The Escondido City Council on Oct. 2 approved a contract to retain Bay Electric of Dollar Bay to perform arc‑flash studies for the city’s water and wastewater departments for an amount not to exceed $50,500, including a $3,000 contingency. Staff said money for the study is budgeted.

City staff explained the study responds to a deficiency identified by MiOSHA and that an arc‑flash plan had previously bought time while the study was procured. The contract package described deliverables that include site labeling, specified load documentation and QR codes for on‑site access to lockout/tagout procedures and hazard information.

Mr. Lampe (a representative present at the meeting) and "Zach, our project manager," discussed how QR codes will be hosted on an external server so contractors can scan codes on site without accessing city servers. Council members raised technical questions about baseline loads and references in addenda to changed values; staff said those items were resolved in the RFP process as a group decision defining the city's baseline for protection.

On roll call the council approved the contract (recorded yes votes: Council Member DuBois; Council Member Moore; Council Member Boshoff; Council Member Flatt; Mary Grama). Staff described the award as substantially under the amount previously budgeted and said the study will allow labeling and procedures to be deployed citywide for outside contractors and staff to reference.

The council directed staff to proceed with contract execution and to ensure study deliverables include labeling and accessible procedures as described in the contractor's proposal.