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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />AUGUST 16, 2010 <br />TITLE <br />REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR <br />FIRE HYDRANT MAINTENANCE <br />SERVICES <br />? i <br />CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />? As Recommended <br />? As Amended <br />? Ordinance on 151 Reading <br />? Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />? Implementing Resolution <br />? Set Public Hearing For_ <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Authorize the Public Works Agency to send the attached Request for Proposals to qualified firms <br />to provide maintenance services for the City's public fire hydrants. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The City's water system includes approximately 4,800 public fire hydrants that are used to provide <br />fire protection to the community. To ensure that each hydrant will work correctly when needed, a <br />periodic maintenance program is conducted by Water Resources Division personnel. <br />Standards for the frequency and scope of fire hydrant maintenance are established by the <br />American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Insurance Services Office (ISO), Inc. <br />AWWA recommends that all hydrants should be inspected at least once a year to ensure <br />satisfactory operation. This is the standard that Santa Ana has historically met. ISO recognizes <br />this as an acceptable level of maintenance. It is one of many factors considered by ISO in <br />continuing to award Santa Ana the highest possible fire suppression rating of Class 1. <br />The Water Resources Division has experienced a reduction in personnel in the last several years. <br />The Water Systems Maintenance Section (the section responsible for fire hydrant maintenance) <br />has been reduced from 17 personnel in 2005 to 11 today. <br />To continue to operate the water utility effectively, adjustments in staff assignments and <br />prioritization of work activities have been implemented. Activities that would occur on a daily <br />basis (e.g. fire hydrant maintenance, water gate valve maintenance, water service replacements, <br />etc.) are being delayed as crews attend to more urgent repair activities (e.g. repair of broken fire <br />hydrants, repair of service leaks, water main breaks, etc.). <br />19C-1