RESOLUTION NO. (XX)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AGREEMENTS AND
APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS AND
EMERGENCY BACKUP PROJECTS
WHEREAS, the City of Cotati owns and operates eight (8) traffic signals located at:
• Redwood Drive at Helman Lane
• Old Redwood Highway at Commerce
• Old Redwood Highway at Highway 116
• Old Redwood Highway at East Cotati Avenue / West Sierra • Old Redwood Highway at Myrtle / Valparaiso
• East Cotati Avenue at Adrian
• East Cotati Avenue at Lancaster
• East Cotati Avenue at Santero / SMART Tracks; and
WHEREAS, additional traffic signals located at Highway 116 at the U.S. 101 overcrossing and at Redwood Drive are owned, operated, and maintained by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), with the City paying a proportional share of maintenance costs based on City-owned street legs; and
WHEREAS, during recent wildfire events and Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), traffic signals without backup power became inoperable, creating confusion at intersections and increasing the likelihood of traffic collisions; and
WHEREAS, the City has taken interim safety measures such as installing reflective tape on signal heads, transitioning signal and safety lights to low-power LED fixtures, installing infrared signal pre-emption equipment for emergency responders, and upgrading pedestrian push buttons to provide audible signals for visually impaired pedestrians; and WHEREAS, the City has been working to interconnect traffic signals to improve coordination and traffic flow and to install battery backup systems and generator connections at all intersections; and
WHEREAS, the City utilizes DC Electric as its traffic signal contractor for regular inspections, repairs, and adjustments of City-owned traffic signals, and has received a proposal to complete remaining battery backup installations, signal interconnections, and pedestrian push button upgrades; and
WHEREAS, due to current economic uncertainty and anticipated roadway and pathway project costs, staff recommends proceeding at this time only with emergency readiness improvements consisting of:
• Remaining battery backup systems in the amount of $37,500; and • Replacement of the antiquated traffic signal controller at Old Redwood Highway at Myrtle in the amount of $25,500; and
WHEREAS, the total requested expenditure for these emergency readiness projects is $65,000, including a $2,000 contingency; and
WHEREAS, staff intends to return to the City Council for authorization of additional signal improvement projects should sufficient funding be available following receipt of pavement project bids; and
WHEREAS, to appropriately account for the traffic signal controller replacement at Old Redwood Highway and Myrtle Avenue and the associated battery backup improvements, staff proposes a budget amendment to reclassify existing appropriations by transferring funds from the Streets Department within the General Fund to the Capital Projects Fund and reallocating a portion of those funds to the battery backup project, utilizing existing budgeted resources with no new funding required and no impact to the City’s overall fund balance; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Cotati as follows:
1. Authorization. The City Manager is hereby authorized to execute all necessary agreements and related documents to complete traffic signal emergency readiness improvements, including battery backup installations and replacement of the traffic signal controller at Old Redwood Highway at Myrtle.
2. Funding Approval. The City Council hereby approves the budget amendment and allocation of funds in an amount not to exceed Sixty-Five Thousand Dollars ($65,000), inclusive of contingency.
3. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cotati held on February 10, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
Approved:___________________________
Mayor
Attest:______________________________
Kevin Patterson, City Clerk
Approved as to form:______________________________
City Attorney