HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - LMD IRRIGATION CONTROLLER SYSTEM UPGRADE (2)Agenda Item: 10
DATE: December 10, 2019
SUBJECT: LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT IRRIGATION
CONTROLLER SYSTEM UPGRADE
DEPARTMENT: Neighborhood Services
PRESENTER: Kevin Tonoian
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council:
1. Approve a contract with HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc., in an amount not to exceed
$424,161, to upgrade communication equipment in support of the Landscape Maintenance
District's existing city-wide weather -based irrigation controller system.
2. Appropriate funds in the amount of $339,663 from the Landscape Maintenance District Fund
Balance (357), $79,981 from Areawide Fund Balance (367), and $4,517 from Transit Fund
Balance (700), for a total of $424,161, to the operational accounts identified in the
Appropriations attachment.
3. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all contracts and associated documents,
subject to City Attorney approval.
BACKGROUND
In 2009, the City of Santa Clarita (City) initiated efforts to replace Landscape Maintenance
District (LMD) irrigation controllers with state-of-the-art technology that would meet the City's
high standards for water conservation. In Fiscal Year 2009-10, the City conducted a competitive
procurement process, resulting in the designation of HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc.
(HydroPoint), and their WeatherTrak product as the City's standardized weather -based irrigation
controller system (WBIC). In 2013 and again in 2018, the City Council took action to renew the
organization's contractual agreement with HydroPoint.
The WeatherTrak system centralizes management, provides real-time diagnostics, and rain -pause
action to suspend irrigation during times of measurable rainfall through wireless connectivity to
Page 1
all of the City's WBICs. The service has eliminated the need for the City to maintain its own
weather devices, communication networks, and customer service systems necessary to support
irrigation services for more than 2,700 acres of irrigated landscape.
WeatherTrak is the standardized irrigation controller system for the Landscape Maintenance
District (LMD) operation, with 722 individual controllers deployed throughout the City. In the
ten years since incorporating WBIC into the LMD operation, the City has collectively saved
more than two billion gallons of water. Today, the City maintains the largest single deployment
of WBICs in the United States and is a leader in water conservation best management practices.
A wireless and data management system is required for the City's WBICs to access real-time
weather information. Five hundred twenty-six (or 75 percent) of our WBICs range from eight to
ten years old and utilize a communications platform that relies on 2G cellular service. While
HydroPoint has made incremental adjustments to extend operations, our controllers will not be
able to access weather data via the Internet once 2G networks are shutdown, scheduled for no
later than December 31, 2020. Therefore, it is necessary to upgrade the communication
capabilities of our WBICs to an LTE communication platform to maintain LMD operations.
The one-time cost to upgrade the City's existing WBICs is $424,161. Staff and representatives
from HydroPoint have negotiated upgraded terms that include deeply discounted pricing and
offsetting credits.
Credits include extending cellular service to all controllers for two additional years beyond the
current subscription term of June 30, 2023. Extended cellular service will run through June 30,
2025, and represents a value of $236,455. Staff also secured an additional $184,005 in cost
offsets, including a new five-year extended replacement warranty on all controllers, discounted
installation, and additional enhancements allowing future controller software upgrades to process
remotely via Internet cloud services.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
Other action as determined by the City Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund. This action requires a one-time appropriation from the
Landscape Maintenance District Fund Balance (357), the Areawide Fund Balance (367) and the
Transit Fund Balance (700) to the expenditure accounts identified in the Appropriations
attachment.
ATTACHMENTS
HydroPoint Proposal
Appropriations
Page 2
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November 21 " , 2019
Ms. Katie Knybel
City of Santa Clarita
Katie,
This letter extends special incentives to help the City of Santa Clarita offset the cost of
upgrading 529 Pro2 controllers, with 2G communication, to Pro3 units with LTE communication
and new 5 Year Warranties:
Purchase Prot UoRracles
PR02 UPG 526
$530.56 $279,074.56
Shipping
$13,374.12
Sales Tax
9.50% $26,512.08
Install 526
$200.00 $105,200.00
Total Cost to Upgrade
$424,160.76
Value
CIM Extension to 6/30/24 CIM-1YA 722 1 ($163
CIM extension to 6/30/25 CIM-1YA 722 1
Cloud Update Keys WTUPD-KEY 722
Discounted Installation INSTALL 529 1
Extension of PR03 Controller Warranties XTD-WAR 193 5
Pricing contingent upon P.O. issued by City before 12/31/19.
18, 22 /,
18,22/,
($119,40) ($115,221,00)
($420,460,00)
1720, Corporate Cirle, Petaluma, CA 94954 thie maker's of ather r [k) A K'
p 800 362 8774 f 707 7699695
hydiropoint.com r I Packet Pg.
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.,��h,w HydroPoint
Background:
The City of Santa Clarita made its first purchase of WeatherTRAK PRO2 Smart Irrigation
Controllers in 2009. WeatherTRAK was selected based on a City preference for Cloud -Based
Central Irrigation Control.
In 2009, the prevailing industry standard was based on second generation (2G) cellular
technology. WTPRO2 model controllers have embedded 2G modems into their boards.
With the Communications Industry evolving rapidly, 3G, 4G and LTE connectivity have been
increasingly deployed by carriers to improve features, speed and security.
Some cellular providers began shutting down their 2G cellular network towers and support in
2014, while others stated their plans to end support for 2G.
HydroPoint explored options and found an interim solution by securing SIM cards for our
modems that would re -direct PRO2 2G controllers to an alternate network that published
support of 2G until 2020.
HydroPoint began a development effort to support 3G and beyond by creating a new controller;
the WTPRO3. PRO3 controllers are able to support 3G, 4G, and LTE communications
architecture. HydroPoint has also developed a PRO2 to PRO3 Upgrade kit, to help transition
customers away from the 2G platform.
The PRO2 to PRO3 Upgrade modernizes the City's irrigation controller system:
• Utilizes the fastest available cellular network (LTE)
• Brand New 5-year warranty for each upgraded controller
• Automatic Software Updating
o Cloud Update Keys installed in PRO3 controllers will automatically update
controller firmware w/out the need for a field person to touch the controller
o These software updates are Free for the lifetime of WeatherTRAK Central
Subscriptions
• Worry -Free Wireless Warranty
o HydroPoint will deliver new modems and antennas for customers when Telecom
providers phase out cellular technologies that otherwise would render the PRO3
controller unable to communicate
We look forward to moving this forward with you!
Sincerely,
Ben Slick
Senior Vice President
HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc.
1720, Corporate Circle, Petaluma, CA 94954 thie makers of
hydiropoint.corn r I Packet Pg.
Recommended Appropriations by Account
10-Dec-19
Zone/Facility
Account Code
Controllers
Total
Hybrid ............................
Parks
........ .........
12710 5161.013
4
$3,177 10
Metro
14509 5161.028
6
$4,516.98
Z 03
12525 5161.028
2
$1,588.55
Z 04
12526 5161.028
3
$2,196.32
Z 05
12527 5161.028
8
$5,985.70
Z 06
12528 5161.028
2
$1,588.55
Z 07
12529 5161.028
5
$4,166.20
Z 15
12533 5161.028
7
$5,870.78
Z 16
12534 5161.028
5
$3,660.54
Z 17
12535 5161.028
1
$732.11
Z 18
12538 5161.028
15
$12,362.85
Z 19
12539 5161.028
5
$4,277.56
Z 20
12540 5161.028
1
$856.44
Z 2008-1
12712 5161.028
87
$74,478.59
Z 21
12544 5161.028
1
$732.11
Z 26
12549 5161.028
6
$4,642.02
Z 27
12550 5161.028
15
$11,105.94
Z 28
12551 5161.028
8
$5,981.19
Z 29
12565 5161.028
1
$732.11
Z T01 ADV
12712 5161.028
3
$2,325.17
Z T01 Faircliff
12501 5161.028
1
$856.44
Z T02
12502 5161.028
9
$7,052.20
Z T03
12503 5161.028
6
$4,392.64
Z T04
12504 5161.028
9
$6,920.95
Z T05
12505 5161.028
17
$12,703.51
Z T06
12506 5161.028
4
$3,053.47
Z T07
12507 5161.028
15
$11,624.44
Z T08
12508 5161.028
33
$26,290.54
Z T17
12511 5161.028
3
$2,446.40
Z T23
12512 5161.028
41
$31,274.00
Z T23A
12513 5161.028
31
$26,437.21
Z T23B
12514 5161.028
9
$6,721.62
Z T29
12515 5161.028
2
$1,464.21
Z T31
12516 5161.028
12
$9,494.79
Z T46
12520 5161.028
80
$65,946.78
Z T47
12521 5161.028
41
$34,128.56
Z T52
12522 5161.028
20
$15,897.64
Z T65
12554 5161.028
5
$4,157.89
Z T65A
12555 5161.028
3
$2,320.66
526 $424,160.76
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