R2007-81 AUTHORIZING AGREEMENT - Laserfiche WebLink

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r � Engineering & Infrastructure Memorandum � N0. 2007-23 May 4, 2007 TO: Honorable Mayor Osborne and City Council FROM: Steve Garm . City Manager � Richard G. rley, P. E.,Director of Engineer'ng �fastruct e Matthew C. Newell, P. E., City Engineei��l SUBJECT: Grant Agreement with Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation for LED i,ighting Upgrade Project, City Project 07-OS SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended by staff that the City Council approve the attached resolutions: (1) A resolution authorizing an agreement with the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to approve a grant of $170,675 for Light Emitting Diode (LED) Lighting Upgrade for the City of Decatur, City Project 07-05. (2) A resolution authorizing a Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) Fund expenditure of $350,000 for the purchase of LED lenses for a proposed signal improvement project later this year. BACKGROUND: On February 5, 2007, the City Council authorized an agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to amend the current Intergovernmental Agreement for traffic signal maintenance to retrofit the traffic signals on State routes through the City with LED lenses. At that time, City staff informed the City Council that a grant request would be submitted to the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) to assist with funding the material costs associated with this retrofit. The City has been advised that a grant of$170,675 has been awarded to the City for the purchase of LED lenses for the City's traffic signals located on State routes. The ICECF grant program is primarily aimed at reducing the use of electricity. Traditional traffic signals use 135 watt incandescent lamps with a life span of approximately 12 to 18 months. Comparable LED faces expend between 20 and 30 watts with a life span of approximately 10 years. Energy usage and maintenance can be significantly reduced through the use of LED technology. Staff has requested the allocation of$350,000 in MFT funds to purchase the LED signal faces to be used in the project. The requested funding is in excess of the grant reimbursement for two reasons. (1) The grant is not structured to cover the full cost of each unit. The LED lenses meeting IDOT's specifications cost approximately 1.8 times the grant's allocation. (2) City staff proposes to use this opportunity to purchase additional lenses to capitalize on the large quantity of the order. The grant covers the purchase of approximately 3,700 LED lenses, and staff proposes to purchase around 300 additional lenses to assist with ongoing maintenance and to provide spare units for the installation work.