Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION TO RESCIND AND
REPLACE THE EXISTING RESOLUTION NO. 2026-25,
APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF A DIGITAL SIGN,
APPROVING AGREEMENTS FOR THE INSTALLATION AND
SOFTWARE LICENSES FOR REPLACING THE EXISTING
MARQUEE, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENTS AND APPROVE ANY
NEEDED CHANGE ORDERS OR AMENDMENTS UP TO THE
APPROVED BUDGET AMOUNT OF $72,000
Date: August 11, 2026
Written by: Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Recommendation
It is recommended the City Council of the City of Cotati rescind Resolution Number 2026-25 and approve a resolution substantially the same except to increase the pixel resolution from 10 millimeters to 8 millimeters and authorize the increased Project budget amount.
Background
On April 28, 2026, City Council approved resolution agreements to remove the existing Marquee, refurbish the existing column support structure and arbor, and purchase and install a digital display. The display has choices between coarse to finer resolutions which impact the clarity of content on the display at different distances. The April 28, 2026, Staff report and attachments have been attached to this item for reference.
Analysis/Discussion
Since approval of the display purchase in April, Staff saw a presentation by the vendor of the displays in each of the different resolutions and there was a visible difference between the 10 millimeter (mm) and the 8 mm that would be relevant for this application. One reason for the increased clarity was the 10 mm shows color with three separate primary color lights that visually blend with distance whereas the 8 mm has single lights that include the full spectrum of colors, when combined with the closer spacing of lights, results in a clearer picture at closer distances.
However, the increased density of bulbs results in a higher power requirement, and Staff researched the service panel serving the Marquee and found it had adequate capacity for the higher power requirements. The panel size and installation methods remain the same as before, so the only contract changes are cost of the display and the minor change to the electrical wiring with components for installation.
Lastly, since the prior item was considered by the City Council, the Sonoma County Fire Protection District has expressed interest in working collaboratively with the City to rotate fire protection messages into the marquee, as well as use for emergency messages. The City would still remain the sole source of programming, subject to the regular display policies.
Financial Considerations
The Marquee Replacement Project was originally budgeted at $61,000 in FY 2024/25, with $11,380 expended on design before the project was placed on hold. The budget was reappropriated at $67,000 for FY 2025/26, during which an additional $816 was spent on design.
Because the project was not completed, it is recommended that the remaining budget of approximately $66,184 be carried forward to FY 2026/27 and increased by $5,816, for a total project budget not to exceed $72,000. This increase reflects updated costs for the new digital marquee.
The table below summarizes the cost of components and total Project:
Marquee Replacement Cost Summary Table
Project Components Project Cost
Video Display(a) $ 35,999
Installation & Refurbishment 27,850
Electrical
Design
3,895
2,905
Subtotal $ 70,649
Contingency 1,351
Total $ 72,000
(a) Includes 7-year on-site labor warranty, 8 mm display (increased cost of $4,265 over 10 mm display), cellular modem, lifetime Verizon data plan, light sensor, tax and shipping.
Environmental Issues
This action is found to qualify for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption under CEQA Section 15301 in that the project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of the existing or former use.