Council Meeting: 10/22/96 Santa Monica, CA
To: Mayor and City Council
From: City Staff
Subject: Recommendation to Approve Resolutions Pursuant to
Municipal Code Section 2.24.080 to Authorize the City
Manager to Negotiate and Execute Contracts for the
Purchase of Traffic Signal Equipment from Econolite
Control Products, Inc. and Parking Meter Equipment from
Duncan Industries
Introduction
This report recommends the City Council approve resolutions
pursuant to Municipal Code Section 2.24.080 to authorize the City
Manager to negotiate and execute contracts for the purchase of
traffic signal equipment from Econolite Control Products, Inc.
and Parking Meter Equipment from Duncan Industries
Discussion
The City's Parking and Traffic Engineering Division regularly
purchases traffic signal and parking meter equipment for new
installations, and repair and maintenance of existing equipment.
In 1978, the City Council adopted a resolution (Resolution No.
5003 (CCS)) to waive bid procedures and authorize direct
negotiations for the purchase of parking meter equipment. In
1980, the Council did the same for the purchase of traffic signal
equipment (Resolution No. 5503 (CCS)). Staff has evaluated the
market for these equipment and, finding it is appropriate to
continue the current no-bid purchasing practices, recommends that
Council renew its previous action and approve the attached
resolutions pursuant to Municipal Code Section 2.24.080.
The City uses only Econolite traffic signal control equipment.
In the early 80's staff determined that Econolite manufactured
"top of the line" equipment, would be in business a long time,
provided excellent customer service, and would constantly develop
state of the art equipment. The City Council subsequently
determined that the City's traffic signal control system would be
exclusively Econolite. This decision was re-evaluated in 1989/90
when a fully computerized traffic signal control system was
contemplated. It was again determined that Econolite would
provide the best quality product for the City.
Staff has recently reviewed this policy and found that Econolite
remains an industry leader. The benefits of remaining with
Econolite as well as the costs associated with a change to
alternate and incompatible equipment make it desirable to remain
an Econolite system. Econolite is it's own manufacturer,
distributor and service provider.
For parking meter equipment the City purchases directly from
Duncan Industries, a manufacturer. The City has been using
Duncan parking meter equipment since the 1960's because they
manufacture "top of the line" equipment, are a manufacturer that
would be in business a long time, provide excellent customer
service, and are an industry leader in development of state of
the art equipment.
In recent years, staff has purchased and evaluated parking meter
equipment from other manufacturers and found their products are
not compatible or of the same quality as Duncan Industries.
Parts from other manufacturers often did not work in the Duncan
parking meters and often times parts broke or malfunctioned. A
change of the current practice will increase meter malfunctions
and maintenance Citywide, and will result in additional time and
costs for repairs. The City currently operates and maintains
about 6,500 meters. It is not anticipated a significant number
of new meters will be installed in the near term. Duncan
Industries is it's own manufacturer and distributor.
Budget/Fiscal Impact
Approval of the attached resolutions will save unnecessary
expense and delay for the purchase of traffic signal and parking
meter equipment. Staff is currently operating under existing
Resolutions No. 5003 (CCS) and No. 5503 (CCS).
Purchases of the equipment are made from existing CIP accounts or
existing division budget line item accounts. Amounts vary from
year to year and are within the adopted budget.
Recommendation
It is respectfully recommended the City Council approve the
attached resolutions pursuant to Municipal Code Section 2.24.080
to authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute contracts
for the purchase of traffic signal equipment from Econolite
Control Products, Inc. and Parking Meter Equipment from Duncan
Industries.
RESOLUTION NO. __________________ (CCS)
City Council Series
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
MONICAAUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE CONTRACTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF TRAFFIC SIGNAL EQUIPMENT FROM
ECONOLITE CONTROL PRODUCTS, INC.
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica Parking and Traffic
Engineering Division has a requirement for traffic signal
equipment; and
WHEREAS, the traffic signal equipment must be compatible
with Econolite traffic signal equipment; and
WHEREAS, to the staff's best knowledge only one company can
supply this equipment; and
WHEREAS, the products and services rendered in the past by
this company has provided high quality, durable equipment at a
fair price; and
WHEREAS, to seek competitive bids for said equipment would
cause unnecessary expense and delay.
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the City Council finds that the
requirement exists to purchase traffic signal equipment.
SECTION 2. That to seek competitive bids for said
equipment would cause unnecessary expense and delay.
SECTION 3. That the City Manager, or his designee, is
hereby authorized to purchase traffic signal equipment from
Econolite Control Products, Inc. without competitive bids.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption
of this resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall
be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________
City Attorney
ADOPTED AND APPROVED THIS ___________ DAY OF _________________
1996.
__________________________________
MAYOR
RESOLUTION NO. __________________ (CCS)
City Council Series
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE CONTRACTS
FOR THE PURCHASE OF PARKING METER EQUIPMENT FROM DUNCAN INDUSTRIES
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica Parking and Traffic
Engineering Division has a requirement for parking meter
equipment; and
WHEREAS, the parking meter equipment must be compatible with
Duncan parking meter equipment; and
WHEREAS, to the staff's best knowledge only one company can
supply this equipment; and
WHEREAS, the products and services rendered in the past by
this company has provided high quality, durable equipment at a
fair price; and
WHEREAS, to seek competitive bids for said equipment would
cause unnecessary expense and delay.
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the City Council finds that the
requirement exists to purchase parking meter equipment.
SECTION 2. That to seek competitive bids for said
equipment would cause unnecessary expense and delay.
SECTION 3. That the City Manager, or his designee, is
hereby authorized to purchase parking meter equipment from Duncan
Industries without competitive bids.
SECTION 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption
of this resolution, and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall
be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________
City Attorney
ADOPTED AND APPROVED THIS ___________ DAY OF _________________
1996.
__________________________________
MAYOR