UTILITY COMMITTEE
The Utility Committee meeting was held on August 27, 1991, at 8:45 P-m- . with Acting Chairman Levitt presiding. Members present were Councilmen SaJters and
Daisey. Other members of Council present were Mr. Hare, Mr. Weyandt, Mr. Lynn.
Mr. Pitts, Council President Christiansen and Mayor Rdchter.
deputized to serve as member of the committee.
A@ENDA ADDITION.
S/DELETIONS
There were no additions or deletions to the agenda.
RPEALS
Dgiist 26, 1991, City Council considered a proposed
0dinance that establishes the method of determining front foot charges for water
and sewer main assessments. The front foot charge for each project shall be determined by City Council, based on the procedures included. Council voted to set the maximum rates for 1991-92 at $30 per foot for water mains and $40 per foot for sewer mains.
During the Legislative and Finance Committee meeting of August 13, 1991, staff suggested that an opinion be requested from the City Solicitor on the effect the proposed ordinance will have on the Route #113 assessments, for a recommendation to the Utility Committee.
City Engineer David Braun distributed a proposed ordinance that would repeal an ordinance previously adopted, under the old policy. and would set the new front foot charges for the Route #113 assessments. An attachment to the ordinance shows the new assessment costs for the involved property owners.
Mr. Jim Walton of Jim's Auto Trim was present and expressed his appreciation for the action taken by staff and Council, He expressed, however. his concern that the same assessment is levied for undeveloped land as is levied for developed land even though installation costs are greater for land that is already developed. Mr. Worley explained that it is much easier to assess everyone equally, based upon the total project cost. than it would be to assess based upon individual installation costs for each property.
Mr. Daisey moved to recommend approval of the ordinance (Attachment *1), which will be presented for the First Reading during the Council Meeting of September 9, 1991. A draf t of the proposed ordinance will be sent to all involved property owners and will be an item for discussion on the Utility Committee agenda on September 10, 1991. Final Reading of the ordinance will be considered during the Council Meeting of September 23, 1991. The motion was seconded by Mr. Pitts and unanimously carried.
ELECT
The c ual Engineering Consultants Report for 1991 as
submitted by the Middle West Service Cortipany. This report is required under the Bond Resolution adopted by the City in 1985, 1965 and 1960.
Middle West has reviewed the current fiscal year and made recommendations for the next fiscal year in the areas of operations, maintenance, improvement and extensions as well as electric rates and insurance.
Mr. Worley advised members that the recommendations were taken into consideration in the preparation of the Electric Department's budget.
Mr. Pitts was
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Mr. Salters moved to recommend acceptance of the Annual Engineering Consultants Report for 1991 as submitted by the Middle West Service Company, seconded by Mr. Daisey and unanimously carried.
HANDICAPPED PARKING_::_ @PACE @DESIGN@ p
urillg the pa st few months. staff has received requests for on-street handicap
parking spaces. In accordance with the American National Standards Institute ' handicapped parking spaces can be provided on streets. The regulations require a four foot wide clear space so that the street is not used to travel from the parking space to the access patted. The sidewalk would aualify as the clear area. if access is provided to the sidewalk froni the r oadway. This would be accomplished with a ramp adjacent to the handicap space.
A draft ordinance was prepared to address requests for on-street handicap parking spaces in the City of Dover. The ordinance would require the City to provide signs and markings and that any required ramp would be the responsibility of the requesting party, which is consistent with the current regulations for curb depressions. The on-street spaces shall not be provided in place of any required on-site handicap spaces. Staff recommended adoption of the proposed ordinance for on-street handicap parking spaces.
Mr. Salters moved to recommend adoption of the proposed ordinance for on-street handicap parking spaces (Attachment *2), seconded by Mr. Daisey and unanimously carried.
NORTH ST
Staff su mitted a proposal for the renovation of North Street, between Federal and State Streets, for the committee's review. Mr. Worley explained that the Department of State is constricting the Biggs Museum and Visitors Center at the southwest corner of North and Federal Streets. which is scheduled to be completed in September. Once the project is completed, it is anticipated that there will be a strong demand by tourists for access to the retail area of downtown and the Historic District on State Street by means of the North Street corridor.
Mr. Worley advised members that for several years, the Electric Department has had an on-going project to underground overhead electric lines on North Street between Federal Street and Governors Avenue. Staff estimated that the conversion of the electric lines would cost $115,000. The only additional funds required from the City would be for the water line, at an approximate cost of $18.000. Mr. Worley noted that the recently bid Ross Street water line was under budget; therefore. there are available funds for the necessary water line.
During the budget process, staff indicated the possibility of State legislators assisting in the renovation of the street surface. Mr. Worley stated that he has received tentative commitments in the amount of $90,000 from several legislators.
Staff recommended approval of the North Street Renovation Project as presented. To expedite the project, staff also requested the option to take advantage of very good unit prices on the Biggs Building which was bid by the State.
Mr. Salters moved to recommend approval of the North Street Renovation Project and that staff be authorized to take advantage of the unit prices on the Biggs Building which was bid by the State. The motion was seconded by Mr. Daisey and unanimously carried.
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@!.MUNICIPAL SU@EET AID PRIORITIES
Each year the City submits a priority listing of potential State Municipal Street Aid projects to the City's legislators. Staff recommended approval of the proposed projects for 1991-92, as submitted.
Mayor Richter voiced objections to utilizing these funds for the paving of existing dirt streets. When the property owners bought the property, they did so based upon the fact that it faced an unpaved street. Surfacing of the street will directly increase the property value of these properties and Mayor Richter felt it unfair to utilize taxpayers money for an improvement that affects only a select few.
After discussing the municipal street aid priorities at length, the committee recommended the deletion of items #1. #5. and #7, and prioritized the remaining items as depicted on Attachment *3. Mr. Salters moved to recommend approval of the municipal street aid priorities as amended, seconded by Mr. Daisey and unanimously carried.
BIDS
Purchaseof Vehicles
In the 1991/92 budget, the Electric Department budgeted for the purchase of three (3) sedans, two (2) 3/4 ton pickups, two (2) small pickups, and one (1) van. Bids were solicited and received from seven vendors.
After reviewing the bids. staff felt that better prices could be obtained by utilizing the State's bid. However, the State has not recently bid for small pickups which the City tises. Based upon this information. staff recommended that a purchase order be issued to the low bidder for small pickups, Townsend Brothers. in the amount of $20,792, and that purchase of the other needed vehicles be requested under State bid.
Mr. Daisey moved to recommend that a purchase order be issued to Townsend Brothers in the amount of $20,792 for the purchase of two small pickups, seconded by Mr. Salters and unanimously carried.
PULC@ase of Br hi
n@!@ @er
The Electric Department budgeted for the purchase of a brush chiDPer in next year's budget. Mr. Worley advised members that due to the workload of tree trimming, it was recommended that crews be split into two and that the purchase of the chipper be moved into this year's budget. He stated that the cost to rent such a machine would be between $1,500 - $1,950 per month.
Bids were solicited for a Vermeer 1250 brush chipper', which is heavy duty ans highly recommended by private tree trimming companies. The low bid was received from Vermeer Sales and Service - Annapolis, Maryland, in the amount of $17.356. Mr. Worley noted that a budget amendment will be required since the purchase was not budgeted.
Staff recommended that two tree trimming crews be developed in the Transmission and Distribution Division to keep up with the heavy workload of tree trimming and that a purchase order be issued to Vermeer Sales and Service of Annai)olis, Maryland for $17,356 to purchase a Vermeer Brush Chipper Model 1250.
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Mr.Salters recommended approval of staff's recommendation, seconded by
Mr.Daisey and unanimously carried,
Mr.Worley noted that formal budget amendments will be made at a later date.
ce since the St,-Irt-UD Of the on, these motors have not riey noted that there is a years and that vendors have ers that the noise has been eas ng over the past few weeks and that the station has no suare motors for this application.
Mr. Worley explaiiied that failure of eithei, boiler feedpump motor would limit the Unit #3 output to 50% of rated load, Assuming a 25 week lead time for a new motor and damage beyond repair to the existing motor, an estimated loss in revenLie of $378,000 would occur. Staff contacted several vendors to obtain the best price for a new replacement motor (an exact duplicate of the original was specified). The low bid was received from Wood Equipment Company in the amount of $76,999.
Staff recommended that a purchase order be issued to Wood Equipment Company for $76,999 to obtain a replacement boiler feedpump motor. The existing 3A boiler feedpump motor could be replaced and sent to the manufacturer for refurbishment and kept as a spare for the two in-service motors. Mr. Worley noted that a budget amendment will be required since the purchase was not budgeted.
Mr. Salters recommeiided approval of staff's recommendation. seconded by Mr. Daisey and unanimously carried.
Un
Th originally installed during the 1970's. Althougli
it is in operational condition, work is required to maintain and/or iniprove the operational characteristics. This cooling tower was marginallv sized when new, and any loss of performance restricts Unit #3's maximum output. The tower's manufacturer, Marley Cooling Tower Company, was requested to perform an inspection. As a result, Marley stibmitted recommenda t ions for work oii the tower that total approximately $134,000.
Although the Marley inspection report and recommendation accurately reflect the material condition of the Unit #3 tower, Mr. Worley stated that all of the work is not necessary at this time, nor does it reauire contractors to perform all the activities. Staff recomniended that a purchase order be issued to Marley Cooling Tower Compaiiy in the amount of $117,694 for the following items:
ItemDescriptioli_Total Cost
10.A.1Rebtiild flow control valves$ 2,640
10.A.2Hot water basin strips1,495
19.BTU-10 eliminator replacement58,240
22.ADriveshaft bushing/alignment8,324
24.BGalv. hub assy. w/ss hardware25,970
24.CFan blade leading edge overlay9,425
Supervision & eqiiip. rentals__11,600
$117,694
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Mr. Worley noted that a budget amendinent will be required since the Durchase was
not budgeted. He also stated that the work would be scheduled during' the Unit #3 boiler outage in October and November of 1991.
Mr. Salters moved to recommend approval of staff's recommendation, seconded by Mr. Daisey and unanimously carried.
Mr. Salters moved for adjournment, seconded by Mr. Daisey and unanimously carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 9:39 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Irving S. Levitt
Acting Chairman
ISL/ig
Attachments