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HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 187-2015 Date Palm Tree Up LightsBAL HARBOUR V I L L A G E - OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER LETTER TO COUNCIL NO. 187-2015 To: Mayor Martin Packer and Members of the Village Council From: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manager Date: October 30, 2015 Subject: Date Palm Tree Up Lights The purpose of this Letter to Council (LTC) is to reiterate the process followed to replace the old in ground date palm up lights with the new light emitting diode (LED) type of light fixtures. Recently I have received inquiries regarding the process followed to replace the old in - ground date palm up -lights with the current above grade LED fixtures. As you are aware, the fixtures were installed as a temporary stop gap measure in order to provide a short term lighting solution prior to the engagement of the Landscape Architectural firm that will be creating a new Collins Avenue/96 Street Corridor Masterplan in the coming year. The masterplan will address landscaping, street furniture, lighting, hardscape, wayfinding and lighting in a comprehensive manner. The new landscape light fixtures installations are a result of the temporary installation testing of three sets of different light level producing LED fixtures for a two month evaluation period this past March -April. The test installations were conducted in order to solicit comments from residents and other interested parties. The light fixtures were installed in sets of two (2), at three (3) different Date Palm well locations. Two (2) different sets were placed in front of The Kenilworth Condominium, 10205 Collins Avenue and one (1) set installed in front of The Balmoral Condominium, 9801 Collins Avenue. The purchase of installed fixtures was approved by the Bal Harbour Village Council at the May 19, 2015, Village Council meeting and Resolution No 2015-948 adopted for this purpose (See attached). Due to the short term nature of this project, the pending Collins Corridor Masterplan, and the request I received to provide an expedited solution, a lighting consultant was not contracted for this project. As previously discussed, the old in -ground level fixtures were prone to malfunction from water intrusion and due to their outdated design, energy inefficient. These light fixtures were initially installed in the early 1990's as part of the landscape installation project completed during that period. At the time of the testing, one hundred and five (105) of the three hundred seventy two (372), 250 watt High -Intensity Discharge (HID) metal halide lamp fixtures were inoperable. Additionally, the new LED type lighting included the installation of ground - fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacles that were incorporated into the project to LTC - Date Palm Tree Up Lights Page 2 of 2 provide electrical outlets at each Date Palm in anticipation of future needs such as new Holiday lighting for the Date Palms. The old fixtures did not have the GFCI outlets installed, which would have precluded the installation of decorations on the Date Palms this year as planned. Also, the decision to retrofit to the existing LED lights was based in part on the need to restore lighting to the corridor using the existing in -ground wiring system and the LED fixtures could be installed without the expense of rewiring the entire electrical service for these areas. Because this project utilized the existing electrical system components and the light fixture installation was relatively simple, Village staff provided the labor required for this work, which eliminated the need to procure the services of an installation contractor. The use of in-house staff to perform this work reduced the overall cost of the project and accelerated the light fixture with GFCI outlets installation, in time for the holiday season. In addition to the installation of the LED tree up lights, all the street lights lamps along Collins Avenue were recently replaced by Village staff, with new LED lamps using the existing light poles and fixtures. This retrofit is also a short term measure until the Masterplan is completed. In this case, the new LED street lights are brighter than the old lights and do contrast to the LED tree lights which are a warmer type of light. There may be a "bleeding" effect between the up -lights and the street lights which is resulting in the palm canopy not being lit as fully as in the past. Also, since the original installation of the old in -ground lighting a number of decades ago, the Date Palms have grown several feet since installed and as a result the lighting is challenged. We expect the larger vision for the Collins Corridor as developed with the Community and the Landscape Architectural firm will properly address this concern in a permanent manner. I anticipate bringing the short list of firms to the Council for consideration at the November meeting. I hope this information is helpful in clarifying any questions you may have or may receive from interested residents. Should you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact me. RESOLUTION NO. 2015-948 A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE, FLORIDA; APPROVING THE PURCHASE OF LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) FIXTURES WITH HARDWARE FROM MERCEDES ELECTRIC SUPPLY IN THE AMOUNT $42,873.00; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the existing landscape light fixtures which are installed at ground level adjacent to the Zahidi Date Palms along Collins Avenue and 90h Street are not energy efficient and are prone to malfunction due to their outdated design; and WHEREAS, due to the high replacement cost for the lamps and ballasts and In acknowledgement of the age of their design, an evaluation with test fixtures was conducted to select a new LED type fixture which could be retrofitted into the existing lighting electrical system; and WHEREAS, three different LED light fixtures were tested along Collins Avenue with positive results and one fixture was selected that could be installed into the existing electrical system which powers the date palm lights; and WHEREAS, in order to proceed, quotes were obtained from three (3) suppliers with the lowest overall quote received from Mercedes Electric Supply at a cost of $33,480.00; and WHEREAS, additionally, since the existing light fixtures will be replaced with the new LED type lighting, the installation of ground -fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacles was incorporated into the project with mounting hardware at an additional cost of $ 9,093.00; and WHEREAS, the Village Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the Village to approve the purchase of LED light fixtures and additional equipment from Mercedes Electric Supply at a cost not to exceed $42,873.00. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF BAL HARBOUR VILLAGE, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals Adopted. That the above stated recitals are hereby adopted and confirmed. Section 2. Purchase Approved. That the purchase of LED light fixtures and associated equipment from Mercedes Electric Supply for an amount not to exceed $42,873.00 is hereby approved. Bal Harbour Village — Resolution No. 2015.948 1 Section 3. Implementation. That the Village Manager is hereby authorized to take all actions necessary to implement the purposes of this Resolution. Section 4. Effective Date. That this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon the adoption hereof. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1 gth day of May, 2015. ayor Martin acker (�S Fve�ro�n ATTEST: U��61,�. Dolores M. Mejia, Interim Vill Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY: Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. Reviewed and Approved by Village Attorney Matthew J. Pearl Bal Harbour Village —Resolution No. 2016.948