City Council Meeting: October 14, 2008

Agenda Item: 1-E

To:                   Mayor and City Council

From:              Dean Kubani, Manager Office of Sustainability and the Environment

 

Subject:          Acceptance of Water Conservation Grant Funds

 

Recommended Action

Staff recommends the City Council:

 

1)     authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute two separate contracts each for a two-year term with the State Department of Water Resources to accept grant funding in the amount of $250,000 for the Sustainable Landscape Grant Program and $70,000 for the Rain Harvest Rebate Program; and,

 

2)     authorize budget changes to appropriate funding in expenditure accounts and establish budget in revenue account.

 

 

Executive Summary

The City of Santa Monica was awarded $320,000 in 2008 Prop 50 Urban Drought Assistance grant funds to provide additional funding for the City’s current Sustainable Landscape Grant Program and the Rain Harvest Rebate Program (Programs).  The goals of both Programs are to provide increased funding to encourage and assist Santa Monica property owners in conserving water during the current drought.  The total program implementation cost is $1,167,250.  These grants provide $320,000.  The remaining City funds of $875,250 are available in the current budget.

 

 

Background

The Governor of California declared a drought emergency in July 2008.  As a result emergency competitive grant funding was made available to water agencies that proposed implementation of water conservation programs to meet the Governors mandate to save 20% by 2020. The City’s own Sustainable City Plan includes a goal to reduce water use 20% by 2010.  In order to achieve that goal, the Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE) has developed water-efficient programs, policies, and regulations.  These programs include promotion of water-saving technologies and practices for businesses, residents and students.  The Programs will bring the City closer to reaching its water reduction goal by providing customers with financial assistance to install water-savings products.

 

Discussion

The Sustainable Landscape Grant Program is an existing program where Santa Monica property owners compete for funding to install water-efficient irrigation equipment, including drip irrigation and rotary nozzles for sprayheads, as well as climate-appropriate plants. With the funds awarded, the City will be able to provide an additional 50 sustainable funding grants for qualified projects.

 

The Rain Harvest Rebate Program is also an existing rebate program for Santa Monica property owners.  The goal is to redirect 300 downspouts directly connected to the municipal storm drain system to rain barrels and/or cisterns to collect rain water for use in landscape irrigation, replacing potable water for irrigation.  With the funds awarded, the City will be able to double the current rebate amount for qualified products.

 

There are significant water savings opportunities in landscaping.  Staff estimates that a total of 16.21 acre-feet per year (5,282,839 gallons) could be saved through the installation of qualified water-saving products as part of both Programs.  Saving 16.21 acre-feet each year will save the City approximately $10,212 in the purchase of water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

 

Table 1. Water Savings Potential

Type of Program

Estimated Water Savings in AF/Yr

Sustainable Landscape Grant Program

16

Rain Harvest Rebate Program

.21

TOTAL

16.21

 

Financial Impacts & Budget Actions

The total cost to implement both Programs is $1,167,250.  The City will receive $320,000 in additional grant funding from the Department of Water Resources for implementing both Programs.  The City’s net cost will be $847,250 for administration, grants, rebates, marketing, reporting, and monitoring.  The following 2008/09 budget changes are needed to record receipt of the grant funds and make them available for program use:

1)          Establish a revenue budget in the amount of $250,000 at account number 20226.402390 and establish a revenue budget in the amount of $70,000 at account number 20226.402450

 

2)          Appropriate $160,000 in capital projects account number M310082.589000.

3)          Appropriate $160,000 in capital projects account number M250082.589000.

 

Prepared by:

Kim O’Cain, Water Resources Specialist

 

Approved:

 

Forwarded to Council:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dean Kubani

Manager, Office of Sustainability and

the Environment

 

P. Lamont Ewell

City Manager