HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - December 20, 2000 E-17CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA TITLE: Authorize Improvements within the Electric Utility Operations Center and Appropriate Funding
($12,500.00)
MEETING DATE: December 20, 2000
SUBMITTED BY: Electric Utility Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council adopt the attached resolution authorizing improvements
within the Electric Utility Operations Center and appropriate the necessary
funding.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Electric Utility Operations Center is the communications hub for both
Electric and Public Works crews. It also serves as the center for electric
operations, dispatch and system control and receives and dispatches various
types of calls from the public, other departments and agencies. The large volume of communication is primarily done
via telephone, cell phone and mobile radios. However, both the public and city staff also enters the area to conduct
business. This arrangement, coupled with the very poor acoustics of the room, produces an extremely difficult work
environment for the operator when communicating via radios and phones especially during heavy traffic periods such
as outages, clearances and electric dispatch. Complaints are often received from field personnel indicating difficulty in
hearing radio and phone transmissions due to background noise and acoustics. These conditions do delay the
operational functions and do add a significant safety element to the effective, accurate and precise communications
required for a safe and efficient dispatch operation. To address the above conditions it is recommended to have
carpeting installed in the area resulting in a significant improvement in acoustics. Further, it is recommended that an
area, isolated from the dispatch section, be provided where the public and City staff can interact with operations staff
while conducting business without interference to the dispatching operator. This isolated area will be constructed
utilizing appropriate modular furniture and dividers.
The growth of the City, and in turn the electric distribution system, has resulted in the dispatch board expanding and
now utilizing the entire available space from floor to ceiling. The growth of the City likewise has resulted in an
increased number of records and maps that must be kept on file but still readily available. To resolve these growth
related problems, it is recommended that a new dispatch board, with room for expansion, be installed and that storage
cabinets be installed along one available wall within the operations center. The storage cabinets will also provide
needed counter top space for placement of maps and drawings when preparing various operational documents.
The above modifications were considered during the Department's 1999-2001 budget preparation. However, based
on the projected construction schedule at the time, for a new service center these modifications were not included in
the budget. The conditions in the operations center, as discussed above, coupled with today's construction schedule
warrants the recommendation to proceed with the modifications at this time in order to operate in the most efficient,
effective and safest manner possible.
APPROVED:
H. Dixon Flinn - City Manager
FUNDING: Electric Utility Operating Fund Balance
Funding Approval: ).&I,s,. nt
Vicky McAthie, Pinance Director
Alan N. Vallow
Electric Utility Director
PREPARED BY: Hans Hansen, Manager, Engineering and Operations
ANV/HH/Ist
c: City Attorney
APPROVED:
H. Dixon Flynn - City Manager
RESOLUTION NO. 2000-227
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LODI
AUTHORIZING IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN THE ELECTRIC
UTILITY OPERATIONS CENTER, AND FURTHER
APPROPRIATING FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT
WHEREAS, Lodi Municipal Code, Section 3.20.070, authorizes dispensing with bids
for purchases of supplies, services or equipment when it is in the best interest of the City to do
so; and
WHEREAS, the Electric Utility Operations Center is the communications hub for both
Electric and Public Works crews, and also serves as the center for electric operations, dispatch
and system control and receives and dispatches various types of calls from the public, other
departments and agencies; and
WHEREAS, the large volume of communication is primarily done via telephone, cell
phone and mobile radios, and the public and City staff also enters the area to conduct
business; and
WHEREAS, this arrangement, coupled with the very poor acoustics of the room,
produces an extremely difficult work environment for the operator communicating via radios
and phones especially during heavy traffic periods such as outages, clearances and electric
dispatch; and
WHEREAS, these conditions do delay the operational functions and therefore adds a
significant safety element to the effective, accurate and precise communications required for a
safe and efficient dispatch operation; and
WHEREAS, due to the growth in the City, and in tum the electric distribution system,
the dispatch board has expanded and is now utilizing the entire available space from floor to
ceiling. The growth has also resulted in an increased number of records and maps that must
be kept on file but still readily available; and
WHEREAS, staff therefore recommends the following: 1) that carpeting be installed in
the area resulting in a significant improvement in acoustics; 2) isolate area from the dispatch
section where the public and City staff can interact with operations staff while conducting
business without interference to the dispatching operator; 3) installation of a new dispatch
board with room for expansion with storage cabinets along one wall within the operations
center, which will also provide needed countertop space for placement of maps and drawings
when preparing various operational documents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lodi City Council does hereby
authorize the improvements within the Electric Utility Operations Center, and further
appropriates funds in the total amount of $12,500.00 for this project.
Dated: December 20, 2000
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I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2000-227 was passed and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held December 20, 2000, by the following
vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Hitchcock, Howard, Land, Pennino and
Mayor Nakanishi
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
SUSAN J. SLAC STON
City Clerk
2000-227