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Home My WebLink About2021-04-13; City Council; ; Appropriation for Purchase of Portable and Solar-Powered Speed Feedback Signs Meeting Date: April 13, 2021 To: Mayor and City Council From: Scott Chadwick, City Manager Staff Contact: John Kim, City Traffic Engineer john.kim@carlsbadca.gov, 760-602-2757 Subject: Districts: Appropriation for Purchase of Portable and Solar-Powered Speed Feedback Signs All Recommended Action Adopt a resolution authorizing appropriation of funds in the amount of $288,000 for the purchase of eight portable speed feedback signs and for the purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs. Executive Summary Staff recommends purchase of eight portable speed feedback signs to support the increasing demand of portable speed feedback sign deployment as part of the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program, Capital Improvement Program Project No. 6070. Additionally, staff recommends soliciting bids for purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs on Madison Street, Roosevelt Street, Tyler Street and Harding Street. These solar- powered signs will replace the eight portable speed feedback signs currently deployed on these streets. The estimated cost for purchasing all portable and solar-powered signs is $288,000. Since the cost of purchasing all speed feedback signs exceeds $100,000, and the costs to install the eight signs exceeds $200,000, Carlsbad Municipal Code Sections 3.28.040(D)(1) and 3.28.040(D)(2) require City Council authorization for the appropriation of these funds. Additionally, staff is requesting City Council authorization of an appropriation in the amount of $288,000 from the gas tax funds for speed feedback signs. Discussion In 2011, the city developed and adopted the Residential Traffic Management Program to address speeding concerns on residential streets. This program consists of three phases. The first is initiated when a resident contacts the city expressing concerns about speeding on residential streets. This phase focuses on education and enforcement solutions as well as a two-week deployment of portable speed feedback signs. Speed data collected during this speed feedback sign deployment help determine if a given street qualifies for Phases II and III of the program. Phases II and III involve working with residents to identify the appropriate traffic calming measures such as installing speed cushions. The city currently has eight portable speed feedback signs for deployment as part of the program. April 13, 2021 Item #3 Page 1 of 6 To meet significant residential demand for deploying the portable speed feedback signs, staff has investigated procuring eight additional portable speed feedback signs, plus additional batteries and mounting accessories and equipment, which are estimated to cost approximately $80,000. City staff also receive speeding complaints about non-residential streets. The portable speed feedback signs would similarly be deployed on some of these streets for two weeks to collect speed data. A resident’s request in February 2020 resulted in the deployment of portable speed feedback signs on both Madison Street and Roosevelt Street near Walnut Avenue from Feb. 7, 2020, to March 3, 2020. These streets are identified in the General Plan’s Mobility Element as Village Street typology and are included in the Village and Barrio Master Plan with proposed plans for traffic calming. One of the traffic calming projects includes installation of traffic circles in certain intersections. The Village and Barrio Traffic Circles project, CIP Project No. 4015, will implement traffic calming measures on Madison Street, Roosevelt Street and Harding Street. The project is targeted to begin construction later this year with projected completion in 2022. Considering the target schedule of the Village and Barrio Traffic Circles project, staff deployed the current eight portable speed feedback signs on Madison Street, Roosevelt Street, Tyler Street and Harding Street on Feb. 25, 2021, and March 4, 2021. These portable speed feedback signs will be deployed until the traffic circles are complete. The portable speed feedback signs are not designed for long-term deployment at any single location. Because these signs run on batteries, staff must charge and swap the batteries on a weekly basis to ensure continued operation. In addition, staff manually download speed data collected on the devices in the field periodically. Considering the length of time these signs will be deployed on the four streets, staff recommend soliciting bids for the purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs to replace the eight portable speed feedback signs currently deployed on Madison Street, Roosevelt Street, Tyler Street and Harding Street. The new solar-powered speed feedback signs can transmit collected speed data directly to the city’s Traffic Management Center so staff can remotely monitor the speed where the signs are installed. Once the Village and Barrio Traffic Circles Project is complete, these solar-powered speed feedback signs can be relocated to other appropriate streets in the city to address speeding concerns as a part of the Residential Traffic Management Program. The cost for procuring eight solar-powered speed feedback signs, plus sign poles and mounting accessories, is estimated to be approximately $208,000. The total estimated cost for procuring additional speed feedback signs is $288,000, $80,000 for eight portable units and $208,000 for eight solar-powered units. April 13, 2021 Item #3 Page 2 of 6 Options Staff provide the following options for the City Council’s consideration: 1. Approve and authorize the appropriation of funds in the amount of $288,000 for purchase of eight portable speed feedback signs and purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs Pros • Meets the increasing demand for deploying portable speed feedback signs as part of the Residential Traffic Management Program • Eliminates staff effort required to charge and swap batteries on a weekly basis for the continued operation of portable speed feedback signs on Madison Street, Roosevelt Street, Tyler Street and Harding Street Cons • Expending the funds 2. Do not approve the appropriation of funds for purchasing additional speed feedback signs Pro • Funds would be available for other Residential Traffic Management Program projects Cons • Delays deployment of portable speed feedback signs citywide in response to residents’ requests for a period of about one year because they will remain deployed at four streets until the traffic circles are complete • Requires staff to charge and swap batteries on a weekly basis for the continued operation of eight portable speed feedback signs on Madison Street, Roosevelt Street, Tyler Street and Harding Street until the completion of the Village and Barrio Traffic Circles project; staff time could be better utilized working on other Residential Traffic Management Program and traffic assignments Staff recommends Option 1 for the City Council’s approval, approving and authorizing the appropriation of funds in the amount of $288,000 from the gas tax funds for purchase of eight portable speed feedback signs and purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs. Fiscal Analysis Currently, there are insufficient funds available in the project account and additional funds in the amount of $288,000 from the gas tax funds are needed to complete the project. A summary of the estimated costs and available funds is shown in the table below: April 13, 2021 Item #3 Page 3 of 6 Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program, CIP Project No. 6070 Total appropriation to date $1,700,000 Total expenditures/encumbrances to date $1,180,000 Committed to ongoing traffic calming projects $520,000 Total available funding $0 APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS FOR PURCHASE OF PORTABLE AND SOLAR-POWERED SPEED FEEDBACK SIGNS Portable speed feedback signs $80,000 Solar-powered speed feedback signs $160,000 Solar-powered speed feedback signs construction contingency (15%) $24,000 Solar-powered speed feedback signs construction management, inspection and materials testing (15%) $24,000 Total estimated project costs and requested appropriation $288,000 Next Steps Upon the City Council’s approval and authorization of appropriation, staff will solicit bids from vendors for purchase of eight portable speed feedback signs in accordance with Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 3.28.050. Staff will return in summer 2021 to request City Council approval of construction plans and specifications and solicit bids for purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs in accordance with CMC Section 3.28.080 (E and I). Environmental Evaluation (CEQA) The project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c), which covers the repair of existing public structures and facilities involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use, and no exception to the exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies. Public Notification Public notice of this item was posted in keeping with the state's Ralph M. Brown Act and it was available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting date. Exhibit 1. City Council resolution April 13, 2021 Item #3 Page 4 of 6 RESOLUTION NO. 2021-078 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION FROM GAS TAX FUNDS IN THE AMOUNT OF $288,000 TO SOLICIT BIDS FOR PURCHASE OF EIGHT PORTABLE SPEED FEEDBACK SIGNS AND PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF EIGHT SOLAR-POWERED SPEED FEEDBACK SIGNS WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California has determined it necessary, desirable and in the public interest to purchase eight portable speed feedback signs and purchase and install eight solar-powered speed feedback signs; and WHEREAS, in 2011, the city developed and adopted the Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program (CRTMP) to address speeding concerns on residential streets; and WHEREAS, the CRTMP involves a process where residents report speeding on residential streets and staff deploy portable speed feedback signs for two weeks; and WHEREAS, the speed data collected during the two-week deployment determines if the subject street qualifies for further staff interaction that will identify appropriate traffic calming measures; and WHEREAS, the city currently has eight temporary speed feedback signs for deployment as part of the CRTMP; and WHEREAS, to meet significant residential demand for deploying the portable speed feedback signs, staff has investigated procuring eight additional portable speed feedback signs, plus additional batteries, mounting accessories, and appurtenances, which are estimated to cost approximately $80,000, as well as eight solar-powered speed feedback signs, plus sign poles and mounting accessories, to be installed on Madison Street, Roosevelt Street, Tyler Street and Harding Street until the Village and Barrio Traffic Circles Project is complete (Project); and WHEREAS, the estimated cost for procuring eight portable speed feedback signs and purchasing and installing eight solar-powered speed feedback signs is $288,000; and WHEREAS, the city planner has determined that the installation of speed feedback signs is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(c) — minor alteration of existing facilities including streets, sidewalks, gutters and similar facilities, including pedestrian crossings, involving negligible or no expansion, and that no exception to the exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2 applies. April 13, 2021 Item #3 Page 5 of 6 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1.That the above recitations are true and correct. 2.That the deputy city manager, administrative services, is authorized to appropriate additional Gas Tax Funds in the amount of $288,000 for purchase of eight portable speed feedback signs and purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 13th day of April, 2021, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Hall, Blackburn, Acosta, Bhat-Patel, NAYS: None. ABSENT: Schumacher. MATT HALL, Mayor C-1--f —7(ry1,1-4711/1-l ily -- BARBARA ENGL-ESON, City derk (SEAL) 00110.111fifil/No \\,,,\ CA/3,i '// '.7 C3 April 13, 2021 Item #3 Page 6 of 6 John Kim, City Traffic Engineer April 13, 2021 Appropriation for Purchase of Portable and Solar-Powered Speed Feedback Signs Recommendation •Adopt a resolution authorizing appropriation of funds in the amount of $288,000 for the purchase of eight portable speed feedback signs and purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs. 2 Background •The Carlsbad Residential Traffic Management Program (CRTMP) addresses speeding concerns on residential streets. •Portable speed feedback signs are used to a.Educate drivers and encourage traffic calming; b.Record speed data to help identify appropriate traffic calming measures. 3 Current Inventory •Staff currently has eight portable speed feedback signs which are battery-powered. •Deployment utilizes two speed feedback signs per street (one in each direction of travel). •Current inventory allows for a maximum of four streets to receive speed feedback signs at any one time. •Purchasing additional portable speed feedback signs would allow staff to increase deployment opportunities. 4 Current Deployment •Staff has committed to a long-term deployment of speed feedback signs in the Barrio area. •Speed feedback signs will remain in place until the completion of the Village and Barrio Traffic Circles project. •Portable speed feedback signs utilize batteries which need to be changed after approximately 4-7 days of operation. •To reduce staff expenditures, solar-powered speed feedback signs are recommended for long term deployment. 5 6 Speed Feedback Signs in the Barrio ►- ~~ ~ .. ,'\ ~,..-Com'.:"'"'":lY.M•PI <;ontnbut;)~• SanGIS, Bu Id ngFootpr::ntUSA. Esn H~RE Ga.rm • ., .., ~ I Basis for Request •To increase staff’s ability to deploy speed feedback signs on more streets; •To make available the portable speed feedback signs currently deployed in the Barrio for use on other streets; •Reduce the need for frequent battery replacements on units deployed in the Barrio. 7 Next Steps •Purchase of eight portable speed feedback signs, batteries and associated mounting equipment. •Prepare plans and specifications for purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs on Harding Street, Madison Street, Roosevelt Street and Tyler Street. 8 Recommendation •Adopt a resolution authorizing appropriation of funds in the amount of $288,000 for the purchase of eight portable speed feedback signs and for the purchase and installation of eight solar-powered speed feedback signs. 9 Thank you