HomeMy WebLinkAboutSurplus Property & Sale Authorization to LBT Engineers, Inc. 08/26/20004CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Declaration of Surplus Property and Sale Authorization
SUBMITTED BY: H. Spencer Knight, Landscape Manager
APPLICANT: LBT Engineers, INC.
717 Guadalupe Avenue
Coronado, California 92118-2314
DATE: August 26, 2004
CONTENTS: Request for Purchase from LBT Engineers, INC
Recommendation:
By Minute Motion: Declare various electronic components of the
obsolete Civic Center Park Barrington Central Irrigation Controller
surplus property and authorize sale of said equipment to LBT
Engineers, INC.
Discussion:
On February 12, 2004 the City Council approved the purchase of a new central
irrigation controller for the Civic Center Park. The new equipment has been
purchased and is being installed. As part of this installation, the obsolete
controller equipment components, LanSTARs and MicroSTARs are being
removed. The equipment is proprietary and is no longer being manufactured by
Barrington.
LBT Engineers, INC. was involved with the design and installation of the
Barrington irrigation control system and has provided technical help over past
years with this system. They have clients that are still using this type of system
and can salvage various components of the LanSTARs and MicroSTARs to keep
these other systems operational. LBT Engineers has tendered a request for the
purchase of some of this obsolete equipment. Based on LBT's proposal, staff
estimates that income from this sale will be $ 1,060.00. There are four (4)
LanSTARs at $ 200.00 each, two (2) Interface chip sets at $ 80.00 each and four
(4) MicroSTARs at $ 25.00 each. LBT Engineers has been retained to integrate
G:1PubWorkslStaff Repods120041August 261lrrigation Surplus Property.doc
Staff Report — Surplus Property and Sale Authorization
Page 2 of 2
August 26, 2004
the new irrigation controller with the existing pump station. The sale of this
equipment will help defray this cost.
The electronic components of the Barrington system require special E-Waste
disposal. There usually is a cost associated with this disposal. LBT has also
offered to help with some of this disposal process, at no cost to the City.
Therefore, staff recommends that City Council, by Minute Motion, declare
various electronic components of the obsolete Civic Center Park
Barrington Central Irrigation Controller surplus property and authorize sale
of said equipment to LBT Engineers, INC.
Submitted By:
H Sp-�nc Knight
L. ds apManager
Approval:
for Devel t Services
City Manager
/jl
Depart ent Hea
Michael Errante
Director of Public Works
Finance Director
G:1PubWorkslStaffReports12A041August 26Vrrgation Surplus Property.doc
717 Guadalupe Avenue
Coronado CA 92118-2314
LATENCy@san.rr.com
June 28, 2004
Jay Niemczak
City of Palm Desert
73-510 Fred Waring Drive
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Summary
The Civic Center Park's Control and Data Acquisition uses a Distributed Control
System (DCS) that was originally installed in 1989. The City is removing the irrigation
functions from the Park's DCS, as well as some lighting control functions. Because of
these deletions there are four LanSTARs that are no longer required, as well as a
number of MicroSTARs and Lighting Control MicroSTARs.
LanSTAR I
The LanSTARs used by the Civic Center Park are LanSTAR I. Several of them
are 15 years old, with most of the remaining at least ten years old. Many are not in
particularly good shape being exposed to dust, sand and high temperatures for many
years. Many of the parts for the LanSTAR I are no longer available and the unit has not
been produced for several years. The next generation is the LanSTAR II, which
incorporates the latest demand for Web Based controls, and uses state of the art chip
sets.
Existing LanSTAR I Installations
There are many large installations using the old LanSTAR I. When an
expansion is required, some are replacing the older version with the newer to keep
their installations updated and consistent. Others however, are keeping their old
LanSTARs and adding the new version, in essence running blended systems. Since
most of the LanSTAR I chips are no longer available, all of the obsolete LanSTARs are
being kept for spare parts. Eventually all of the older LanSTARs will be replaced, but
in the interim the spare chips are useful.
LanSTAR Proposal
LBT Engineers, Inc. would like to purchase the four available LanSTARs for
$200.00 each. LBT will arrange for the units to be picked up.
LBT Engineers, Inc. would also like to purchase any available interface chip sets
for $80.00 each. (Two chip sets were originally left in LanSTAR 0 at RRA). Each of
these sets has four communication processor chips and four opto isolator chips.
Distributed Controls, . llata Acquisition
Web Based Controllrtterface
June 28, 2004
Page 2
MicroSTAR I
The Civic Center is using the MicroSTAR I exclusively. The MicroSTAR II
replaced the MicroSTAR I approximately five years ago. The newer version has some
major improvements in how it handles Analog Output Signals. The I and II are both
seamlessly interchangeable with the exception of the Analog section. The MicroSTAR I
has little or no value. Barrington is willing to take any surplus MicroSTAR I, strip them
of usable parts and properly dispose of them. LBT Engineers, Inc. will provide pick-up,
boxing and shipment to Barrington.
Lighting Control MicroSTARs
The Lighting Control MicroSTAR (LCM) is still in use. The major cost components, the
power control relays are subject to operational degradation, so the age of the LCMs
mitigates their value. LBT Engineers, Inc. is willing to pay $25 per unit that is surplus.
Payments & Pickup
Payment will be made for any surplus material by check at time of pick-up. Material will
be picked up within two weeks of receiving notification that it is available. Multiple pick-
ups are acceptable.
Please call for any questions or clarifications,
Lori Tybor, P.E.