HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2005-146 Variable Frequency Drive Purchase (Wastewater Treatment Plant)RESOLUTION NO. R-2005-146
A RESOLUTION declaring an emergency and authorizing the City Manager to execute the
purchase and all applicable contracts for the installation of a Variable
Frequency Drive (VFD) for the WWTP aeration blowers.
WHEREAS, Article VI, Section 6 of the City of Yakima Charter and Yakima Municipal
Code Chapter 1.80 provide that the City Council may declare an emergency dispensing with
the necessity for bidding for services, material, and equipment and supplies costing more than
$25,000; and
WHEREAS, there are only three of the VFDs functional with no available parts for
repair; and
WHEREAS, the manufacture no longer supports the current VFDs; and
WHEREAS, City of Yakima staff have made numerous attempts to locate parts or repair
from other municipalities and industries; and
WHEREAS, the City of Yakima can no longer find parts to repair the aeration blower
VFDs; and
WHEREAS, the new blowers (that do not require external VFDs) will not be installed
for over a year; and
WHEREAS, with out the required amount of air being delivered to the aeration basins
several effluent limits would be violated on the City of Yakima's NPDES discharge permit; and
WHEREAS, The size of VFD that is needed is not readily available and there are very
few producers of 18 pulse drives on the market; and
WHEREAS, the health and safety of the citizens of Yakima could be in jeopardy; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City to declare an
emergency and authorize the execution of all necessary documents to purchase and install the
VFD for the aeration blowers, now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA:
An emergency is hereby declared and the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute
the purchase and all applicable contracts to install the aeration blower VFD without calling for
bids.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 20th day of September, 2005.
ATTEST:
Paul P. George, Mayor
City Clerk
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. i ID -
For Meeting Of 9/20/05
ITEM TITLE: Consideration of a resolution declaring an emergency and authorizing the
City Manager to execute contracts for the purchase and installation of a new
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) for the WWTP aeration blowers.
SUBMITTED BY: Max Linden, Wastewater Utility Engineer
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Max Linden, Wastewater Utility Engineer
(509) 249-6814
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Staff respectfully requests City Council consideration of a resolution declaring an emergency
condition and waiving the formal bid process in order to purchase and install a VFD for the
WWTP aeration blowers.
The existing VFDs that serve the aeration blowers, which are vital components for the
treatment process, are no longer supported by the manufacture. Numerous attempts to
locate parts or repair services from other municipalities and industries, world wide, have
not produced any successful results. The purchase and installation of this equipment not to
exceed $70,000.
(Continued on next page)
Resolution X Ordinance _ Contract _ Other (Specify)
Funding Source: 478 Wastewater Treatment plant improvements (Project # 2055 Budgeted)
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: X�
V - -- City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution declaring an emergency and authorizing
the City Manager to execute all applicable contracts for the purchase and installation of a
VFD for the WWTP aeration blowers.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
COUNCIL ACTION:
Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R-2005-146
Wastewater is in the process of updating the VFDs and blowers with new ones at this time.
Unfortunately, the replacement of the VFDs and blowers will not occur for over one year
and only three of the VFDs that run the four blowers are functional at this time. One VFD
has been cannibalized to keep the other 3 running. Recently we have had some
unanticipated break downs and one of the three remaining VFDs will now be needed to
keep the other two running. If additional VFDs break down we would not be able to run the
required number of blowers to maintain our activated sludge process in the aeration basins.
This is especially critical when Del Monte is in full production and at other times when two
blowers are required. Several effluent limits would be violated on the City of Yakima's
NPDES discharge permit with out the required amount of air being delivered to the aeration
basins. In addition, the safety and health of the citizens of Yakima could be jeopardized.
We need to keep the remaining VFDs running for over a year until our new blowers have
been installed. To get a replacement 400 hp VFD requires 6 to 8 weeks for delivery to the
site and the size of VFD that is needed is not readily available. Robicon supplies the
required VFD as well as having the parts and service readily available for them. Based on
previous experience with Robicon we ordered the new VFD (PO # 05045) to get it shipped as
soon as possible for installation in place of one of the old VFDs. The replaced VFD would
then be used to supply parts to keep the other old VFDs running.