AgdaPkt 2009-11-23 clsd and jnt Meeting with Planning

Browse Search

REPORT 6.1A age 1 To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the Cit Mana er November 23,2009 SUBJECT Purchase of One Portable Emergency Generator RECOMMENDATION Approve by motion the purchase of one portable emergency generator in the amount of $143,273.81 from Peterson Power Systems Inc., of San Leandro, California under the National Joint Powers Alliance's (NJPA) contract number #100907. BACKGROUND This purchase was in the consent calendar for Council approval at the November 9, 2009 meeting. However, a citizen spoke of his concerns on the purchase; therefore, the approval of this purchase was delayed for approval. Please see attached memorandum. The Wastewater Management Services Division of the Public Works Services Department manages the City's storm drain collection system, which includes 22 pump stations located throughout the City. Operation of these pump stations rely primarily on electrical power. In the event of a major power failure, particularly during major storm events, the use of portable standby generators at critical pump stations are necessary to prevent localized flooding in many areas. In 2008, the Veterans Strom Pump Station located at Veterans Avenue and U.S. 101 was rehabilitated and improved. The project budget provided for acquisition of a portable standby generator as a backup power source. Staff from Wastewater Management Services Division, Equipment Services Section, and Building, Infrastructure and Transportation Department worked together and decided that a portable emergency standby generator manufactured by the Caterpillar, Model XQ300kw is the generator that meets the requirements of the division's needs. Furthermore, the Caterpillar generator offers improved safety features, lower maintenance requirements and produces the lowest level of emissions from the operation. Staff from the Equipment Service Section also realized that Caterpillar Corporation has listed this generator under the contract with the NJPA-a Joint Powers Alliance created by Minnesota Statute 123A.21. This statute was created in 1978 and revised in 1995 to allow participating governmental and municipal agencies to reduce the cost of purchased goods by leveraging their combined purchasing power. Therefore, the NJPA contract meets the requirements of the Redwood City Code, Chapter 2, Article VII, Section 2.80 nOpen Market Purchases", and makes it possible for the City to realize cost savings by taking advantage of a contract equivalent to the competitive open market bid process. ALTERNATIVES The alternative of not approving the purchase of this generator would impact the operational requirement of the City's Wastewater Management Services Division since the backup power is critical in the event of emergency.