Item No.
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: OCTOBER 8, 2024
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT OF MERIDIAN BARRIERS FOR USE IN
DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider approving the purchase of 20 movable Meridian Archer 1200 barriers to enhance traffic control and pedestrian safety during street closures for City events.
Meridian Archer 1200 barriers provide advanced safety features and are certified under the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Safety Act. This report assesses the cost- effectiveness, superior safety advantages, and practicality of implementing these barriers to meet the City's requirements.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
Approve the purchase of movable meridian barriers for enhanced safety and flexibility in traffic control in the amount of $224,917 from Meridian Rapid Defense Group, LLC.
BACKGROUND
Several special events throughout the year require the closure of Downey Avenue between 2nd Street and 4th Street, as well as the closure of 3rd Street between New Street and the alley east of Downey Avenue.
During the November 28, 2023, City Council meeting, the City Council requested a report exploring the use of bollards on Downey Avenue for traffic control and safety management purposes. At the January 23, 2024 meeting, staff provided an update to the City Council on the option of installing bollards in the Downtown area. During this meeting, staff received direction to proceed with engineering plans for installing bollards.
APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT OF MERIDIAN BARRIERS FOR USE IN DOWNTOWN STREET
CLOSURES
OCTOBER 8, 2024
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ANALYSIS
During the engineering design phase, staff considered two options for traffic control and safety management: removable bollards and movable meridian barriers. Both solutions have been analyzed for their practicality, cost-effectiveness, and level of safety in various environments.
The movable meridian barriers have been successfully utilized in large-scale public events, such as the Tournament of Roses Parade, to prevent vehicle incursions and mitigate potential threats. Removable bollards, while effective for basic traffic control, provide lower levels of crash protection compared to meridian barriers. While suitable for less dynamic traffic layouts, their removal and transport can be more challenging for maintenance and further limit their practicality in situations requiring flexibility. Below is additional information and analysis on the two options.
Removable Bollards
The first proposed alternative includes removable bollards providing a permanent structural barrier at an estimated cost of $242,000. These bollards can be installed and removed as needed, making them ideal for fixed-location temporary events where traffic flow needs to be controlled. While crash-rated, removable bollards are primarily designed to stop vehicles traveling at lower speeds, limiting their effectiveness in higher-risk areas where the threat of high-speed collisions or deliberate vehicle incursion is a concern. Their use is most common in situations where moderate security and traffic management are needed, but they may not offer the comprehensive safety required in more vulnerable or exposed environments.
In many parks and community centers across Los Angeles County, removable bollards are a staple for creating a physical barrier between vehicles and pedestrians. These bollards ensure that vehicles do not encroach into pedestrian walkways, parking lots, or open spaces, providing a defined and protected pedestrian area. However, their practicality is somewhat limited by the challenges posed in their removal and replacement.
Additionally, removable bollards, especially those designed to be crash-resistant, can be physically demanding due to their weight and the effort required to safely lift and transport them. Bollards often need to be manually lifted onto trucks or trailers, a process that can require significant time and multiple personnel. Moreover, the potential for injury increases when bollards need to be quickly deployed or removed, particularly in high-pressure scenarios such as large public events. This operational inefficiency can make bollards less desirable for situations where flexibility and rapid deployment are necessary.
Below is an example of removable bollards:
APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT OF MERIDIAN BARRIERS FOR USE IN DOWNTOWN STREET
CLOSURES
OCTOBER 8, 2024
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Mobile Meridian Barriers
The second proposed alternative includes a quote by Meridian Rapid Defense Group, LLC, for the purchase of 20 mobile Meridian barriers, at a cost of $224,917, (Attachment A). The mobile Meridian barriers provide a more robust and flexible solution, offering superior safety benefits compared to removable bollards. The Meridian Archer 1200 Barriers, is used by other agencies such as Beverly Hills and Pasadena. More specifically in Pasadena, it is used in high-profile events like the Tournament of Roses Parade, are designed to meet stringent safety standards and are certified under the Department of Homeland Security’s Safety Act as Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT). This certification highlights their exceptional crash absorption capabilities and their ability to mitigate the force of vehicle collisions, providing substantial protection against high-speed crashes.
Additionally, the advantage of these barriers is their adaptability. Meridian barriers can be deployed quickly and repositioned as needed, offering a high degree of operational flexibility.
In critical situations, such as emergencies or large public gatherings, these barriers allow emergency vehicles to pass without compromising the security of the event or location. Their ease of deployment and reconfiguration provides significant logistical advantages over removable bollards, especially in environments that require quick responses to changing security needs.
The Meridian Archer barriers provide an added layer of protection that removable bollards do not. While removable bollards can be effective in low-speed, low-risk scenarios, they do not offer the same level of defense against high-speed or targeted vehicular incursions. Meridian Archer barriers are specifically designed to counter such threats, making them an ideal choice for locations with elevated vehicle incursion risk. These barriers have proven highly effective in preventing vehicular intrusions at large public gatherings, and their mobility makes them a critical asset in dynamic environments where security needs can shift rapidly. Their ability to stop vehicles with high-impact force makes them ideal for protecting public spaces.
APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT OF MERIDIAN BARRIERS FOR USE IN DOWNTOWN STREET
CLOSURES
OCTOBER 8, 2024
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In addition to their exceptional safety features and flexibility, the Meridian Archer 1200 barriers offer significant opportunities for City branding. Each barrier can prominently display the City's logo, ensuring clear identification and reinforcing the City's presence during public events.
This branding capability not only promotes the City's image but also enhances the visual consistency and professionalism of the City’s traffic control equipment.
Below is an example of a Mobile Meridian Barrier with Downey Branding:
Regarding storage, the barriers can be housed on-site at the Downtown parking structure.
The centralized storage location allows for quick access and deployment when needed for City events or emergencies, thereby streamlining operations and reducing response times.
Furthermore, their modular design allows for compact storage, ensuring that the barriers occupy minimal space while remaining readily available for future use.
In conclusion, while removable bollards are a viable option for less demanding fixed traffic control situations, staff recommends the purchase of the movable Meridian Archer barriers due to their superior safety, flexibility, and effectiveness. These barriers are the preferred option for areas with significant security concerns or where rapid, safe deployment is necessary, ensuring enhanced protection and operational efficiency for City events.
After City Council approval to move forward with the purchase of the mobile Meridian barriers, City staff will enter in a purchasing agreement with Meridian Rapid Defense Group, LLC and the barriers are estimated to be delivered within 45 days of execution of the agreement.
Meridian Rapid Defense Group, LLC is the primary provider of such mobile barriers with the noted safety standards.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
APPROVAL OF PROCUREMENT OF MERIDIAN BARRIERS FOR USE IN DOWNTOWN STREET
CLOSURES
OCTOBER 8, 2024
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FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended action will result in an expenditure of $224,917 from the Special Revenue Fund, Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-2025 Residential Streets Pavement Rehabilitation Area 3 Project, CIP No. 22-22, Account No. 38-1-6878 as previously approved in the FY 2024- 2025 operating budget.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A - Meridian Barrier Plans & Estimate
Vehicle Safety Mitigation Plan
Event Name Downey downtown special event 2024
Event Date Recurring
Event Type Street fair
Contact Tim Birthisel
Location Downey CA
Meridian Contact Lee Perrin
Objectives •Secure access points
•Protect pedestrian activities
Additional
Considerations
[email protected] WWW.MERIDIAN-BARRIER.COM Event Details
Creation Date 7/11/2024
Orientation: Each deployment location is visualized as an aerial view represented in a compass north orientation followed by a ground-level view represented from the perspective of on -coming traffic (unless otherwise noted). Barriers and beam gates will be deployed with the ramp facing in the direction of the potential threat.
Barrier placement is specifically designed to account for stopping distance as well as to take advantage of adjacent physical structures which will further support effective mitigation.
Please Note: This Assessment utilizes satellite imagery and street views provided by a third -Party and represents Meridian’s estimate based upon incomplete knowledge and a lack of familiarity with the proposed closure locations. Meridian recommends an on-site examination by a Company Representative in order to provide a certified hostile vehicle mitigation plan and solutions.
The Assessment reflects the planned closures at the time of publishing and may be superseded by updated plans. Please ensure that updates are disseminated to the appropriate stakeholders.
This vehicle mitigation plan is created for internal use only by Meridian and its customers. Plans may not be distributed to outside agencies without permission.
Guidance on utilizing the Meridian VSMP:
[email protected] WWW.MERIDIAN-BARRIER.COM
Deployment Locations
[email protected] WWW.MERIDIAN-BARRIER.COM A
D
C
B
Distance
36 Feet
Equipment
6 – Barriers
[email protected] WWW.MERIDIAN-BARRIER.COM Note : Deployment is
subject to change based on
site circumstances
Location : A 3rd Street east of New Street
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
Distance
24 Feet
Equipment
4 – Barriers
[email protected] WWW.MERIDIAN-BARRIER.COM Note : Deployment is
subject to change based on
site circumstances
Location : B Downey Avenue south of 4th Street
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Distance
34 Feet
Equipment
6 – Barriers
[email protected] WWW.MERIDIAN-BARRIER.COM Note : Deployment is
subject to change based on
site circumstances
Location : C 3rd Street east of Downey Avenue
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34
Distance
24 Feet
Equipment
4 – Barriers
[email protected] WWW.MERIDIAN-BARRIER.COM Note : Deployment is
subject to change based on
site circumstances
Location : D Downey Avenue north of 2nd Street
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Build of Equipment
Location Archer
Barriers
Beam
Gates
Rapid
Gates
4’
Cables
ADA
Ramps Haulers
A 6 1
B 4
C 6
D 4 1
TOTAL 20 2
434.529.6903 [email protected] WWW.MERIDIAN-BARRIER.COM
Meridian Rapid Defense Group Sales LLC177 E. Colorado BlvdSuite 200Pasadena CA 91105United States Quote
#QUO-S-10662
07/24/2024
QUO-S-10662
1 of 1
Bill To Ship To
City of Downey12324 Bellflower BlvdDowney CA 90242United States City of Downey12324 Bellflower BlvdDowney CA 90242United States Date Expires Shipping Method Sales Rep
07/24/2024 10/22/2024 Freight Out Perrin S Lee
Item Price Level Quantity Rate Amount
ADDT1000 Meridian 8-Barrier Drop Deck
Trailer - 1000
GSA 1 34,247.85 $34,247.85
AB1200 Archer 1200 Mobile Barrier GSA 20 6,513.75 $130,275.00 AFTB001 Archer Field Tow Bar GSA 2 574.18 $1,148.36
AMHA003-2 Archer Manual Hauler 2.0 GSA 2 1,925.18 $3,850.36 ACPR001 Custom Paint and Rust Prevention
(per Barrier)
GSA 20 72.38 $1,447.60
AACN4F022 Archer Arrestor Cable – 4 ft.GSA 19 574.18 $10,909.42 ACP003ADA 3 Channel ADA Cable Protector GSA 19 574.18 $10,909.42 MCTR002 Certified Training GSA 1 3,855.18 $3,855.18
MRDG-F Freight Charges 1 8,995.00 $8,995.00
Subtotal $205,638.19
Tax (10%)$19,278.81
Total $224,917.00
Notes:
Wire Transfer Instructions: Meridian Rapid Defense Group Sales LLCAccount Number: 568605235Bank Name: Chase Bank, N.A.Wire Routing : 021000021ACH Routing : 322271627 Check Remittance:530 New Los Angeles Ave #115-345Moorpark, CA 93021