HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes2002-046
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CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION NO. 2002-046
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEWARD,
ALASKA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PURCHASE ITRON
METER READING EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE FOR AN AMOUNT
NOT TO EXCEED $16,624 AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS FROM THE
ELECTRIC ENTERPRISE FUND
WHEREAS, the City of Seward has been utilizing ITRON meter reading equipment since
1994 for the purpose of collecting electronic meter reading data; and
WHEREAS, the City has received excellent service and support ofthe existing equipment
and software from Orcom, ITRON's regional distributor of meter reading equipment; and
WHEREAS, the City's existing meter reading equipment is obsolete and no longer being
supported by ITRON after December 31, 2002, and improvements in technology warrant an upgrade
to both the software and hardware; and
WHEREAS, ITRON equipment receives excellent reviews by Alaskan electric utilities for
the quality and durability of the hardware and its suitability for our northern climate, and is an
industry standard for meter reading equipment in Alaska; and
WHEREAS, the City's electric utility software application vendor AEL&P utilizes ITRON
equipment and has therefore developed an interface that expedites the transfer of data from the
handheld meter reading devices directly into the City's accounting system; and
WHEREAS, the City solicited informal bids and believes that the public interest is best
served by not requiring formal competitive bids per Seward City Code S6.1 0.130, due to the limited
number of reputable meter reading vendors in the State providing comparable equipment, and the
City's satisfaction with the quality of the hardware and software service and support from ITRON
over the past eight years; and
WHEREAS, Seward City Code S6.05.010 authorizes the city manager to pay for services
and/or materials "not exceeding $10,000 in anyone item; provided that reasonable efforts have been
made to provide the city with the lowest and best prices obtainable." And the total cost of the
proposed upgrade is $16,624, where equipment costs are $7,674 and training, installation, and
service costs are $8,950, such that no single item exceeds the $10,000 threshold; and
CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
RESOLUTION 2002-046
WHEREAS, the City has determined that the potential cost savings of$2,039 to be realized
by switching meter reading equipment vendors does not justify the additional costs in time that
would be necessitated by training on a new system, nor by additional computer programming costs
required to interface the new software with our existing utility billing software application, and it is
therefore in the City's best interests to upgrade the ITRON hardware and software.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SEWARD, ALASKA, that:
Section 1. The city manager is hereby authorized to purchase ITRON meter reading
equipment and software for a cost not to exceed $16,624, from ORCOM.
Section 2. Funds in the amount of $16,624 are appropriated from the Electric Enterprise
Fund Retained Earnings account no. 501-0000-3050, to the following Electric Administration
accounts: $7,674 to equipment account no. 501-5410-5930 and $8,950 to contracted services account
no. 501-5410-5390 for training and annual maintenance support.
Section 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Seward, Alaska, this 13th day of
May, 2002.
THE CITY OF SEWARD, ALASKA
C -L, 1)-0\ ~ I
Edgar Blatchford, Mayor
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Blatchford, Branson, Brossow, Calhoon, Clark, Orr, Shafer
None
None
None
Christy Te
Acting City Clerk I
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