Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - June 20, 1991 (84),t.OF CITY OF LODI c4<tFOR��t f 'A COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA TITLE: Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) Program N11L°M DATE: June 20, 1991 PREFARED BY: City Manager RECOMMENDED ACTIOK: That the City Council approving the City of Service Authority for Program. adopt Resolution No. 91-109 Lodi `s participation in the Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) BACKGROUND IlFRMAIM- The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) has requested that the County of San Joaquin join forces with six other counties in implementing a regional Service Authority Freeway Emergencies program. The other counties are Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba, Placer and El Dorado. The City Council reviewed this topic at its "Shirtsleeve" session of April 16, 1991. At that time Councilmember Penni no requested more detailed information on the various cost components of this program. That information has previously been distributed to the City Council and is also included herein (Exhibit A). The SAFE program provides for the installation of call boxes on interstate highways and state routes within designated areas. A number of counties in California have the program already in place with boxes installed. Funding i s provided through a $1 increase in vehicle registration fees in the area where the service is provided. The call boxes can be used to report accidents or other road emergencies that may create safety hazards. The boxes provide for two-way communication between the caller and the California Highway Patrol. The appropriate resolution is also attached (Exhibit B). FUNDING: No City funding required. Vehicle registration fees would be increased $1 per year. Respectfully submitted, 0. GL�- Thomas A. Peterson C i t Manager TAP: b r Attachments CCCOM221JTXTA.07A APPROVED: THOMAS A. PETERSON Sa,, Joaquin County Council .,,-'Governments Metnher Agencies: Citic, of F.scaion. Latl.mp. Uxli. Manteca. Ri)om. Stockton. Tracy. Ciretiv g1'.&iu_hwic1uin May 15,1991 Mr. Thomas Peterson Lodi City Manager City of Lodi Call Box 3006 Lodi, CA 95241 Dear Mr. Peterson: �'�II1C A The Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) has asked San Joaquin County to join forces with six other counties in implementinga regional Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies (SAFE). This proposal was introduced to the Lodi City Council during their informal shirt -sleeve session on April 16,199 1. At that time, Councilmember Pennino requested more detailed information on the various cost components of the regional SAFE program. Attached, foryou review, is a summary of the various SAFE cost components and an expla- nation of how the consultant derived the cost figures. Itis important to understand the feasibility study isjust that, a feasibility study. Although the study does make adjustments for inflation, other factors may affect the cost figures, The cost for call boxes, for instance, has varied considerably from one region of the State to another, and has also varied with the size of the order. Insurance costs are also changingas the program gains history as an insurance item. Once the regio,ial SAFE is established the SAFE Board, composed of elected officials from all participating counties, will make policy decisions impacting the cash flow of the pro- gram. These decisions will include financing considerations as well as decisions related to the $1 DMV fee collection, i.e., when to begin collection and for how long. One conclusive finding of the study is that of the seven counties studied (Sacramento, Sut- ter, Yolo, Yuba, Placer, SanJoacluin and E1 Dorado) only Sacramentowould be able to generate enough revenue to operate a single county call box program. None of the others could generate enough money to operate a cou ntywide SAFE at the scope suggested by established SAFE system guidelines. I would be happy to discuss this proposal further or answer other questions you may have. Very truly yours, . NANCY MILLER Associate Planner Attachment Regional Tram o+rlalion Planning Agency. )areal Translorrtation Authority. Congestion Ainnagement Agency. Airport taend tNe Commiccion 190) E. ih/dIon Avenuc • Stnrkh,n. C;11i{i,rnia (2119) .168-3913 • FAX: (209) .168.11'1) COST COMPONENTS OF THE REGIONAL SAFE SYSTEM CAPITAL COSTS Capital costs include call box equipment and site preparation and installation. The par unit capital cost has been as high as $4,600 in orange County (includes site preparation, installation and maintenance costs) and as low as $2,300 in Ventura (includes only the call box equipment). San Bernadino and Riverside SAFGs recently joined efforts to cut per unit costs and due in part to the large volume order (nearly 1,900 boxes) they negotiated a $2,700 per unit cost (includes site preparation and installation). SACOG's regional SAFE feasibility study is based on $2,900 per unit cost ($2,300 for equipment and $600 for site preparation and installation), ONGOING COSTS $1,419,340 (at full. build -out FY 1998) TAlenhone: Tina anr] Arracc $229,290 (at full build -out FY 1998) These costs include Network Access Fees, Per -Minute Call Chaz: es, Toll Charges and Line Service . Cellular service providers charge both a network access fee and a per -minute fee to use their cell site network. The consultants preparing the feasibility study have had success negotiating network access fees ranging from $7 - $12 per month for cellular service to a call box. They have also had success negotiating per -minute fees as low as 10 cents per minute, after 35 - 65 minutes of free time, per month, per box. Costs for network access fees in this study are estimated at $10.50 per month, per box. The per -minute fee estimate for this study is based on 65 free minutes per box. These two costs, access fee and per -minute charge, are combined and spread over a 10 year period, with less cost in early years because of fewer phones being operational. Calls placed from a call box travel over the airways to a cell site. Once at a cell site, the call is relayed either by hard -wire or microwave to a local Mobile Telephone Service Office (MTSO). At this point, the call enters the conventional hard -wire phone company network and is routed to the appropriate CHP dispatch center. Depending on the location of the MTSO, the call box, and the CHP dispatch center, toll (long-distance) charges may be incurred. The feasibility study uses an estimate of $12,000 per year for toll charges and inflates costs 4% per year. Each CHP dispatch center Will have dedicated phone lines to handle SAFE calls. Each line costs approximately .$100 per month. The feasibility study projects a need for s lines to cover the seven county SAFE region. (A 4% annual increase is used to adjust costs over time.) $408,42t1 (at full build -out FY 1998) These costs include System Maintenance and Xnoakdowns/vandalism. System maintenance includes both preventative maintenance (every 6 months) and corrective maintenance (as needed). This cost can be contracted over a 10 year period, and identified as a fixed budget item. Historical records show that system maintenance is approxi- mately $120 per year, per box, with annual (50) increases to adjust for inflation. The cost for knockdowns and vandalism are estimated by drawing on the experience of SAFES in San Diego and Orange Counties. Both areas have experienced a 6% knockdown rate. In cases where accident reports are filed and the responsible party identified, repair or replacement costs may be recovered. This study uses an estimate of 6% knockdowns each year, at a cost of $1,500 each, with a 30% insurance recovery rate. Vandalism is also estimated at 6% per year, with a cost of $600 per occurrence. Vandalism includes: bullet holes, spray painting, handset bashing, solar panel thefts, attempted break-ins to the inner box and outright thefts of the entire call box terminal. The system is alarmed to notify the CHP when vandalism occurs, but in order to catch the vandal, immediate priority must be given to the call box alarm. To the extent that vandals are caught, cost may be recovered. Estimated costs for vandalism and knockdowns are increased 4% annually to account for inflation. General, Administrative and Insurance $220,000 (at full build -out, FY 1998) Implementation of the SAFE will require one full time staff position as well as assistance from an outside consultant firm. The consul- tant firm can provide assistance with the RFP, vendor selection, contract negotiations, system installation and post implementation system management. Insurance is also needed to protect the SAFE from possible legal action. Because of the newness of the SAFE systems as an insurance item, insurance rates were very high in 1988 and 1989. Lower rates are expected by the time the SACOG regional SAFE is implemented. The feasibility study estimates rates at $63,000 per 1,000 call boxes, per year, for a policy in the range from $5 million to $10 million. -2- —4— CHP: Ecxuioment and Staff $561,630 (at full build -out FY 2.998) Legislation requires that SAFES reimburse the CHP for their expenses related to SAFE programs. These expenses include staff, equipment, and dedicated phone lines. The cost of dedicated phone lines were discussed above and are included as a phone charge. In accordance with SAFE legislation, .the CHP must be reimbursed for equipment purchased to provide service to the call boxes. The CHP is purchasing Automatic Call Distributors (ACDs) and Telephone Management Information Systems (TMIS) and eventually Computer Assisted Dispatch (CAD) equipment, The CHP recognizes that this equipment will benefit all of their call answering functions inclu- ding SAFE calls, and accordingly the equipment costs are shared. CHP has estimated the SAFE's share to be approximately $1,000 per month per dispatch center. The feasibility study uses 4 CHP dis- patch centers for the 7 county regional SAFE program. The current cost of a dispatch operator, including benefits, super- vision, etc., is $44,103 per year. The SACOG feasibility study estimates that 10 dispatch operators would be needed for the 7 county SAFE. Debt Service The feasibility study reviews various types of financing mechanisms but for purposes of the cost flow analysis, conventional bank or third party short term note financing is assumed. The loan analysis is based on 8% interest rate for borrowed funds and the loan is amortized over 10 years. Bar charts (next page) illustrate the income and expenses of the seven county regional SAFE program. The charts axe based on the assumption that: + All seven counties participate in the SAFE. • Call boxes are installed along all eligible highways at standard spacing. + Call boxes are purchased on a pay-as-you-go basis. This will result in the installation of 1,690 call box units over a 60 month period. In this scenario, revenue collection begins in fiscal year 1992 and call box installation begins in fiscal year 1993 and should be complete by the end of fiscal year 1997. -3- RESOLUTION NO. 91-109 A RESOLLTEON OF THE LODI CITY ODLNCII. AFFROVM IN CONCEPT THE THE SERVICE AUIHORRY FOR FREEWAY EMRZCENUES (SAFE) PROGRAM VAS the Sacramento Area Council of Governments - ? i Tequested that the County of San Joaquin join forces with six other counties in implementing a regional Service Authority For Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) Program, as described in Exhibit A attached hereto, and which program provides for. the installation of call boxes on interstate highways and State routes within designated areas; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lodi City Council hereby approves in concept the Service Authority For Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) Program; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Council hereby directs staff to monitor the proposed SAFE Program and report back to Council at a future Council meeting. Dated: June 20, 1991 --------------------- I hereby certify that Resolution No. 91-109 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City Council in an adjourned regular meeting held June 20, 1991 by the following vote: Ayes : Council Menibeis - Pennino, Pinkerton and Hinchman Noes : Council Members - Sieglock Absent: Council Members - Snider 91-109 RES91109/TXTA.02J -1'�7.c" Alice M. Reimche City Clerk CITY COI.NCJL DAVID I'A HINCHNIAN. Mayor JAMES W PINKERTON, Jr Mayor Pro Tempore PHILLIP A. PENNINO JACK A SIECLOCK JOHN R. (Randy) SNIDER CITY OF LODI CITY HALL, 22? WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209)334-5634 FAX(209) 333-6795 June 25, 1991 Doug Reed Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) 3000 "S" Street Suite 300 Sacramento, CA 95818 Dear 14 Reed: THOMAS A PETERSON Citv Manager ALICE M KEIMCHE City Clerk ROB McNATT Citv Attorney The todi City Council in action taken at its June 20, 1991 adjourned regular meeting adopted Resolution No. 91-109 approving in concept the Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) program. Staff was asked to monitor this proposed program and report back to the City Council as to its findings. Enclosed please find a certified copy of Resolution No. 91-109. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to call this office. Very truly yours, Alice M. Relmche City Clerk AMR/jmp Enclosures CITY COUNCIL DAVIDK4 HINCHMAN. Mavor JAMES W PINKERTON, 1, M a y o r Pro Tempore PHILLIP A PENNINO JACK A. SIECLOCK JOHN R (Randy) SNIDER CITY OF LODI CITY HALL. 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LOBI. CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209)333-5634 FAX (209) 333-6795 June 25, 1991 Nancy Miller Associate Planner San Joaquin County Council of Governments (COG) 1860 East Hazelton Avenue Stockton, CA 95205 Dear Nancy : THOMAS A PETERSON City Manager ALICE M REINICHE CGty Clerk BOB McINATT City Attorney The Lodi City Council in action taken at its June 20, 1991 adjourned regular meeting adopted Resolution No. 91-109 approving in concept the Freeway Emergencies (SAFE) program. Staff was asked to monitor this proposed program and report back to the City Council as to its findings. Enclosed please find a certified copy of Resolution No. 91-109. Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to call this office. Very truly yours, AaJ h) 4w, Alice M. Reimche City Clerk AMR/jmp Enclosures