Cotati council authorizes emergency battery backups and signal upgrades after outage
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Summary
Following a recent power outage that darkened several intersections, council authorized the city manager to contract with DC Electric to add battery backups and replace an antiquated controller at specific signal intersections to improve emergency resiliency.
The Cotati City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to enter agreements and allocate funds to install emergency battery backups and upgrade traffic signal controllers at select intersections after staff described safety concerns revealed by a recent power outage.
Staff told the council that a power outage earlier in the weekend left some intersections dark for several hours and that at least one key signal (Overwood Highway at Myrtle/Valparaiso) lacked battery backup. The recommended work includes adding battery backup systems at that intersection and two others, replacing an outdated local controller so modern timing and interconnection features can be used, and standardizing an existing county-installed backup at the Santero/interconnected corridor so it supports a portable generator connection.
Council member (moved on the record) made a motion to authorize the city manager to execute necessary agreements with DC Electric and allocate funds for the detailed traffic signal improvements and emergency backup; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.
Staff and council framed the work as a public-safety and emergency readiness priority; bids for other road and pathway projects will be monitored to ensure adequate funding across projects.
