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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.1 AlaCntyStreetLightAcq (2) . . CITY OF DUBLIN AGENDA STATEMENT City Council Meeting Date: December 13, 1993 SUBJECT: EXHffiITS ATTACHED: Joint Powers Agreement - Alameda County Street Light Acquisition Report by: Public Works Director Lee Thompson 1) ~Resolution 2) / Proposed Agreement 3) ~, street lighting consultant, will attend the meeting and be available for -9..ue~s. -------~."~~.. RECOMMENDATION: /J /1) .' Ivr 2) FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Adopt resolution approving Joint Powers Agreement Authorize expenditure of up to $5,000 from the Street Light Maintenance Assessment District reserves for Phase II of the street lighting study. This will allow an estimated $4,000 for the appraisal and a $1,000 contingency. An initial $3,000 has been expended for a preliminary feasibility study. Dublin I s share of the cost for Phase II of the process (appraisal of existing street lights) is approximately $4,000. These costs are proposed to be paid by the Street Lighting Maintenance Assessment District, as purchase of the street lights is of potential benefit to the rate payers in the District. Potential savings to the City-wide Street Lighting Assessment District are estimated to be approximately $78,000 per year after the cost of the system has been recovered. It is estimated that it would take between six and seven years to payoff the cost of PG&E's lights, with a 5 % cost of money and a preliminary estimate of the cost of the lights. If successful, there would be a substantial reduction in the assessments to the Dublin property owners. Financing for the buyout could come from General Fund reserves with repayment of the loan plus interest coming from the savings in rates. DESCRIPTION: The County of Alameda and ten cities within the County have been meeting for several months to discuss acquisition of street lighting from Pacific Gas and Electric Company as a means of long-term cost savings. While the cost of such a study would be prohibitive for the City of Dublin to undertake alone, sharing the study and acquisition costs among eleven agencies makes the process more cost-effective. The City of Dublin presently has slightly fewer than 1800 street lights, 400 of which are already owned by the City. The rate paid to PG&E for lights owned by PG&E (various LS-l schedules) reflects the cost of maintaining the lights, depreciation, and facilities and customer charges, as well as energy cost. This rate ranges from $6;86 to $16.97 per light per month (most in the $10 to $11 range), depending on wattage and type of installation (wood pole, galvanized metal pole, painted pole). The rate paid for lights owned by the City (LS2-C schedule) reflects a smaller amount of maintenance by PG&E (bulbs, photocells, and lenses only, plus a minor amount of "diagnostic" service) and ranges from $5.07 to $12.97 per light per month (most in the $5 to $7 range). If the City acquires the lights that are now owned by PG&E and converts the City-owned lights to the lowest possible rate schedule (PG&E provides energy only), the cost would drop to a range of approximately $2.67 to $6.12 per light per month. The great majority of the lights in the City are 70- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- \ ITEM No.8'.1 COPIES TO: Russ Hamm . . watt residential lights, which would be at the lower end of the range. (Rates shown are from the January 1, 1993 rate schedule. A minor rate adjustment was recently announced in which most rates decreased by afew cents.) The consultant being retained to assist the County and cities with the acquisition is Russell Hamm, who has coordinated the California Street Light Association for a number of years and has worked with many agencies in acquiring their street lights. Mr. Hamm has stated that the average cost to purchase an existing street light has been about $257.00. The actual cost per light will depend on the age of the lights and the type of installation. For example, the street lights on wood poles would be less than those on metal poles because the wood pole installations only involve an arm and fixture. The actual purchase price for each light would have to be negotiated with PG&E. The preliminary feasibility study which was performed by Mr. Hamm provides the following information pertinent to the City of Dublin's street lighting system: Enerey: Rate Schedule LS-l (pG&E owned) LS-2B or C (City owned) TABLE I - EXISTING SCENARIO (Ener2Y I PG&E Maintenance Cost) # of Lights Monthly Cost Annual Cost* 1,354 ~ 1,769 $12,283.18 2.428.80 $14,711.98 $147,398.16 29.145.60 $176,543.76 * Annual Cost is based on the current number of lights and would change if lights are added or deleted. TABLE n - PROPOSED SCENARIO (Ener2Y Cost From PG&E Plus Estimated Cost of City-Provided Maintenance) Estimated Estimated Monthly Cost Annual Cost Rate Schedule (Converts to City-owned) LS-1 to LS-2A LS-2B or C to LS- 2A # of Lights 1,354 ....ill. 1,769 $3,268.79 1.576.02 $4,844.81 $39,225.48 18.912.24 $58,137.72 $40.000.00 $98,137.72 Estimated Maintenance: (see below for details) Based on the above, the net annual savings to the City of Dublin would be $78,406.04. Maintenance: The options discussed in the preliminary feasibility study include maintenance by in-house personnel, contract personnel, and the utility company. As with the traffic signal maintenance services, it appears not to be cost-effective to hire in-house personnel. It is estimated that a single technician could maintain up to 6,000 lights, which is well above the number of lights in the City of Dublin now or any time in the foreseeable future. Additionally, the City does not have the facilities to support vehicles or a stock of parts. Mr. Hamm's report estimates the monthly cost of maintenance by in- house personnel to be $3.30 per light, which is very expensive. Paying the utility company for maintenance is likewise not desirable. Utility companies have reduced maintenance personnel to the point that response time could become a problem. The current estimated cost per light per month for maintenance by utility is $1.55 to $1.60; however, this cost is expected to increase to about $2.00 over the next few years. Since the City already contracts for other maintenance services, it appears that contract maintenance is the best option. Mr. Hamm's report estimates the cost of contract maintenance at $1.30 to $1.55 per light per month. This would not include the cost of any exceptional work such as repair of knockdowns, which is estimated at just under $7,100 per year. In the course of working with Mr. Hamm and the other agencies involved in the street light acquisition, the feasibility of joint maintenance contracts with some or all of the other agencies will be explored in an effort to keep costs at a minimum. Table III which follows gives a breakdown of the estimated maintenance cost. Page 2 TABLE ill COST OF MAINTENANCE 1,769 lights x $1.55/month estimated maintenance cost = $ 2,741.95/mo. $2,741.95 x 12 months = $32,903.40 Estimated cost of knockdowns: $ 7.096.60 $40,000.00 After deducting the estimated annual maintenance cost from the gross savings of $118,406.04, the net annual savings would be $78,406.04. Acquisition It is too early in the process to begin discussing the anticipated capital expenditure for the street lighting system, as purchase prices are established during negotiations; however, based on average purchase prices and payback periods which have occurred elsewhere in the State, the payback period for Dublin is estimated to be six or seven years.As noted below in the description of the Joint Powers Agreement, the City may elect to drop out of the process at any time. .J oint Powers Aereement The Joint Powers Agreement (Exhibit 2) provides for a division of cost among the agencies for further study toward acquisition of the lights, including appraisals and legal fees and administrative procedures. The cost sharing of the Phase II study (appraisal) is based on the proportionate share of PG&E-owned lights, and Phase III (acquisition) is based on the proportionate share of the appraisals. The City of San Leandro is acting as lead agency for the purpose of administering the consultants' contracts, and an administrative committee consisting of representatives from four agencies has been formed. Any of the member agencies of the JPA may, at any time, drop out of the process. Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the resolution approving the Joint Powers Agreement and authorize the expenditure of approximately $5,000 from the Street Light Maintenance Assessment District reserve. Staff will report back to the City Council periodically regarding the study results and request direction for future steps in the acquisition process. a: (conrracts2) \stUtes lagsrjpa . . RESOLUTION NO. -93 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCn.. OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN APPROVING JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT REGARDING ACQUISITION OF STREET LIGHTS WHEREAS, the County of Alameda and the cities within the County of Alameda desire to study the feasibility of purchasing street lights from Pacific Gas and Electric Company in order to reduce the cost of providing street lighting; and WHEREAS, a Joint Powers Agreement has been prepared which delineates administrative and study cost-sharing procedures; and WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the Agreement and found it to be appropriate; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Dublin does hereby approve the Joint Powers Agreement with the County of Alameda and cities within the County of Alameda. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor is authorized to execute the Agreement. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 13th day of December, 1993. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk a: (conlracu2) \srUres Iresojpa r;'~~"}Tr 1 . ." '. ~ ~ ....'A~. --" . . JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT (ALAMEDA COUNTY STREET LIGHT ACQUISITION) Pursuant to California Government Code sections 6500, et seq. , this is a Joint Powers Agreement ("JPA"). This JPA is hereby entered into by and between the following public agencies ("Parties" or "Party"): County of Alameda city of Albany City of Dublin City of Emeryville city of Fremont city of Hayward city of Livermore city of Newark City of Piedmont city of Pleasanton city of San Leandro City of Union city This JPA is made and executed on this 1993, in Alameda county, California. day of I. RECITALS. A. Each of the Parties to this JPA is a county or municipal corporation duly authorized and existing under the laws of the State of California, and situated within the boundaries of the county of Alameda; and B. Each of the Parties to this JPA have in common the powers and authority to enter into this JPA and carry out its purpose and intent; and C. Each of the Parties to this JPA currently provides street lighting systems for the health, safety and welfare of its respective residents; and D. Portions of such street lighting systems are owned and maintained by Pacific Gas and Electric Company ("PG&E"), which charges the Parties to this JPA a monthly or other periodic fee for providing street lighting facilities and energy for such facilities; and E. This JPA is entered into by the Parties to study the feasibility and cost of acquisition of street lights and appurtenant facilities owned by PG&E. Should it be determined that the public interest and necessity so warrants, based upon such study and upon due consideration of any other relevant information, the Parties intend by this JPA to provide for environmental review, appraisal, and acquisition of such street lights by all lawful means and by the powers held in common by each Party. F/r r'qr f) ~ ___ .fi6.J,-J',.r- . . NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual benefits, covenants and agreements set forth below, the Parties agree as follows: II. PURPOSE. The purpose of this JPA is to study the joint acquisition of all PG&E street lights currently in place within the jurisdiction and boundaries of each of the Parties, and to equitably spread the costs of acquisition among the Parties should each Party so determine to acquire street lights within its jurisdiction. It is not the purpose of the JPA to make any determination at this time as to the pUblic interest and/or necessity of acquiring such street lights. Any Party to the JPA may determine at any time, based upon due consideration of any and all relevant information, that it is not in the public interest and/or necessity to acquire such street lights. This JPA does not govern the ability or discretion of any Party to make such determination, and in no way suggests, implies or advises any Party to make (or not to make) such determination. It is not the purpose of this JPA to create a separate public agency, and no provision of this JPA should be so construed. III. ADMINISTRATION OF JPA. A. Party Delegated to Administer Aqreement. The Parties agree that, SUbject to paragraph III.B. below, the City of San Leandro shall act on behalf of all parties for purposes of the retention, administration and dismissal of environmental consul tants, appraisers, economists, attorneys, and all other professional services required to carry out the purposes of this JPA. The city of San Leandro shall pay all invoices when due, collect all funds necessary from the Parties, have custody and control of such funds, and otherwise fully account to the Parties for income and expenses incurred. A majority of the Parties may, however, at any time agree to substitute any other Party for the City of San Leandro. B. Administrative Committee. The Parties shall designate Robert Taylor of the city of San Leandro, Dennis Jones of the city of Fremont, Mary Erchul of the city of Pleasanton, and Ralph Johnson of the County of Alameda as an Administrative Committee. Such Committee shall meet to conduct any business necessary to effectuate the purpose of this JPA. The Administrative Committee shall review and approve the retention, performance and dismissal of all environmental consultants, appraisers, economists, attorneys, and all other professional service providers required to carry out the purposes of this JPA. The Administrative Committee shall establish such rules and procedures as are necessary for the orderly conduct of business. The Administrative Committee shall establish procedures for billing the Parties for the respective share of costs incurred. . . IV. PROCESS OF ACQUISITION. A. cost sharinq. This JPA contemplates the retention of various consultants and professionals to provide services through this JPA on behalf of the Parties. The Parties acknowledge that certain preliminary work has been performed for the Parties to date. This work is referred to as Phase I. The cost of such Phase I work has been or shall be borne by each individual Party. The costs of the Phase II and Phase III work shall be divided among the Parties as hereinafter provided. B. Phase II. 1. CEQA Compliance. The Administrative committee shall retain an environmental consultant to review the environmental impacts, if any, should any of the Parties' determine to acquire all PG&E street lights currently in place within the jurisdiction each of the Parties. Based upon the environmental consultant's findings, and any other pertinent information, the Parties shall separately and independently review and determine all necessary and appropriate steps to take in order to bring a potential joint acquisition of PG&E street lights into compliance with CEQA. 2. AppraisaL The Administrative committee shall retain an appraiser to make a determination of the fair market value of the street lights within each Party's respective jurisdiction. 3. Economic Analvses. The Administrative committee shall retain an economic analysist to study, based on the appraisal and any other relevant information, the feasibility of acquiring the street lights from PG&E. 4. Government Code ~ 7267.2 Offers. Based upon the economic analysis, and upon any other pertinent information, the parties may decide to make an offer to purchase some or all of the street lights within their respective jurisdiction and boundaries. The Parties agree that, in the event such determination is made, the Administrative Committee should coordinate the preparation and timing of any offers to PG&E. 5. Eminent Domain Anal vsis. If any of the Parties decide to make any offers to PG&E, and if PG&E rejects any of the offers, the Administrative committee shall retain an attorney to analyze the possibility of acquiring the streets by eminent domain. Such analysis would include, among others, the issue of whether any parties have a right to take the street lights by eminent domain, and whether any acquisition is supported by the California Eminent Domain Law, including but not limited to the more necessary public use provisions of Code of civil Procedure section 1240.610, et. seq.. However, such analysis would have no bearing, impact or affect on the Parties' discretion to determine, based on any relevant information, that the public interest and necessity do not require the acquisition' of any street lights by eminent domain. . . 6. Cost Sharinq of PHASE II. Each Party agrees to share the costs of all Phase II work in proportion to the number of street lights within each Party's respective jurisdiction to be acquired, and to the total number of street lights to be acquired in all parties' jurisdictions combined. By way of example, the costs of one professional consultant may be $5,000. If there are a total of 25,000 street lights in all Parties' jurisdictions combined, and if there are 5,000 street lights within city "X's" jurisdiction, City "X" would then be responsible for one-fifth (1/5) of the consultant's fees, or $1,000. C. Phase III. 1. Eminent Domain. If PG&E rejects any of the Parties' offers, and if any of the Parties so desire, any Party may consider the possibility of acquiring any of the street lights by eminent domain. In that event, any Party may request the Administrative Committee to retain legal counsel specializing in eminent domain to assist any of the Parties in all litigation pertaining to any acquisition by eminent domain. Such assistance shall include, but is not limited to, the procedure for adopting a resolution of necessity under Code of Civil Procedure Sections 1240.040 and 1245.210, et seq., the procedure for commencing eminent domain proceedings, and the procedure for obtaining a judgment in the eminent domain action. For this purpose, the requesting Parties agree that any potential eminent domain action should be consolidated, such that any requesting Party seeking to exercise its eminent domain authority shall do so with any other requesting Parties seeking to do the same in one lawsuit. Such lawsuit would be filed in the Superior Court of Alameda County. This provision has no bearing, impact or effect on any Party's discretion to determine that the public interest and necessity does not require the acquisition of any street lights by eminent domain. Further, this provision has no bearing, impact or effect on any Party's discretion to determine that any of the requirements for adopting a resolution of necessity under Code of civil Procedure sections 1240.030 and 1245.230 have not been met or satisfied. 2. cost Sharinq for Acquisition Costs. Any Party determining to acquire any street lights by eminent domain will share in the costs of acquisition with any other Party doing the same as follows: a. If there is a settlement of the eminent domain action, the Parties' legal counsel shall request the value of the street lights acquired in each Party's respective jurisdiction to be separately determined. Each Party would then be responsible for the agreed value of street lights acquired in that Party's jurisdiction; b. If ,there is a verdict in an eminent domain . . action, the Parties' legal counsel shall request the jury to separately value (by way of a special verdict) the street lights acquired in each Party's respective jurisdiction. Each Party would then be responsible for the acquisition costs of the street lights acquired in that Party's jurisdiction. c. If, in either a settlement or verdict in the eminent domain action, a separate valuation of street lights acquired within each Party's jurisdiction cannot (for any reason) be obtained, the Parties agree to share the costs of acquisition on the basis of each Party's relative responsibility as determined by the appraisal upon which the Parties base their Government Code S 7267.2 offer. By way of illustration, assume the Parties' appraisal estimated a total value of $1,000,000 for all street lights. Assume further that the appraisal estimated the street lights acquired within city "XiS" jurisdiction at $100,000, or one- tenth (1/10) of the total value of all street lights acquired. If the Parties subsequently agree to settle the matter in full for $1,200,000, or if a jury awards a total value of $1,200,000, City "X" would then be responsible for one-tenth (1/10) of $1,200,000, or $120,000. 3. Cost Sharinq for Li tiqation Expenses. The costs of litigation expenses, including attorneys' fees, expert consultants' fees, deposition transcripts and any other costs necessarily incurred in an eminent domain action, shall be shared by each Party in accordance with each Party's relative responsibility as determined by the appraisal upon which the Parties base their Government Code S 7267.2 offer. By way of illustration, assume that the appraisal (upon which the S 7267.2 offer is based) estimated the street lights acquired wi thin city "X' s" jurisdiction to be valued at one-tenth (1/10) of the total value of all street lights acquired. city "X" would then be responsible for one-tenth (1/10) of the Parties' total litigation expenses. v. TERMINATION AND WITHDRAWAL. Any Party may at any time terminate its participation in, and withdrawal from, this JPA by providing written notice of said termination and withdrawal to the city of San Leandro, c/o Robert Taylor, Public Works Services, 14200 Chapman Road, San Leandro, California, 94578. Mr. Taylor will promptly notify all other Parties. Such termination and withdrawal shall become effective upon thirty (30) days of written notice. Any Party that terminates its participation in, and withdraws from, this JPA shall be liable for its share of costs for Phase II or Phase III work at the time the termination and withdrawal becomes effective. Such Party shall be solely responsible, . . however, for any and all damages and litigation expenses (including but not limited to attorneys' fees) arising out of any abandonment or loss of use of street lights within the Party's jurisdiction. VI. RECIPROCAL HOLD HARMLESS. Subject to paragraph V above, each Party agrees to hold any other Party harmless against any and all claims arising out of a Party's participation in and conduct pursuant to this JPA. VII. AMENDMENT. This JPA may be amended only by the written consent of all Parties to this JPA. COUNTY OF ALAMEDA By President, Board of supervisors ATTEST: Clerk of the Board APPROVED AS TO FORM: County Counsel CITY OF ALBANY, a non-prof it corporation By Mayor ATTEST: city Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney . . CITY OF DUBLIN, a municipal corporation By Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney CITY OF EMERYVILLE, a municipal corporation By city Manager ATTEST: city Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney CITY OF FREMONT, a municipal corporation By city Manager ATTEST: city Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney . . CITY OF HAYWARD, a municipal corporation By ci ty Manager . ATTEST: city Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney CITY OF LIVERMORE, a municipal corporation By Mayor ATTEST: city Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney . . CITY OF NEWARK, a municipal corporation By Mayor ATTEST: city Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney CITY OF PIEDMONT, a municipal corporation By Mayor ATTEST: city Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney . . CITY OF PLEASANTON, a municipal corporation By City Manager ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney CITY OF SAN LEANDRO, a municipal corporation By city Manager ATTEST: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney . . CITY OF UNION CITY By Mayor ATTEST: city Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney 136\agree\strlght.dws