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6.3 Auth Lead-Based Paint AnaliCITY OF SALINA REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTIONDATETIME 06/21/044:00 P.M. AGENDA SECTION ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: APPROVED FOR NO:6 AGENDA: Development Services ITEM NO.3 BY: BY: Judy Brengman Page 1 ITEM: Authorize the purchase and maintenance of a lead-based paint analyzer (X-RF device) to assist in the implementation of the H.O.M.E. Housing Rehabilitation program. The X-RF device will be stored at the Salina-Saline County Health Department office and operated by their licensed and trained staff. BACKGROUND: January 5, 2004, the City of Salina officially accepted a CDBG HOME Housing Rehabilitation grant award in the amount of $250,000. There is an additional award of $12,250 to reimburse the City of Salina for local grant administration. At this time, it is anticipated as many as fifteen applications now in various stages of qualification and inspection will eventually be selected to receive assistance from these funds. Among the many Federal mandates affecting the use of CDBG and HOME funds, the ones relating to the hazards of lead-based paint presently have the largest impact on local activities. In 2001, Neighborhood Services staff successfully completed rehabilitation projects on a group of four homes, following the newly impl emented requirements. Bas ed on that experience and some changes since then in administrative requirements from the State of Kansas, it is apparent we must do as much as possible on the local level to identify early the presence of lead in housing as well as to minimize the costs of controlling its hazards to occupants. Each applicant project must undergo a Risk Assessment inspection to identify lead hazards on the entire property. The Salina/Saline County Health Department has been providing those inspections and accompanying recommendations for interim controls to be performed at a significantly lower cost than available by private contractor. Lead hazard inspections presently consist of taking paint chip and dust wipe samples that must be sent to a certified lab for results. Minimum turn-around time is 3 to 5 days. Dust wipes can only identify the presence of deteriorated paint that has already begun to contaminate a property. X-RF analysis immediately identifies the location and presence of lead through many layers of paint to the substrate. It is a more precis e tool, allowing rehabilitation project designers to avoid disturbing hidden contamination which might not otherwise be found until a clearance test is failed. After extensive training in lead hazard reduction and research of best practices, staff recommends purchase of an X-RF device for use in housing rehabilitation activities to: • identify presence of lead hazards early in the qualification process so projects with overwhelming lead issues do not divert resources from projects that are more feasible. • provide a more economical and thorough inspection than dust wipes alone. • reduce relocation costs by shortening the length of time waiting on clearance test results while a family has been relocated at program expense. • eliminate post-work failed clearance tests by pre-testing and pinpointing the location of any contamination needing to be removed. CITY OF SALINA REQUEST FOR CITY COMMISSION ACTIONDATETIME 06/21/044:00 P.M. AGENDA SECTION ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: APPROVED FOR NO:6 AGENDA: Development Services ITEM NO.3 BY: BY: Judy Brengman Page 2 • eliminate the need to damage homeowner’s property by taking paint chip samples In addition to housing rehabilitation inspections, the Salina-Saline County Health Department plans to use the X-RF analyzer for investigations concerning children who have elevated levels of lead found in their blood. FISCAL NOTE: The Salina-Saline County Health Department will contribute $2,000 towards the purchase, along with employing two people who are certified to operate the unit. Saline County has agreed to contribute $2,000 from their c ontingency fund for its purchase. The unit purchase price is $12,685.00. It contains a radioactive source that requires an annual state license, which is $600, Total purchase, licensing and shipping will not exceed $13,500. The 2004 Sub CIP Vehicles and Equipment Fund has an adequate reserve to fund the City’s share. RECOMMENDATION: This is a sole-source purchase recommendation. The Warrington LeadStar is the only X-RF device on the market that has a narrow enough emitting nozzle to fit into window troughs. Also, the technology this model uses to produce the x-ray burst makes it more economical to operate than comparable models because it allows the unit to be used over the life of the radiation source instead of needing to be replaced when radiation levels become reduced.