Resolution/Use of City Electric Forces Page 1 of 2
Rev: 03-09-18
RESOLUTION NO. 23-9247
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA,
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF CITY ELECTRIC FORCES
PURSUANT TO CHARTER SECTION 1310
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clara’s Charter section 1310 requires all contracts involving an expenditure of over $1,000 for the construction or improvement (excluding maintenance and repair) of a public works project to be let to the lowest responsible bidder; WHEREAS, Charter section 1310 permits the City of Santa Clara (“City” or “City of Santa Clara”) to use its own employees if the City Council , by motion passed by at least four affirmative votes, determines that the public works may be done better or more economically by the City’s own employees, and, upon such determination, the City may proceed to have the public works project completed without further observance of Charter section 1310; WHEREAS, the City’s Electric Department desires to perform certain public works, as set forth in the Report to Council, dated July 11, 2023, by its own employees; and, WHEREAS, the City’s Electric Department has presented evidence supporting that the work in question may be performed better or more economically by the City with its own employees. //
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NOW THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA AS FOLLOWS:
1. The City Council of the City of Santa Clara does hereby declare and determine that the public works project set forth in the 23-776 Report to Council, attached hereto and incorporated by this reference, may be performed better or more economically by the City with its own employees.
2. Effective date. This resolution shall become effective immediately.
I HEREBY CERTIFY THE FOREGOING TO BE A TRUE COPY OF A RESOLUTION PASSED
AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA, AT A REGULAR MEETING THEREOF HELD ON THE 11m DAY OF JULY, 2023, BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: COUNCILORS:
NOES: COUNCILORS:
ABSENT: COUNCILORS:
ABSTAINED: COUNCILORS:
Attachments incorporated by reference:
1. July 11, 2023, Report to Council #23-776.
Resolution/Use of City Electric Forces
Rev: 03-09-18
Becker, Chahal, Hardy, Jain, Park, and Watanabe,
and Mayor Gillmor
None
None
None
ATTEST: ~
NORA PIMENTEL, MMC
ASSISTANT CITY CLERK
CITY OF SANTA CLARA
City of Santa Clara
Agenda Report
1500 Warburton Avenue
Santa Clara, CA 95050
santaclaraca.gov
@SantaClaraCity
23-776 Agenda Date: 7/11/2023
REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Action on a Resolution Authorizing the Use of City Electric Forces for New Dark Fiber Installations at Various Locations
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
Section 1310 of the City of Santa Clara Charter (entitled “Contracts on Public Works”) states, in part, “that every contract involving an expenditure of more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the construction or improvement (excluding maintenance and repair) of public buildings, works, streets, drains, sewers, utilities, parks and playgrounds shall be let to the lowest responsible bidder.” The section further states that “the City Council may declare and determine that, in its opinion, the work in question may be performed better or more economically by the City with its own employees, and after the adoption of a resolution to this effect by at least four affirmative votes, it may proceed to have said work done in the manner stated, without further observance of the provisions of this section.”
In 2014, Silicon Valley Power (SVP) created an in-house position called Fiber Splicing Technician to primarily perform maintenance and repairs to the fiber optic network, including, basic splicing and distribution changes to fiber optic cables. The technician can also perform duties such as pulling, laying, aligning and positioning fiber optic equipment for new connections to the fiber network. At this time, SVP employs two Fiber Splicing Technicians.
DISCUSSION
Currently, the SVP fiber optic network serves SVP, other City departments, and various commercial customers. As the work is specialized, the position of Fiber Splicer Technician performs a variety of activities from maintenance and repair to new or re-spliced interconnections to the SVP Fiber Enterprise. Each interconnection can be unique involving different hours of labor depending on the number of fibers required to be spliced and the particular location within the network. Technician time is tracked hourly and not on a per fiber basis.
Large or extensive projects involving extending fiber cable being laid along new paths or great distances or adding conduit or related infrastructure are done using an existing public works contract with a private construction contractor. SVP spends up to $1 million per year on this contract for new fiber network construction and certain maintenance and repair activities.
Staff believes that the Fiber Splicer Technician work (described below) is best and most efficiently performed with City forces based upon the following factors: (1) the work is limited in size and scope; City of Santa Clara Printed on 7/6/2023Page 1 of 3
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23-776 Agenda Date: 7/11/2023
(2) City forces have knowledge and training in operating and maintaining and repairing the fiber optic network to more economically perform this work; and (3) bidding out the work and contracting with a private entity would not likely result in a lower overall cost or time savings. Therefore, staff recommends that the City Council make a finding that City forces can better perform the fiber optic work as further described below.
Estimate Number: FWM#01571
Location: 1380 Rosalia Avenue
Type of Service: Rerouting Existing Fiber Path
Description of Work: Splice, terminate and test fibers to reroute fiber network going to 1380 Rosalia Avenue for a fiber lease customer.
Estimated Cost: $7,365
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2004 - Fiber Development Design & Expansion
Source of Revenue: Developer Contribution
Estimate Number: FWM#01572
Location: 1095 Dunford Way
Type of Service: New Business
Description of Work: Splice, terminate and test fibers for a new school at 1095 Dunford Way for a fiber lease customer.
Estimated Cost: $7,365
Appropriation: Electric Utility Capital Fund (591) Project 2004 - Fiber Development Design & Expansion
Source of Revenue: Developer Contribution
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Staff recommends that the City Council determine that the actions being considered are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to the following sections of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations: (1) Section 15302(c) (Class 2 - Replacement or Reconstruction) as the proposed work involves the replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible expansion of capacity, and (2) Section 15303 (d) (Class 3 - New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures) as the proposed work involves the construction of a limited number of small fiber utility facilities.
FISCAL IMPACT
The funds to support the staff time for work performed by SVP and related construction materials for the work detailed in this report, totaling $14,730, are included in the Fiscal Year 2022/23 Capital Budget, Fiber Development, Design, and Expansion project in the Electric Utility Capital Fund. All referenced work will be performed with City Electric Forces (SVP staff). Some work associated with encroachment permits may be performed by the Department of Public Works (DPW). DPW costs are recovered through payment of permit fees.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board City of Santa Clara Printed on 7/6/2023Page 2 of 3
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23-776 Agenda Date: 7/11/2023
outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email [email protected] or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Determine the proposed action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to sections 15302(c) and 15303 (d) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations and adopt a Resolution authorizing the use of City Electric Forces for work detailed in this Report to Council located at 1380 Rosalia Avenue and 1095 Dunford Way.
Reviewed by: Manuel Pineda, Chief Electric Utility Officer Approved by: Jōvan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution - Use of City Electric Forces
City of Santa Clara Printed on 7/6/2023Page 3 of 3
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