HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/21/2004, C6 - POLICE STATION EMERGENCY GENERATOR REPLACEMENT SPECIFICATION NO. 90506 council WMND�le ,
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CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
FROM: Michael D. McCluskey, Public Works Directol'
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Prepared By: David Elliott, Administrative Servanag r'
SUBJECT: POLICE STATION EMERGENCY GENERATOR REPLACEMENT
SPECIFICATION NO. 90506
CAO RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Approve a new CIP project to replace the emergency generator at the Police Station.
2. Transfer $50,700 from the Capital Outlay Fund completed projects account to a new project
budget for the generator replacement.
DISCUSSION
The existing emergency generator at the Police Station is a 1983 Caterpillar 100 kilowatt model.
Recent incidents and observations have brought the reliability and dependability of this unit into
question and led to a recommendation that it be replaced as soon as possible.
The San Simeon Earthquake in December 2003 caused an immediate power outage at the Police
Station. As a result, the emergency generator system automatically responded and tried to start
but would not fire up and run. After primary and emergency power failed, battery backup
systems could not sustain adequate power, and the dispatch center went down. At the same time,
the parking lot security gates could not be operated, and this failure prevented mobilization of
emergency vehicles. Although the Fleet Maintenance Supervisor responded immediately and
was able to get the emergency generator started, dispatch and mobilization activities remained
out of commission for more than 25 minutes. As bad as this scenario sounds, it could have been
much worse if the earthquake had occurred outside of working hours, when response time would
have been significantly longer. Although battery backup systems (including uninterruptible
power supplies for computer and communications equipment) have since been upgraded, they
still could not sustain dispatch activities for more than one hour if both primary and emergency
power were unavailable for an extended period. Continuous operation of dispatch activities is
absolutely imperative to protect and maintain public health and safety.
Because generators of this vintage do not have onboard diagnostic equipment, it has been
difficult to establish precisely why the generator failed to start and remain running. The Fleet
Maintenance Supervisor has determined that the cylinders and pistons are severely worn and the
fuel injection system is gummed up with varnish-like deposits. Under these conditions the
generator might have failed to start altogether or might have started and run for a few moments
before misfiring and shutting down. In any case, because of the generator's age and condition,
the failure to start in December might not have been an isolated incident. The Fleet Maintenance
Supervisor has also noticed that fuel and oil are leaking from the exhaust manifold onto the
Police Station Emergency Generator Replacemeni Page 2
battery and coolant hoses. Not only will this condition further compromise reliability, but it may
pose a fire hazard as well.
Although it would be possible to repair the generator for about $10,000, this solution would be
short-sighted for two reasons. First, under more stringent California Air Resources Board
regulations,the generator cannot now and will never be able to pass its smog test, even after
repairs. Consequently, it will have to be retired and surplused within the next two years
regardless of condition. And second, the generator does not have enough capacity for its
intended use. A report prepared in March 2004 by Thoma Engineering found that the generator
was subject to overloading (recorded 106 kilowatt loads vs. 100 kilowatt capacity) and could not
maintain a stable enough output to support critical computer and communications equipment.
The report recommended at least a 50 percent reserve capacity, which would translate to a
minimum output of 160 kilowatts. In light of these circumstances, Public Works is
recommending replacement of the existing generator with a new 200 kilowatt generator.
FISCAL IMPACT
Estimated Equipment Cost $43,900
Estimated Installation Cost 2,000
Estimated Tank Relocation Cost 1,000
Contingencies at 8 Percent 3,800
Total Budget Needed $50,700
Public Works is recommending that $50,700 be transferred from the Capital Outlay Fund
completed projects account to a new project budget for the generator replacement. The current
balance of the completed projects account is $60,897.
ALTERNATIVES
Repairing the Existing Generator (cost: $10,000). As explained above, this option would be
inadvisable because of the very short-term benefit received.
Temporarily Using a City-owned Portable Generator (cost: $2,000). Utilities Department has six
portable generators (two 180 kilowatt and four 100 kilowatt) to ensure continued operation of
water and wastewater facilities in case of power outages during emergencies or disasters.
Although it would be technically feasible to use one of the 180 kilowatt generators for an
extended period at the Police Station until a permanent solution could be implemented, it would
leave the City vulnerable during an extended City-wide power outage. Utilities Department has
determined that the six generators available would be the minimum needed to continue
operations under such conditions. Renting a generator would be problematical because of the
heavy demand for such equipment during emergencies and the need for special configuration and
connections to operate the City's pump stations. (Utilities Department has authorized short-term
use of a 180 kilowatt generator until the new generator can be procured.)
MICouncil Agenda Reports\2004 agenda reportAAdministrative Services (Elliott)1Fleet Maintenance (Holstine)\90506 CAR
Police Department Emergency Generator Replacement.DOC