TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: MATTHEW BAUMGARDNER, P.E., DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
WORKS/CITY ENGINEER
DATE: JANUARY 23, 2024
SUBJECT: INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC BOLLARDS ON DOWNEY AVENUE
AND UPDATE ON PAINTING AND SECURITY CAMERA UPGRADES
TO THE DOWNTOWN PARKING STRUCTURE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider approving direction on the installation of traffic bollards on Downey Avenue between 2nd Street and 3rd Street and receive and file an update on the upgrades to the City -owned downtown parking structure located at 8201 2nd Street, including interior and exterior painting of the structure and the addition of a security camera system throughout the facility.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1. Approve the installation of removable traffic bollards on Downey Avenue between 2nd Street and 3rd Street; and
2. Receive and file an update regarding the interior and exterior painting of the parking structure, as well as installation of a security camera system.
BACKGROUND
Several special events throughout the year require the closure of Downey Avenue between 2nd Street and 3rd Street. Over the years, staff has researched the type of traffic bollards available on the market, their associated costs, and the feasible types for use in traffic closure on busy streets. The City Council requested an update on the option of installing bollards on Downey Avenue at its meeting on November 28, 2023. At this meeting, staff received directions on painting and security camera upgrades for the downtown parking structure.
ANALYSIS
There are three types of traffic bollards that are commonly used for street closure applications (Attachment A). The first two types are retractable and either operated automatically with controls or manually. Retractable bollards remain in the ground, are
DISCUSSION OF TRAFFIC BOLLARDS ON DOWNEY AVENUE AND UPDATE ON PAINTING AND
SECURITY CAMERA UPGRADES TO THE DOWNTOWN PARKING STRUCTURE JANUARY 23, 2024
PAGE 2
lifted up for the street closure event, and then returned to the ground when not in use.
The other type of traffic bollard is removable and installed into shallow footings that are permanently constructed in the ground and then removed and stored off -site when not in use. Traffic Bollards are typically four to six inches in diameter and between three and four feet in height.
While retractable bollards have advantages by remaining in the ground when not in use, they are uncommon for use on busy streets. This is mainly due to the depth of underground utilities found beneath the street surface. If the desire is to install a series of bollards across the width of a street for a road closure, there will typically be some type of utility that will be encountered in the upper two to three feet. This conflicts with the retractable bollard concept, as such will be stored in the ground when not in use due to the need to accommodate the full three to four feet of length of the bollard. In addition to this likely utility conflict, the cost of retractable bollards is much more expensive — typically up to three or four times higher. In the case of automatic retractable bollards, there are additional costs related to electrical controls and maintenance of the hydraulic system that lifts and lowers the bollard. For these reasons, staff does not recommend exploring retractable bollards.
Removable bollards have the advantage of avoiding utility conflicts because the depth of the footings that are constructed in the street typically extends down to a depth of one foot — remaining clear of utilities. Their installation costs are substantially cheaper because they do not require excavations down to four feet for installation. From a maintenance cost perspective, there is a need for off -site storage and staff time to deliver and install before each closure event and to remove and return to storage following a closure event. However, these are costs that are already incurred when compared with how staff currently installs and removes barriers and barricades for road closures.
In the case of Downey Avenue between 2nd Street and V Street, the street width is 30 feet. Seven bollards would be needed at each intersection to properly close Downey Avenue to traffic, for a total of 14 bollards. It is estimated that the total project cost for designing plans, procuring bollards, and installing them would be approximately $75,000.
As a cost comparison, the cost of installing retractable bollards at the same locations would be approximately $300,000. There are no funds currently set aside for this work in the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP), but staff would use funding sources such as Measure R or Measure M local return funds that are not currently programmed for any of the existing CIP projects.
Update on Security Camera System and Painting of Downtown Parking Structure At its meeting on November 28, 2023, the City Council directed staff to move forward with procuring the security camera equipment and all associated electrical and network contractor services to install the new system at the parking structure. Staff from the Information Technology (IT) division have been working with the contractors over the last six weeks to order and install all of the equipment that will capture security footage on each floor of the parking structure, including license plate reading technology, and
DISCUSSION OF TRAFFIC BOLLARDS ON DOWNEY AVENUE AND UPDATE ON PAINTING AND
SECURITY CAMERA UPGRADES TO THE DOWNTOWN PARKING STRUCTURE JANUARY 23, 2024
PAGE 3
delivering this video feedback to the Police Department. The project is currently on pace to be completed by early February.
Staff was also directed to solicit bids for interior and exterior painting of the parking structure. Bids from qualified painting contractors are being solicited through the end of January, and staff will return at the February 13, 2024, meeting for the City Council's consideration of this contract award as well exterior painting suggestions. It is anticipated that painting of the structure will begin in mid -February and be completed in March 2024.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
FISCAL IMPACT
A total expenditure of $75,000 is needed to complete the engineered plans, procurement of bollards, and installation at the intersections of Downey Avenue with 2nd Street and 3rd Street. If directed to proceed, staff would use Measure M or Measure R funds that are available but not currently being used on existing projects. Sufficient Measure M and Measure R funds are available in Accounts 58-1-6823 and 57-1-6905, respectively.
These expenditures currently fall within the approval authority of the City Manager and will be executed accordingly so that work may proceed if directed.
Staff will return at the February 13, 2024, City Council meeting to discuss the award of the painting contract. There are currently $250,000 in funds appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 CIP budget to complete the painting of the parking structure.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A — Examples of Traffic Bollards
HyOraylic Bollards
C
Example of Automatic, Hydraulic Bollard in various stages Example of Manual, Retractable Bollard being raised from its closed position S
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Attachment A
Example of Removable Bollard
Attachment A