AgdaPkt 2012-05-21 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.1. E. - Page 1 RE PO RT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the Cit Mana er May 21, 2012 SUBJECT Purchase of Accessible Pedestrian Signal Equipment RECOMMENDATION 1. Pursuant to Municipal Code Article VII, Chapter 2, §2.76, find that strict compliance to Municipal Code Article VII, Chapter 2, §2.63 does not serve the public interest in this instance. 2. Suspend, by motion on the affirmative votes of at least five (5) members of the Council, the bidding requirement for equipment purchases exceeding $60,000. 3. Approve the agreement with Western Pacific Signal, LLC for purchase of Navigator Accessible Pedestrian Signal equipment made by Polara Engineering, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $76,958.50 and authorize the City Manager to execute same. BACKGROUND Municipal Code Article VII, Chapter 2, §2.63 requires that equipment costing more than $60,000 be purchased in the open market on the basis of competitive bidding. Municipal Code Article VII, Chapter 2, §2.76 allows Council to suspend those requirements when it finds that strict compliance would not serve the public interest where the only suitable equipment is of a unique nature and available from a single source only. An Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) provides pedestrian information in non-visual formats such as audible tones, speech messages, and/or vibrating surfaces. Non-visual formats are particularly helpful to pedestrians who have visual disabilities. Visually challenged pedestrians may rely on the sound of traffic stopping and starting which often corresponds to the onset of the signal's green interval. APS formats provide visually challenged pedestrians indication of the signal's status at an intersection. ANALYSIS The APS equipment, if purchase is approved, will be installed at all the signalized intersections along EI Camino Real within the City as listed on the table below and shown on the attached map. The equipment will be installed by the California State Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as part of their regional signal upgrade project. Caltrans is allowing local agencies to request the installation of APS devices as part of the project improvements provided that the local agencies furnish the equipment. This presents the City with the opportunity to direct Caltrans to install these devices saving the City the cost of installation and those associated with securing encroachment permits and approvals from Caltrans if the City were to install these devices.