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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04041989 - 1.52 To- BOARD OF SUPERVISORS fy, 0.5``: FROM: William F. Maxfield, Fire Chief Colra Costa DATE' March 23 , 1989 Agreement -between Contra Costa County Consolidated SUBJECT: Fire District and Cities of Walnut Creek and Concord for Signal Preemption Devices SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACK13ROUND AND JUSTIFICATION I . RECOMMENDED ACTION Approve agreements between the Contra Costa County Consolidated Fire District and the Cities of Walnut Creek and Concord for the purchase, installation and joint use of traffic signal preemption (Opticom) equipment. II . FINANCIAL IMPACT A. Funds for installation and purchase of equipment are to be provided from the Fire District' s and the Cities ' budgets. B. Developers will be required to provide equipment and installation whenever a new signal or major change in a signal system is required. C. Average cost for equipment (provided by the District), and labor for installation (provided by the City) is approxi- mately $6; 500 per traffic intersection. These costs are divided approximately 50% between the Fire District and the City. The District' s 5-Year Plan calls for retrofitting approximately 75 intersections. in Walnut Creek and 98 intersections in Concord. III . REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND The Opticom system is controlled by a device on the emergency vehicle as it approaches an intersection during an emergency response. Once activated, the system automatically gives the emergency vehicle priority over other traffic by providing a safe "green light" corridor along the response route. The limited number of arterial streets coupled with the growing population, both residential and commercial, are combining to create increased traffic congestion. This situation has an adverse impact on the ability of emergency vehicles to respond in a safe and timely manner. As congestion increases, a major problem encountered is the gridlock effect of traffic waiting for signals to turn green. This results in emergency vehicles coming to a standstill until the signal changes. A few seconds delay in response time can mean the difference between life and death. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT; _ YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE IS : ACTION OF BOARD ON APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS (ABSENT . AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. . CC: County Administrator ATTESTED APR 4. 1989 _ Auditor-Controller PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF Contra Costa County Fire Protection District SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR City of Concord City of Walnut Creek BY �' � ,DEPUTY M382/7-83