HomeMy WebLinkAbout10B AVL Agreement
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake , MN 55372
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2012
AGENDA #: 10 B
PREPARED BY : JANE KANSIER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
PRESENTED BY: JANE KANSIER
AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION DEFERRING ACTION ON THE
DRAFT AVL/SMARTCOM OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH THE METROPO L-
ITAN COUNCIL
DISCUSSION: Introduction
The purpose of this agenda item is to review a Draft AVL/SMARTCoM Operating
Agreement with the Metropolitan Council. Staff is recommending deferral of any
action on this agreement.
History
The Metropolitan Council has asked the City to enter into the attached operating
agreement regarding an automatic vehicle locating (AVL) system known as
SMARTCoM. The Metropolitan Council has installed the AVL equipment on the
Laker Lines buses we use in connection with the BlueXpress commuter service.
While the equipment does allow for tracking bus locations, to date it has not a l-
lowed our contract prov ider, Schmitty and Sons, to generate any useful inform a-
tion or reports. To the contrary, Schmitty has advised us the rider information
generated by this system is inaccurate. They also have the ability to track the bu s-
es using GPS activated cell phones.
Current Circumstances
The SMARTCoM equipment and software were selected by Metropolitan Council
staff with little or no input from other providers. We also were not involved in n e-
g o tiating the proposed agreement.
Conclusion
At this time, only two of the Suburban Transit Providers (Maple Grove and SWT)
have adopted the SMARTCoM agreement. Plymouth and Shakopee have not yet
signed the agreement, and are unlikely to do so at this time. MVTA advised Me t-
ropolitan Council the SMARTCoM system does not meet its needs, and is curren t-
ly bidding a separate system for their operations.
ISSUES: The staff has a number of concerns with this proposed agreement. Our major
concerns, shared by other providers, include:
The City had no role in the selection of the equipment and software, or in
negotiating the terms of the agreement.
The agreement obligates the City to pay costs for maintenance and sof t-
ware, some of which are not fully known at this time, and which the C ity
has no control over.
Even with a signed agreement, the City would have no right to use the i n-
formation or access to the intellectual property.
The staff believes the proposed agreement is too open - ended at this time, and
could prove to be very costly in the long run. We would prefer that the Metropolitan
Council staff work with the providers so that a system can be agreed upon which
meets all of our needs at a cost which is deemed to be appropriate.
FINANCIAL As proposed, the cost to the City would be $5,150 in State FY 2012, and would
IMPACT:
increase between 2 and 3% each of the following years. By 2015, the City will
have invested more than $21,000 for capital and operating costs of a system
which provides little or no information for our use.
ALTERNATIVES: 1. Adopt a resolution authorizing staff to execute Draft AVL/SMARTCoM Opera t-
ing Agreement with the Metropolitan Council
2. Adopt a resolution deferring action on the Draft AVL/SMARTCoM Operating
Agreement with the Metropolitan Council .
RECOMMENDED The staff recommends Alternative #2.
MOTION:
A motion and second to adopt a resolution deferring action on the Draft
AVL/SMARTCoM Operating Agreement with the Metropolitan Council.
2
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RESOLUTION 1 2 - xxx
A RESOLUTION
DEFERRING ACTION ON THE DRAFT AVL/SMARTCOM OPERATING
AGREEMENT WITH THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
Motion By: Second By:
WHEREAS, The City Council recognizes the value of providing quality, cost - effective transit services in
the Prior Lake community; and
WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Council has asked the City to enter into the attached operating
agreement regarding an automatic vehicle locating (AVL) system known as SMARTCoM ;
and
WHEREAS, The City had no role in the selection of the equipment and software, or in negotiating the
terms of the agreement; and
WHEREAS, The agreement obligates the City to pay costs for maintenance and software, some of
which are not fully known at this time, and which the city has no control over; and
WHEREAS, Even with a signed agreement, the City would have no right to use the information or
access to the intellectual property; and
WHEREAS, The proposed agreement is too open - ended at this time, and could prove to be very costly
in the long run .
NOW THEREFORE , BE IT HEREBY RESOLVE D BY THE CITY COUNCI L OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA as follows:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein.
2. The City Council defer s any further action on the Draft AVL/SMARTCoM Operating Agreement with the
Metropolitan Council.
3. The City Council encourages the Metropolitan Council to work with metropolitan area providers to agree
upon a system which meets the needs of the providers at a cost which is deemed appropriate.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 6 DAY OF FEBRUARY 2012 .
TH
YES NO
Myser Myser
Erickson Erickson
Hedberg Hedberg
Keeney Keeney
Soukup Soukup
______________________________
Frank Boyles , City Manager