CITY COUNCIL: Receive Report & Provide Direction on the Placement of a Webcam at the Beach

Meeting Date: April3, 2012
Prepared by: Heidi Burch Assistant City Administrator


City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Receive report and provide direction on the placement of a webcam at the beach.

Description: At this time, staff is requesting City Council review the overall concept of placing a webcam at a site near the restroom area at Santa Lucia and Scenic. If Council approves the idea in principle, the Planning Commission and Forest and Beach Commission would review the proposal and make recommendations. In addition, staff from several City departments will provide logistical advice about issues concerning the installation and maintenance of the equipment.

Should this project go forward, it will require noticing of the neighbors within a 300-foot radius and a permit from the California Coastal Commission.

Overall Cost: The cost of the webcam, including installation is estimated to be $10,000. As the webcam project has been part of the City's "wish list" program, the City has received $4200 in donations to offset this cost. In addition, monthly Internet access from AT&T DSL or Comcast Cable is estimated at approximately $75. Ongoing maintenance costs nominal.

Staff Recommendation: Receive the report and provide direction on the beach webcam concept.

Important Considerations: None.

Decision Record: None.

Reviewed by:


Jason Stilwell, City Administrator Date


CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT

TO: MAYOR MCCLOUD & MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: HEIDI BURCH, ASST. CITY ADMINISTRATOR
THROUGH: JASON STILWELL, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
DATE: APRIL 3, 2012
SUBJECT: REPORT ON BEACH WEBCAM

BACKGROUND
Resident Jerry Gleason approached the City with a proposal to place a webcam at the beach to allow visitors to the City travel website the ability to view Carmel Beach. He met with members of the Economic Advisory Team who reviewed the proposal and recommended the concept be taken to Council to proceed with the project.

At this time, City Council is only requested to review and approve the overall concept of placing a webcam at a site near the restroom area at Santa Lucia and Scenic. If Council approves the idea in principle, the Planning Commission and Forest and Beach Commission would review the proposal and make recommendations. In addition, staff from several City departments will provide logistical advice about issues concerning the installation and maintenance of the equipment.

Should this project go forward, it will require noticing of the neighbors within a 300-foot radius and a permit from the California Coastal Commission.

PROPOSAL
The proposed beach Webcam would face north along Carmel Beach near the restroom area and
would allow a Website viewer to see real-time beach and surf conditions and the weather along
Carmel Beach. It is expected that the beach-cam also would serve as a boost to tourism as it
would offer potential visitors the feature of seeing the beautiful white sand beach and scenic
vistas.
The Webcam itself would be a fixed, high-quality camera, mounted in a marine-grade, stainless
steel enclosure to minimize the effect of the salt air environment. It would be mounted on a pole.
The camera would be connected to the Web through a secure Internet connection with
interconnection provided by AT&T DSL or a Comcast cable connection, and power supplied
from an existing source near the restroom site.
The Police and Fire services would also have priority access to the beach-cam for public safety
and emergency needs along the beach.
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FISCAL IMPACT
The total estimated cost to install and service a “turnkey” beach Webcam is $10,000. In
addition, the Internet access from AT&T DSL or Comcast Cable is estimated at approximately
$75 per month, plus nominal maintenance costs.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide direction to staff as needed.
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Beach-Cam Proposal for Carmel Beach
April 3, 2012
City Council Presentation
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Beach-Cam Proposal for Carmel Beach
• Objective
• Example images from Beach-Cam
• Proposed Specifications
• Schematic Diagram
• Implementation Steps
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Beach-Cam Proposal for Carmel Beach
Objective
•This proposal describes the value and benefits of a beach-cam to be
located at the restroom site at the south end of Carmel Beach near
Scenic and Sana Lucia.
•The TV camera will face north along Carmel Beach to allow any Carmel
City website visitor to view the beach conditions, surf and
weather along Carmel Beach.
•This beach-camera is expected to help attract more visitors to Carmel
by displaying the appearance and conditions along this beautiful white
sand beach.
•In addition, Police and Fire Services will have priority use of the beach
camera if some emergency situation is reported.
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Beach-Cam Proposal for Carmel Beach
Typical north-facing views of Carmel Beach from
outside restroom near Scenic and Santa Lucia:
Wide-angle view of Carmel Beach Narrow-angle view of Carmel Beach
(using 10 – 12 X zoom lens)
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Beach-Cam Proposal for Carmel Beach
Specifications
1.*Fixed high quality TV camera will be enclosed in a marine-grade Stainless Steel
environmental enclosure to minimize impact of ocean salt air environment.
2.Camera will be mounted on a pole.
3.Camera will be connected to the web via a secure internet connection.
4.Internet connection will be provided by ATT DSL or Comcast Cable connection.
5.Power will be supplied from an existing source at restroom site.
6.Web viewers will be put in a queue and have 30 to 60 seconds access time.
7. Pan and tilt and zoom options are available but require further exploration.
8. Police and Fire Services will have priority web access to the beach-cam.
9.Performance and Reliability Acceptance testing will be done by City of Carmel.
10.Full payment is subject to satisfactory installation and operation.
*Option: Vendor will optionally quote on an internet controlled camera marine-grade pan-tilt head.
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Beach-Cam Proposal for Carmel Beach
Schematic Diagram
Cameral zoom control
and web interface
Drawing is Not to Scale
Internet access via ATT DSL or Comcast Cable
120 VAC power (existing)
High quality TV camera
housed in marine-grade Stainless
Steel environmental enclosure
Self-supporting
pole
Note: Deposit of salt spray on camera enclosure face plate must
be regularly cleaned per manufactures recommendations.
Viewing Access and
control program in
City internet server
Internet

Beach-Cam Proposal for Carmel Beach
1. Request proposal and fixed price costing from local companies that can
install and service the ‘turn key’ system. (Rough estimate of cost < $10,000. )
plus about $75. per month for internet access from ATT DSL or Comcast Cable.)
Also, regular camera face plate cleaning maintenance will be required.
2. Obtain bids from at least 3 companies.
3. Noticing of neighbors within 300 ft. radius of ~ Scenic and Santa Lucia.
4. Review by Planning and Forest and Beach Commissions.
5. Obtain approval of City Council for project and funding.
6. Obtain permit from California Coastal Commission.
7. Review and negotiate proposal and contract from selected system installer.
8. Release contract for installation, training and documentation.
9. Perform Acceptance Test.
10.If acceptance is passed, approve payment.
Implementation Steps:
*Vince Cardinale of First Alarm (649-1111) claims to have installed similar cameras at the Monterey Airport.