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outdated design, energy inefficient.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
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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
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Fve�ro�n
ATTEST:
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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