during the Santa Rosa Street Bridge Reconstruction Project. The existing fiber optic lines serving the Marsh Street Parking Garage and the Parks and Recreation Administration Building cross the Santa Rosa Street Bridge and it was anticipated that because of Council Agenda Report-riber Optic Conduit Installation Page 2 construction temporary rerouting would be necessary and funds were budgeted(See E-11 of 97-99 Financial Plan-$35,000)to maintain service during the construction period. Those funds will now be available for permanent connections(via the new conduit)to those facilities and Fire Station #1 rather than used just to provide temporary service. This should ease construction problems during the bridge project,as well as provide a faster and shorter route for the conduit to reach City Hall. FISCAL IMPACT As mentioned above, the first section of the fiber optic conduit from near the intersection of Broad Street and Orcutt Road to the intersection of Broad and South Streets is part of the Traffic Signal Interconnection Project (400-9706-520-553). Upon completion of this segment, the City's cost of construction through its contract with GST/Call America will be fully reimbursed to the City by Caltrans. The other section of fiber optic conduit from Fire Station#1 at the intersection of Broad and South Streets to the intersection of Palm and Morro Streets is not part of an approved CIP project. As such, a new appropriation from the general fiord will be necessary for this portion. The contract with GST/Call America specifies a cost of $5.00/per lineal foot for the conduit installation and specifies the City shall pay for its own pullboxes as needed. The estimated City share of the cost of fiber optic conduit and pull box installation under the agreement from Broad Street/Orcutt Road to Broad Street/South Street is $17,000, including a 10 percent contingency allowance. The estimated cost for the installation of conduit from Broad Street/South Street to Palm Street/Moffo Street is $42,000, including contingencies. Staff recommends creating a new$59,000 CIP project,with$17,000 transferred from the existing Traffic Signal Interconnection Project and $42,000 appropriated from the General Fund balance. Encroachment permit fees already received in the amount of $6,737 from GST/Call America effectively reduces the City's net General Fund project expense to $35,263. The General Fund balance will continue to be at the 20%policy level following this appropriation. ALTE,ANATIVES The most likely alterative would be to contract with GST/Call America for the installation of conduit line only from the intersection of Broad at Orcutt to Broad at South, as that is already a planned and budgeted CIP project. The remainder section of the conduit to City Hall would not be accomplished at this time. The cost to the City from GST/Call America is substantially less than what we as a City could bid the project for ourselves, as our current engineer's estimate is $15.00/per lineal foot including all installation costs, as opposed to $5.00/per lineal foot not including pullboxes. Therefore, it makes best economic sense at this time to proceed in a joint venture with GST/Call America for the entire project rather than doing the project separately at this time. Because GST/Call America is proposing a route which would lead directly to City Hall, this alternative would preclude joint cooperation, cost savings, and would maintain the current dilemma as to how eventually to connect Fire Station#1 and all outlying City facilities in the southern end of the city to City Hall. Attachments: Agreement (Not available at agenda close; will be red-foldered Exhibit prior to the meeting. ) co mcil agenda reports/gst call america 8/19/97 �- ft ��� elle ���+����"•� � �i �'��. ' . , s��1, ♦������� • : � • INTERCONNECT ROUTE •. .. •