Review AVL System and Consider Purchase

The use of an Automatic Vehicle Locator System (AVL) for our plow equipment was first brought up in May 2012 as a way of gathering plowing information to relay to residents, as well as tracking salt usage and other factors in our plowing operation.  Public Works has been testing the Precise MRM (mobile resourse management)system in our sweeping operation, as well as one of our plow trucks starting in the fall of 2012. The system collects data from the equipment and transmits that data back to an Internet website over a cellular network.  The information is always being collected, but the transmittal rate is determined by the end user.  During snow storms or emergency situations you would want the information more readily available to make maintenance decisions, such as what vehicle could respond quicker or suppling route completion information to residents or council.  During mowing or sweeping operations gathering  data once per day would be sufficient. 

Besides route information and vehicle location the software has the potential to provide other useful information that can be used in our operation.  Vehicle maintenance intervals can be loaded into the program and tracked through the software, with alerts being issued once trigger points are reached. The biggest advantage of the software would be the ability to track salt usage more closely.  Even a 5% reduction in salt use would pay for the capitol investment in the first year and give us information that would allow us to fine tune our application rates system wide.  Effective  use of salt is one way we can lower our operating expenses, as well as protect the environment. Staff will present a short power point presentation on the Precise MRM System and show some examples of data collected off our demo truck.

Alternative #1 Continue to operate PW equipment without AVL software (not recommend)

Pros: City would save the initial hardware cost of $4995.50 and the annual operating cost of $4025.91
Cons: City would lose the ability to track/ collect real time information on equipment use

Alternative #2 Install AVL software on large, main route, snow removal equipment and sidewalk clearing unit (recommend)

Pros: Would give the PW department the ability to track real time use of equipment during plowing events and collect data on location, material use, percentage of route completion and any streets that way have been missed in the plowing operation.   The information collected is also useful in tort claims and citizen complaints. The AVL equipment would  be transferred to vehicles used in summer maintenance activities after the snow season ended.

 Cons:  The initial hardware cost of $4996 and the annual operating cost of $4026, however, these costs would be recovered over time with operational savings.  

General Fund cost center 0312-6580
This purchase was funded in the 2013 general fund budget at $15,000.00

Staff recommendation is to purchase the Precise MRM system and install in all large plow equipment and sidewalk clearing machine.

Motion for Public Works Committee to accept staff recommendation and move to full council for action
                                                                              or
Motion for Public Works Committee to deny staff recommendation  and discuss  other alternatives