11-09-2005 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

29?4 GYi %GLGGGLG MAYOR Bill Biesener COUNCIL Jim LaValle Rick Montour Barbara Allan John Keis 515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117 - 1.600 ADMINISTRATOR (651) 766 -4029 / FAX: (651) 766 -4048 Joel R. Hanson ann ci.Iittle- canada. mn. us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Blesener & Members of the City Council FROM: Joel Hanson, City Administrator DATE: November 4, 2005 RE: City Center Generator Establishment of an alternate power source for City Center has been in the capital budget for a number of years. As you may recall, City Center serves as our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the event of a local disaster. Given that a number of potential disaster events could involve the loss of power, it was felt an alternate power source should be available to keep operations functioning. There are a number of options to consider in providing a generator for the City Center. They are as follows: ➢ Install a 50 or 60 kw permanent generator (estimated cost of $35,000) versus a connection point (estimated cost of $10,000) for use with a portable generator ($35,000 for a 100kw). The portable generator could then be used for other city operations if not needed at the City Center. (The primary use would be to power our sanitary lift stations and that dictates the need for the higher capacity.) ➢ If a permanent generator is chosen, do we power it with natural gas or diesel (diesel will cost about $2,500 more based on initial estimates)? • If a permanent option is chosen, do we mount it on the LC Road side of the building where connection points are much easier or do we locate it on the north side of the building where screening would be easier and noise impacts would be a non - factor but costs would be much higher. (Note: The noise issue can be dropped to a reasonable level that won't disturb building operations. It would be slightly louder than an AC unit.) • If we go with the portable option, do we buy another generator to have it readily available or do we enter into a rental agreement with a company such as Ziegler where one would be available in no later than four hours. (The City has one generator now, a 200kw that we use periodically for our booster station to allow us to pump water between (9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.) thereby avoiding excessive surcharges from Xcel. It has also been used during power outages for our lift stations.) r In comparing a permanent versus portable generator, do we place more value on the certainty of automatic start -up when needed with a permanent installation or accept some