Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: JUNE 2, 2026
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: STEPHEN BISE, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
PREPARED BY: JOE NICHOLS, FACILITIES MANAGER
SUBJECT: $140,159 PURCHASE ORDER WITH FONROCHE LIGHTING AMERICA AND $23,100 PURCHASE ORDER WITH SASCO FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT COMMUNITY SOLAR POWERED LIGHT CONVERSION PROJECT
SUMMARY
Staff requests City Council approve purchase orders to purchase and install fixtures for the Energy Efficient Solar Powered Light Conversion Project which would convert 42 high-voltage (series) streetlights to solar technology on the Derek streetlight circuit (neighborhood north of Yorba Linda Blvd, east of Associated Road).
PROPOSED MOTION
Authorize Administrative Services Director, or designee, to issue $140,159 purchase order to Fonroche Lighting America to procure solar-powered lighting fixtures for Project No. 47003 Energy Efficient Solar Powered Light Conversion Project.
Authorize Administrative Services Director, or designee, to issue $23,100 purchase order to SASCO to install Fonroche solar lighting fixtures for Project No. 47003 Energy Efficient Solar Powered Light Conversion Project.
Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute and administer procurement and installation agreements, in a form approved by the City Attorney.
Authorize Public Works Director, or designee, to approve change orders for solar-powered lighting fixtures procurement and installation within the approved project budget.
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Approve the Proposed Motion
Reject all bids
Other options brought by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Proposed Motion.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
None.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fiscal Year 2025-26 Adopted Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget has sufficient funding to cover the $163,259 purchase orders to Fonroche Lighting America and SASCO with Gas Tax funds within CIP Project No. 47003 – Street Light Conversion within the Capital Project Fund (Fund 74).
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Fullerton has approximately 51 high-voltage series circuits throughout the City, consisting of approximate 3,000 street lights. The technology utilizes Southern California Edison (SCE)-owned electrical transformers and City-owned lighting circuits and fixtures, all of which have become antiquated and no longer operate reliably or cost-effectively. The City cannot maintain the SCE-owned transformers as manufacturers no longer produce these transformers at scale, making them increasingly difficult for SCE to source and replace. As a result, transformer failures have led to long-term outages with some lasting up to eight months, leaving hundreds of homes and neighborhoods without functioning street lighting. This unreliable, outdated infrastructure presents an ongoing maintenance burden with limited long-term viability.
The City recently completed a successful solar streetlight conversion project along Bastanchury Road which retrofitted 69 streetlights to solar-powered fixtures. The project improved lighting reliability, sustainability and energy efficiency while reducing long-term operational costs.
The Derek circuit includes 42 streetlights that experienced prolonged outages due to a failed transformer. SCE informed the City that sourcing a replacement transformer may take up to eight months. Staff recommends converting the Derek circuit to solar-powered lighting using Fonroche Lighting America solar lighting fixtures. SASCO would retrofit and replace existing light fixtures with solar-powered units while retaining current poles. SASCO would install adapters to accommodate the new fixtures and ensure a seamless transition with minimal infrastructure modifications.
Staff intends to procure solar lighting fixtures from Fonroche Lighting America, Inc. through a Sourcewell cooperative agreement, Master Agreement #041525-FNR, pursuant to the Cooperative Purchasing exception outlined in the City Procurement Administrative Policy No. 4.1.2. Sourcewell is an approved, established local government cooperative that pre-bids goods and services available to local government agencies.
Staff anticipates starting the project in July 2026 and completion by late August 2026 pending approval of this item and procurement and delivery timelines. Staff would notify the affected community in advance of the project to minimize disruptions.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – Fonroche Lighting America Estimate
Attachment 2 – SASCO Installation Estimate
Attachment 3 – Fonroche Lighting America Sourcewell Letter Attachment 4 – Derek Circuit Map
cc: City Manager Eddie Manfro
Solar Lighting Conversion Derek Circuit Fonroche Lighting America and SASCO June 2, 2026 - Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 2