Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br /> STAFF REPORT <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: Mayor Keis and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Bill Dircks, Public Works Director <br /> <br />DATE: October 14, 2020 <br /> <br />RE: Adding Bipolar Ionization Units to City Hall HVAC <br /> <br /> <br />ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: <br />Motion to approve the addition of seven bipolar ionization units to each of the seven furnace units at City <br />Hall at a cost of $7000. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The ongoing pandemic has illuminated the need for equipment that can help improve the air quality in <br />buildings as much as possible. There are a couple of different ways to achieve better air quality. One is <br />to install UV light bulbs in the furnaces. The light kills viruses and other bad air particles. The bulbs <br />need to be changed periodically and there is some danger if one looks directly at the light. <br /> <br />The other option is bipolar ionization. It works by creating a plasma field that is filled with positive and <br />negative charged ions. The ions travel the air stream and attach to particles, pathogens, and gases. The <br />net effect is a reduction in those potentially harmful things. There is also no maintenance required on the <br />bipolar ionization units and they are safe to work around. <br /> <br />Staff made the decision to get quotes for the bipolar ionization units for City Hall. Yale Mechanical <br />submitted a quote for $7000 and Southside Heating and Air submitted a quote for $8365. <br /> <br />Yale Mechanical has installed the same units at Mahtomedi City Hall as well as Shoreview City Hall. <br /> <br />SOURCE OF FUNDS: <br />This work will be paid for using CARES Act funds. <br /> <br />JUSTIFICATION OF CARES ACT FUNDS: <br />1. Was this a necessary expenditure due to the public health emergency with respect to the <br />Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Yes. This will improve air quality in the building <br />decreasing the potential for COVID-19 transmission in the building. <br />2. Was this expenditure accounted for in the 2020 Budget? No <br />3. Will this expenditure be incurred from March 1, 2020 through November 15, 2020? Yes <br /> <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: <br />Staff recommends approving the purchase and installation of seven bipolar ionization units for the HVAC <br />units at City Hall to Yale Mechanical at a cost of $7000. <br /> <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />Bipolar Ionization Information Sheet