HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.3 TimeOperatCtyFountains
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CITY CLERK
FILE # D~(2][Q]-~~
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AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: AUGUST 22,1995
SUBJECT:
Time of Operation for City Fountains
Report Prepared by: Public Works Director Lee Thompson
EXamITS ATTACHED: None
RECOMMENDA TION~rovide direction regarding times of operation for fountains.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
The adopted Park Maintenance Higher Service Level for fountains
provides the following funding for fountain ENERGY use during
Fiscal Year 1995~96:
Shannon Entry Fountain:
Civic Center Courtyard Fountain:
Civic Center Plaza Fountain:
$ 400.00
$ 500.00
$ 5,793.00
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DESCRIPTION: During the budget hearing for Fiscal Year 1995-96, the City Council
approved a higher service level relating to maintenance and operating costs for the City's fountains at the
Civic Center and Shannon Community Center. Staffhad proposed that the fountains be operated from
'8:00 a.m. to 12 noon, as the "time of use" energy rate for this time period is less than the rate for the 12
noon to 6:00 p.m. peak period. Subsequently, the City Council requested that Staff develop some options
that might be more appropriate, given the uses of the facilities.
Shannon Entry Fountain
The Shannon Park entry fountain is not currently on a "time of use" rate schedule. The rate which applies
to the Shannon Center does not vary during different hours of the day; therefore, the time of day and/or
day of the week that the fountain operates does not affect the total electric bill. The cost estimate for this
fountain was based on 20 hours of operation per week.
The Parks and Community Services Department has indicated that the facility is rented nearly every
Saturday and would therefore like to operate the fountain four or five hours on Saturdays and fewer hours
other days of the week. The preferable hours of operation on weekdays would be 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
or 11 :00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; however, this would be subject to change for specific weekday events or if a
Sunday rental occurred. It is recommended that the Parks and Community Services Staff communicate
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Sunday rental occurred. It is recommended that the Parks and Community Services Staff communicate
with the Public Works Maintenance Staff regarding the schedule for rentals and events for specific one-
time variations in fountain programming. .
A possible scenario is:
Saturday ~ 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. (5 hours)
Monday through Friday - 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (3 hours/day)
(Added times for special events would reduce weekday hours)
Civic Center Fountains
The Civic Center fountains operate on the same circuit as the Civic Center building, which is on an E-19
"time of use" rate schedule. This rate schedule provides for a higher rate during the "on-peak" period of
the day (from 12 noon to 6:00 p.m.), but lower rates during the "part peak" (8:30 a.m to noon and 6:00
p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) and "off-peak" (9:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. weekdays and all day on weekends and
holidays) times of day.
Courtyard Fountain
The energy cost to operate the Civic Center Courtyard Fountain was budgeted at $500 per year based on
20 hours per week on the "part peak" rate. It is suggested that the fountain be operated two hours in the
morning and two in the evening. This could be flexible for specific weekday or weekend events; .
however, Staff does not recommend operating this fountain during the on-peak period, as the energy cost
would be about 50% higher.
A possible scenario is:
Monday through Friday - 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
(Added times for special events would reduce weekday hours.
Pl::l7::l Fountain
By far, the greatest energy usage results from operation of the Civic Center Plaza Fountain. Staff
"recommends that the fountain not be operated at all during the "on-peak" period of 12:00 noon to 6:00
p.m. during the summer months. Simply turning the fountain on one hour per month in the on-peak
period (May through October) would use up 55% of the entire year's budget in demand charges.
A possible scenario which fits within the budget and would allow both weekend use and some weekday
use during the part-peak period is:
Saturday - 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. (5 hours)
Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m..
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This would allow the fountain to be in operation for both morning and evening meetings or events, as well
as Saturday rentals.
erhe "on-peak" rate does not apply during the winter months of November through April; so it would be
possible to operate the fountain between noon and 6:00 p.m. during those months without incurring a big
demand charge.
Staff recommends that the City Council review the scenarios and provide direction as to days and hours of
operation for the three fountains.
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