REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: HENRY THOMPSON, A.A.E., IAP, Director of Aviation
Airports Department
BY: MELISSA GARZA-PERRY, Airports Properties Manager
Airports Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions relating to the purchase and installation of License Plate Recognition System (LPR) as a part of the Parking and Control Revenue System equipment (PARCS) from SKIDATA, Inc., a Delaware Corporation, (SKIDATA) for the Surface Parking Lot project at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (Council District 4):
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301/Class 1 (Existing Facilities) of the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines.
2. RESOLUTION - Approving an Exception to Formal Bidding Requirements and Authorizing a Sole Source Contract for License Plate Recognition System.
3. Award a contract to SKIDATA Inc., for the purchase and installation of License Plate Recognition System (LPR) as a part of the Parking and Revenue Control System equipment (PARCS) for all entrances and exits of Airport Parking with Grant Funds in the amount of $350,340.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
In matters pertaining to the purchase and installation of License Plate Recognition System (LPR) as a part of the Parking and Control Revenue System equipment (PARCS) for all Airport Parking Lot entrance and exit gates at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), staff recommends that City Council: (i) Adopt a finding of Class 1 Categorical Exemption, pursuant to Section 15301of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines (Existing Facilities); (ii) Adopt a Resolution approving a Sole Source Exception to formal bidding requirements and authorizing a sole source contract for LPR system; and (iii) Award a contract to SKIDATA, Inc., in the amount of $350,340 from remaining technology grant fuds and authorize the Director of Aviation to execute related documents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2016, the Airports Department (Airports) completed a replacement of all PARCS equipment at the FAT parking facilities. With the record growth of passengers at FAT, current parking facilities are at capacity. New surface parking lots were added in 2019 and a new parking garage was added in 2021. The proposed contract with SKIDATA authorizes Airports to purchase and install LPR system at all of the entrance and exit gates to allow for real time parking information and tracking of vehicles while parked at FAT. The system will lower the need for paper tickets that are often lost or destroyed when left in the vehicle. By the elimination of paper tickets, it will allow for a faster process time as the license plate is stored in the system and the calculation of the cost is immediate. The data obtained through the LPR is only held until the customer exits the facility and it is then erased from the system. The LPR allows for real time and accurate inventory of vehicles and entrance and exit times from the facility. The system comes with warranty and preventative maintenance through SKIDATA.
BACKGROUND
PARCS is a comprehensive operating system that incudes, but is not limited to, barrier gate systems, communication equipment, computer hardware and software, servers, firewalls, exit terminal credit card systems, revenue management system and other related support systems. Other firms produce products and systems similar to those required for this project. However, because of the proprietary nature of the parking revenue control management software and hardware this system runs on all of the same backbone of equipment as the current PARCS system. Use of another system could require additional purchases to make it compatible or the entire system would require replacement if the requested components were not purchased from SKIDATA. This would result in an unnecessary and costly re-investment in the PARCS system. The PARCS system is performing extremely well and has allowed Airports to more efficiently operate its parking facilities.
The equipment includes the addition cameras at all the parking lot entrances and exit lanes. It uses LPR to capture the license plate to allow for correct entry and exit time from the facility. It keeps inventory of the vehicle and can process the parking transaction without a ticket, which are often lost, with the accuracy of the amount to be charged to the customer. The new SKIDATA components are compatible with the current PARCS operations at the Airport.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved as to form the Sole Source Resolution and contract to purchase the equipment.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This agreement falls within the Class 1 Categorical Exemption for Existing Facilities set forth in California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15301 for existing facilities, as it involves minor or no alteration of existing facilities, with no expansion of use, and will not result in any significant negative effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality. Furthermore, none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not considered since this is equipment to be added to an existing system that is proprietary.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund from this action. The cost of the LPR project ($350,340) will be made using previously obtained technology grants, which this project was a part of.
Attachments:
Memorandum - City Manager Sole Source Approval
Resolution - Sole Source; SKIDATA, Inc.
Product Purchase and Installation Contract