DATE: 04/01/2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Public Works Department & Community Services Department 2026-125
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
RESOLUTION DESIGNATING EXCLUSIVE HVAC CONTROL SYSTEM AND
PRODUCTS FOR THE CORONA PUBLIC LIBRARY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks City Council to adopt a resolution designating specific HVAC control system and products as exclusive standard Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) control system and products for City of Corona Public Library facility, in accordance with the authority granted under Public Contract Code Section 3400.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-012 designating the specific HVAC control system and products listed in Exhibit “A” of the resolution as exclusive standard HVAC control system and products to be used at City of Corona Public Library facility, in accordance with the authority provided under Public Contract Code Section 3400(c).
b. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to review, edit, and amend the exclusive standard specifications list in Resolution No. 2016-012 Exhibit A from time to time, as it pertains to the equipment, component, and products used only in the library, provided that any amendments are made in accordance with applicable law and in a form approved by the City Attorney under Public Contract Code 3400. The resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption and remain in force until revoked by further action of the City Council.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The City of Corona has a longstanding practice of designating exclusive standard equipment and product specifications for municipal facilities to ensure operational efficiency, safety, and long-term reliability. This authority is grounded in Public Contract Code Section 3400, which allows public agencies to specify particular brands or trade names when necessary to match existing equipment or ensure compatibility and uniformity across facilities.
Historically, Corona has applied these principles across multiple facility types, including water and wastewater, to achieve citywide standardization and streamline maintenance, training, and procurement processes. The City Council has adopted various resolutions designating exclusive standard specifications for critical infrastructure and has delegated to department directors the authority to periodically review and update these lists in accordance with evolving operational requirements and applicable law.
The standardization of critical building systems supports the City's broader goals of public safety, fiscal responsibility, and service reliability, positioning Corona to deliver uninterrupted services to residents and respond effectively to maintenance or emergency situations while considering reliability, durability, and ease of maintenance.
ANALYSIS:
The Corona Public Library is approximately 35 years old and uses a pneumatic control system for its HVAC controls. Pneumatic control systems became obsolete when digital control systems were introduced in the 1980s, enabling greater adaptability to complex systems and variable-temperature control. In the 1990’s, digital control systems became mainstream and are now the standard, making pneumatic control systems obsolete. As a result, fewer technicians are trained to maintain them, and ongoing repairs have become increasingly costly. Because they are outdated, these controls also do not provide remote monitoring or system visibility. Therefore, each service call must be addressed through in-person troubleshooting, often requiring several hours of on-site investigation.
Other large City facilities with complex HVAC systems include the Police Station, City Hall, Fire Headquarters, and Utilities Headquarters. Since these facilities were built in the 2000s, digital control systems have been installed, but they are not all the same type or produced by the same manufacturer.
While moving to replace the Library’s outdated HVAC control system, which is nearing the end of its useful life, staff is considering standardizing on a digital platform to handle the Library’s complex HVAC operations. Staff recommend standardizing the control system for reliability, familiarity, and system integration for remote monitoring and control through a centralized front-end interface. The upgrade would reduce the need for physical service calls, improve system responsiveness, and enhance overall operational efficiency.
Staff evaluated the digital control system platforms that are currently in use across the City’s major facilities. The Police Station currently uses the Automated Logic Controls (ALC) system. City Hall uses HVAC controls manufactured by NOVA, which use older digital technology and are nearing the end of their support. The Fire and Utilities Headquarters, located at the Corporate Yard, uses a Climatec controller; however, these facilities primarily consist of standard HVAC equipment and do not have a central plant system comparable to those at the library.
The Police Station’s ALC control system operates a complex HVAC central plant comprising chillers, boilers, pumps, and large air-handling units. The ALC system has demonstrated dependable performance, and staff are fully trained on this platform and use it daily to manage and troubleshoot HVAC operations.
The HVAC system at the Library is similar in complexity to the Police Department’s HVAC system. Transitioning the Library to an ALC platform would allow staff to manage both the Police Department and Library facilities through a single, unified interface. Standardizing on a single platform eliminates inefficiencies associated with supporting multiple frontend systems, reduces long-term operational costs, and ensures consistent troubleshooting and data management practices.
Although adopting other comparable digital HVAC control systems is possible, the added cost and time would take away from the benefit of staff being familiar with an already reliable system. Not moving toward standardization would require multiple licenses and additional staff training, resulting in additional costs for the City. Based on system compatibility with the HVAC equipment complexity, maintenance efficiency, and longterm operational planning, the ALC system has been identified by staff as the most appropriate digital control platform for the Library.
ALC is known for several functional advantages. Its user-friendly and intuitive front-end interface allows staff to easily navigate graphics, alarms, schedules, and trends with minimal training. The control logic is transparent and straightforward, enabling the maintenance team to understand, adjust, and even develop sequences without heavy reliance on external vendors. Although other digital controllers may also provide similar functions, the ALC has been tried and tested by city staff.
This staff report and resolution only apply to the Library. Any future HVAC control system upgrades at other City facilities would brought back to the City Council at a later date.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve standardization of the ALC control system for the Library. A list of ALC controllers compatible with the Library's existing HVAC equipment has been identified. The Resolution delegates to the Public Works Director the authority to review and amend the exclusive ALC standard specifications list from time to time, only pertaining to the Library HVAC control system, provided that any amendments are made in accordance with applicable law and in a form approved by the City Attorney under Public Contract Code 3400.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with the recommended actions.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action is to designate certain HVAC control system equipment and products as exclusive standard HVAC control system and products at the Corona Public Library, and there is no possibility that approving this agreement will have a significant effect on the environment.
Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: KHUSHBOO PATEL, PROJECT MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: SAVAT KHAMPHOU, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR & DONNA FINCH,
COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENT:
1. Exhibit 1 – Resolution No. 2026-012