HomeMy WebLinkAbout9A Outdoor Warning Siren Replacement Agenda Report
Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245 / www.cityofpriorlake.com
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 2019
AGENDA #: 9A
PREPARED BY: BRAD CRAGOE, POLICE COMMANDER
PRESENTED BY: STEVE FRAZER, POLICE CHIEF
AGENDA ITEM:
Approval Resolution No. 19-103: Approving the Purchase and Installation of
the Federal Signal Sirens and AC to DC Conversion, with Battery Backup
Equipment in an amount not to exceed $83,280.00
GOAL AREA AND
OBJECTIVE:
Public Safety
4. Ensure a safe and quality-built environment
DISCUSSION: Introduction
Outdoor warning sirens are designed to notify people of a potentially life-
threatening situation, such as severe weather. People hearing the siren should
seek shelter indoors and seek more information from radio or television sources.
An outdoor warning siren consists of the siren head, the power supply/radio
receiver, and the pole the siren sits atop. All the current sirens in Prior Lake were
manufactured by Federal Warning Systems.
History
The City of Prior Lake has fifteen (15) operational outdoor warning sirens in Prior
Lake. Some of the sirens in the City are approaching 30 years in age having been
installed in 1990. There is no set life expectancy of an outdoor warning siren, but
as they are mechanical in nature, the potential for failure increases with age. Most
(10) of our sirens are configured to run on direct current (DC) electricity and have
battery back-ups to allow them to still be activated if power is lost during a storm.
Five sirens only have alternating current (AC) equipment and will not work during a
power outage.
As part of the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), an equipment
replacement plan was put in place to replace the sirens chronologically based on
age. Three sirens were scheduled to be replaced in 2018 at a cost of $46,350
total. The replacement was delayed and funds were carried over to be used in
2019. Two sirens were scheduled to be replaced in 2019 at the cost of $35,010
total. The total budgeted amount to replace all five sirens for both years was
$81,360.
Current Circumstances
Staff recommends updating the five sirens that only have the AC equipment
because they would not work during a power outage. Because the other 10 sirens
have DC electricity, the 5 non-DC sirens are more in need for replacement. By
adjusting the order in which the sirens are scheduled to be replaced, the City can
address the power supply issue on the AC-only sirens this year, and then install
new siren speakers in subsequent years to complete the overall replacement.
Funds have been budgeted through year 2024 of the CI to complete the project. At
a City Council work session this summer to discuss the CIP, staff discussed the
need to prioritize replacing sirens based on the power supply and Council agreed.
The City received two quotes for the purchase of the equipment, one from Federal
Warning System and the other from American Signal Corporation (ASC). Staff
reviewed the proposals and recommends Federal Warning System for the
following reasons:
• The City could not purchase just the power supply from ASC and use it to
update any of our current Federal Warning Systems sirens as they can’t be
mixed and matched.
• The Federal Warning System bid was lower than ASC.
In addition to the electrical equipment replacement, two of the five sirens would
also be replaced due to their age. Ready Watt Electric would supply the labor to
complete the replacements. The total cost to replace the 5 electrical components
and 2 sirens is $83,280.
ISSUES: Reorganizing the sequence in which the sirens are replaced would address the
issue of some sirens not working during a power outage. Not converting the sirens
to DC would increase the risk of some areas of the City not receiving a warning
during potentially life-threatening situations.
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
The money previously budgeted to replace five complete siren units in 2018/2019
was $81,360. Upgrading the power supplies on the five sirens plus replacing two
complete AC-only sirens will cost $83,280. This is $1,920 more than previously
budgeted. To cover the additional cost, unspent funds from another Police
Department budget line item will be used.
ALTERNATIVES: 1. Don’t replace any sirens. Continue to do yearly maintenance and replace
only after failure.
2. Replace existing AC-only to DC power supplies and update two siren
speakers. Schedule replacement of siren speakers on three units in
subsequent years to complete the update of the whole unit.
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
Alternative #2
ATTACHMENTS 1. Federal Signal Siren Quote
2. Federal Signal Power Supply Quote
3. Federal Signal Brochure
4. Ready Watt Labor Quote
5. American Signal Quote
4646 Dakota Street SE
Prior Lake, MN 55372
RESOLUTION 19-103
A RESOLUTION APPROVVING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF THE FEDERAL
SIGNAL SIRENS AND AC TO DC CONVERSION, WITH BATTERY BACKUP EQUIPMENT IN
AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $83,280.00
Motion By: Second By:
WHEREAS, The Prior Lake Police Department is responsible for the Emergency Management
for the City of Prior Lake; and
WHEREAS, The City maintains the emergency warning sirens throughout the community, and
some need update or repair; and
WHEREAS, City staff obtained quotes for the conversation from AC to DC with battery backup,
replacement of sirens and upgrading of portions of the system to newer equipment
and the low quote of $ $83,280.00 was provided by Federal Warning Systems and
Ready Watt Electric.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE,
MINNESOTA as follows:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein.
2. City staff is authorized to purchase and have installed the Federal Warning System signal
sirens and AC to DC conversion, with battery backup equipment in an amount not to exceed
$83,280.00.
3. Funding for the purchase of these items shall come from the Capital Improvement fund
account 410-42100.00-55570.00.
Passed and adopted by the Prior Lake City Council this 3rd day of September 2019.
VOTE Briggs Thompson Burkart Braid Erickson
Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
______________________________
Lori Olson, Interim City Manager