REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
December 18, 2014
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: SCOTT W. KRAUTER, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Traffic Signal & Streetlight Division
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - 29th amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2014-95 appropriating $250,000 for the application of wire theft deterrents to post top streetlight poles throughout the City of Fresno (Requires 5 affirmative votes)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Council adopt the 29th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution No. 2014-95 appropriating $250,000 of unanticipated FY 2014 Measure "C" Flexible revenue to the Public Works Department, Traffic Signal and Streetlight Division to implement more comprehensive theft deterrent on post top streetlights.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2013, the City of Fresno implemented a wire theft deterrent program to protect the vast majority of the 42,000 streetlights citywide. Since that time wire theft from streetlight systems have been effectively controlled. However, the implemented deterrents were not as effective on the roughly 2,600 post top style poles which in most cases are not metallic or cannot be effectively welded. The intent of these funds is to implement a more effective wire theft deterrent for these post top style streetlight poles.
BACKGROUND
Since it was noted that the measures to prevent wire theft in 2013 were not as effective on post top streetlights, the Traffic Signal and Streetlight Division of the Public Works Department started developing a more effective method to deter wire theft in these situations. City staff has successfully developed a system that further impedes access to post top streetlight poles which should reduce wire theft.
Although the 2,600 post top style poles are located in all parts of the City, the Downtown area has the highest concentration at 500. The Downtown area streetlight systems have been impacted more than any other by wire theft, with 40% of these downtown locations not operating as of recent months. However wire theft in other locations of the City is also occurring with the post top streetlights. The Measure "C" Flexible funding will first be utilized for the downtown triangle. Once staff completes the downtown area, the deterrent will be extended to other areas where post top style lights exist such as Huntington Boulevard and the Fresno High School areas.
The funds identified for this effort are additional, unanticipated Measure "C" Flexible funds received in FY2014. The funding will be used for application of the deterrent, while the wire replacement will be accomplished with the City's Wire Replacement fund which was included in the FY2015 Adopted Budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
The retrofit of wire deterrent to post top streetlight poles is considered maintenance and is not defined as a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and does not require an environmental finding.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered because this amendment does not include a bid or award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
The theft deterrent measures for post top streetlights will be funded by $250,000 of Measure "C" Flexible dollars that normally provide resources for a variety of Public Works qualified programs. These funds will pay for labor and material to implement the wire theft deterrent on as many post top poles in the City's inventory as possible.
Attachment: 29th Amendment to Annual Appropriation Resolution 2014-95