HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/15/1990, C-3 - SUBMITTAL OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR DOWNTOWN STREET LIGHTING REPLACEMENT PROJECT. MEETING DATED
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COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBER:
FROM: Arnold Jonas, rcunity Development Director; Prepared
By: Jeff Hoo
SUBJECT: Submittal of lans and Specifications for Downtown Street
Lighting Replacement Project.
CAO RECO!lI(ENDATION
Approve the plans and specifications for Downtown Street Light
Replacement (City Plan No. N-09B) , authorize the CAO to solicit
bids and to award the contract for street light replacement if the
lowest responsible bid is $102,000 or less, and authorize the
Finance Director to transfer $117, 300 from the Capital Control
Account to cover project costs.
BACKGROUND
As part of the Downtown Beautification Program, the City Council
approved plans to replace all of the remaining 25 "modern" street
light poles with a fluted-style pole which is more compatible with
the downtown's character. Replacement poles would match the older-
style poles which were originally installed in the 19401x. The
street light replacement program has been endorsed by the BIA and
the Architectural Review Commission as part of the City's Downtown
Improvement Program. To match the adopted street light design,
Councilmembers recently required that the sixteen-flute pole be
used in a major downtown traffic signal replacement program.
DISCUSSION
The program's objectives are to: 1) provide an attractive,
uniform appearance for downtown street lights'; 2) reinforce the
"Main Street" character of downtown; and 3) maintain existing
lighting levels for downtown streets and. pedestrian safety.
Downtown currently has a mix of three different styles of street
light poles. The older, 16-flute pole predominates on Palm,
Garden, and Monterey Streets and is considered to be more ---
keeping
nkeeping with downtown's architectural context. Tubular steel poles
would be removed and replaced with the historic fluted-style pole.
In most cases, the replacement pole would be installed in the same
location, use existing wiring, and where possible, use the existing
foundation. _
Before adopting this program, the City considered installing a
"two-tiered" lighting system with low-level (12-15 ' height)
pedestrian lighting in addition to the existing 30 ' tall street
light poles. This approach could enhance downtown's character and
increase lighting levels, but it has these drawbacks:
1. It would be substantially more expensive than the
recommended program. The City Engineer estimated the
initial installation cost at $1,200, 000, and an increase
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in the monthly operating expense from $1200 to $2700
dollars (1982 dollars) .
2 . Additional poles may further constrict already narrow
downtown sidewalks, thus increasing possible conflicts
between pedestrians and street furniture/equipment.
3. The Downtown streets and sidewalks would require
excavation to install new footings and electrical
conduit.
This program would use P.G. and E. approved poles and fixtures,
thus maintaining the City's desirable LS-1C billing rate and on-
going P.G. and E. maintenance of the lighting fixtures. The range
of poles and fixtures approved by P.G. and E. is very limited. The
low-level fixtures which might be most appropriate architecturally
are not approved by P.G: and E. due to lower lighting efficiency
and higher maintenance requirements. There are definite advantages
to proceedinq with "the entire replacement program at this time:
1. Cost: The per unit cost of the poles will be less with
one larger order, rather than several smaller orders.
In addition, there is only one supplier of the sixteen-
flute steel pole in the U.S. , ' and cost of the pole is
likely to increase in the future.
2,, Installation Efficiency: A single shipment and a one-
time, complete installation job is easier and more
economical for the City.
3. Downtown Impact: The inconvenience to downtown
businesses would be minimized by completing the job in
one phase, by one contractor, with all the materials and
equipment available at the same time.
FISCAL IMPACT
Engineer's Estimate $102, 000
15% contingencies 15 ,300
TOTAL 117, 300
1987-89 CIP Budget Amount 40 , 000
Additional Funding Required 77,300
This is a carryover budget item from the 1987-89 Financial Plan
(Page E-22, 1987-89 Financial Plan) , budgeted for $40, 000. As
indicated above, the engineer's estimate exceeds budgeted amount
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by $77,300. This cost variance is due to the increased cost of
labor and materials since 1982 when preliminary cost estimates were
made. Based on final bid amounts, any variance will be funded from
the Capital Control Account pursuant to the City's Capital
Appropriation Policy (Page E-2 of the 1989-91 Financial Plan) .
ALTERNATIVES
If the City Council wants to proceed with this program, there are
several alternatives to the staff-recommended action:
1. Modify project scope. At the current funding level, twelve
replacement street lights could be installed (9 along Higuera
Street between Osos and Nipomo Streets; 3 along Broad Street
between Marsh and Monterey Streets) . Installation of the remaining
thirteen replacement street lights would be deferred until funds
were available.
2. Modify street light design. The proposed street light is a
Union Metal, sixteen-flute steel pole which matches those in front
of City Hall and elsewhere in the central business district. Union
Metal is the sole source for this high quality steel pole; and
while other, less expensive street lights are available, none would
match the City's existing, older-styled poles except the Union
Metal pole. With this approach, Council and staff's original i
program objective to provide uniform street lighting downtown would
not be achieved.
3. Encourage pedestrian-level lighting in addition to the standard
street lights. Staff believes existing street lighting levels to
be adequate for public safety without additional low-level.
lighting. However in special situations, some provisions for
improved lighting may be warranted. For example, in some areas
street trees enclose and partially obscure the street lights.
Here, additional pruning may be desirable to increasing lighting
levels below the tree canopies.
BTA Comments
While the BIA supports the proposed street light replacement
program, it has expressed concern that additional measures need to
be taken to improve pedestrian lighting downtown. BIA
representatives and staff discussed options for improved pedestrian
lighting, including wall-mounted lights, low-level street lights
between the existing streetlights, and downlighting in city street
trees.
Staff supports the BIA's view. For Farmer's Market or other
special events, supplemental lighting would improve visibility for
pedestrians, curbside vendors and information booths. Privately-
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installed, wall-mounted lights (eg. , the wall lights on the Osos
St. elevation of the J.P. Andrews Building) could meet the need for
additional lighting.
To address the issue, staff will work with the BIA and other
interested groups to develop: 1) a pedestrian lighting plan to
identify needs and lighting placement, 2) design standards for
wall-mounted lights, 3) new permit procedures for expediting
privately-installed lighting which meets City standards, and 4)
property owner incentives to encourage installation of pedestrian
lighting. Staff is already working on encroachment guidelines
which could set design standards for this type of privately
installed lighting. The overall pedestrian lighting plan will be
addressed in the context of the Downtown Physical Plan which is
currently budgeted and to be completed in Fiscal Year 1990-91.
SUMKhRY RECOMMENDATION
Approve plans and specifications for Downtown Street - Light
Replacement (City Plan No. N09B) , authorize the CAO to solicit bids
and award contract if the lowest responsible bid is $102, 000 or
less, and authorize Finance Director to transfer $117, 300 from the
Capital Control Account to cover project costs.
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NOTE: Plans and specifications are available for inspection in the
Council's office.
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