FOLSOM — The Folsom City Council has approved a $305,703 contract to replace nine aging rooftop HVAC units at the Folsom Public Library, a move city staff say will significantly improve reliability, efficiency, and comfort for one of the city’s most frequently visited public facilities.
The resolution, adopted Tuesday, authorizes the City Manager to execute an agreement with LEED Mechanical Inc. for the project, which will be funded through the city’s Capital Facilities Fund (Fund 602).
In a staff report presented to the council, Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Gonzalez explained that the existing units, installed in 2007 as part of the library’s original construction, “are 18 years old and beyond their expected service life.” Gonzalez wrote that “critical components, including compressors, fans, and heat exchangers, exhibit wear and deterioration,” resulting in declining operational reliability, particularly during extreme weather and peak usage.
The report noted that the building’s automated control system “was abandoned over a decade ago,” leaving the city unable to optimize energy use or reduce unnecessary run times. “This leads directly to higher-than-normal energy costs,” Gonzalez said. She added that aging units frequently cycle on and off, causing further strain on components and escalating repair costs, which the department has seen increase over the past five years.
According to Gonzalez, the new system is expected to “save on utility costs and provide reliable heating and air,” an important upgrade given the building’s continuous use by library patrons, staff, and community programs.
The project will utilize California’s Multiple Award Schedules (CMAS) cooperative purchasing program, a procurement method that allows cities and other public agencies to leverage existing state-negotiated contracts for better pricing and faster delivery. “Cooperative purchasing enables public agencies to leverage collective buying power, resulting in cost savings, efficiency, and a streamlined procurement process,” Gonzalez explained in the report.
LEED Mechanical is a qualified CMAS vendor for HVAC equipment and installation. The contract includes $277,911 for the base project and a 10 percent contingency of $27,792 for potential change orders, bringing the total authorization to $305,703. Sufficient funds have already been budgeted in Fund 602 to cover the expense.
The staff report also highlighted the city’s prior success using CMAS on several projects, including the HVAC replacement at 405 Natoma Station, carpet upgrades at the Folsom Public Library, and the installation of the citywide access control system.
The report cited that the project is categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15301, which covers improvements to existing facilities.
With the council’s approval of Resolution No. 11490, work will proceed on replacing the library’s nine rooftop HVAC units, improving comfort and efficiency for years to come.
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