Item No. 3.
| MEETING DATE: 11/16/2020 |
|
| TO: | HONORABLE CHAIR AND DIRECTORS |
| FROM: | JIM SADRO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR By: Elias Saykali, Public Works Director |
| SUBJECT: | APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER TO CORE & MAIN TO FURNISH VARIOUS SIZES OF WATER METERS AND REGISTERS FOR THE ANNUAL WATER METER REPLACEMENT PROGRAM |
RECOMMENDATION:
That the La Habra Utility Authority approve and authorize the Executive Director to issue a Purchase Order to Core & Main in an amount not to exceed $464,456 for the purchase of water meters and registers in various sizes for the Annual Water Meter Replacement Program.
DISCUSSION:
The La Habra Utility Authority (Authority) operates the City's water system. A key component of the water system is the water meter, which measures the amount of water use for each customer for billing purposes. Meters are read on a monthly basis, and the data collected is used to generate water bills. Due to normal wear on internal parts, older water meters may become less accurate over time and may under-report actual water consumption. Therefore, staff routinely replaces older meters to ensure that bills properly reflect the amount of water used by customers.
The Authority maintains approximately 14,000 water meters. Staff will be replacing approximately 1,600 water meters and registers over the next ten months, ranging in size from 5/8-inch to 8-inch. The smaller meters (5/8-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch) are typically used for residential services, while larger meter (1 1/2-inch and larger) are typically used for commercial, irrigation, and/or multi-family buildings.
The meter replacement program is a continual, long term annual program established to maintain accurate and reliable meters within the water distribution system. Staff have installed more than 8,500 automated meters over the last five years, and expect to replace the remaining 5,500 meters over the next three years. The Authority currently utilizes a multi-jet water meter, manufactured by Master Meter, in the City's water system, which is available from several local suppliers. Once replacements are complete, the 1,600 new water meters will be automated and read remotely utilizing an existing wireless fixed-base network. Staff solicited per unit pricing from three firms that provide multi-jet meters and registers.
The lowest bidder is Core & Main. If approved, staff will purchase a variety of meters in different sizes in an amount not to exceed $464,456, which includes sales tax. Core & Main has been supplying water meters to the Authority for the past several years, and has been reliable in their service.
The Authority maintains approximately 14,000 water meters. Staff will be replacing approximately 1,600 water meters and registers over the next ten months, ranging in size from 5/8-inch to 8-inch. The smaller meters (5/8-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch) are typically used for residential services, while larger meter (1 1/2-inch and larger) are typically used for commercial, irrigation, and/or multi-family buildings.
The meter replacement program is a continual, long term annual program established to maintain accurate and reliable meters within the water distribution system. Staff have installed more than 8,500 automated meters over the last five years, and expect to replace the remaining 5,500 meters over the next three years. The Authority currently utilizes a multi-jet water meter, manufactured by Master Meter, in the City's water system, which is available from several local suppliers. Once replacements are complete, the 1,600 new water meters will be automated and read remotely utilizing an existing wireless fixed-base network. Staff solicited per unit pricing from three firms that provide multi-jet meters and registers.
| Bidder | Bid |
| Core & Main | $464,456.00 |
| Master Meter | $482,222.48 |
| B.E.S.T. Meter Company, Inc. | $646,277.40 |
The lowest bidder is Core & Main. If approved, staff will purchase a variety of meters in different sizes in an amount not to exceed $464,456, which includes sales tax. Core & Main has been supplying water meters to the Authority for the past several years, and has been reliable in their service.
FISCAL IMPACT/SOURCE OF FUNDING:
There is no impact on the General Fund to purchase water meters. There is sufficient, approved funding in the adopted Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Water Enterprise Fund CIP budget for the Annual Water Meter Replacement Program.
GENERAL PLAN RELEVANCE:
WS 1.9 Infrastructure Maintenance