ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
3.	CONSIDER APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURE FOR PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT FOR IRRIGATION RETROFITS FOR MONTEREY PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS
Meeting Date:			April 21, 2014	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	Water Conservation
			General Manager	Line Item No.:	4-2-2-B
Prepared By:			Stephanie Locke	Cost Estimate:	$60,603
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Water Demand Committee considered this item on March 19, 2014, and recommended approval. The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on April 14, 2014 and recommended approval on a 2 to 1 vote.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: Staff is seeking authorization to expend up to $61,000 in budgeted funds to pay for water saving irrigation equipment for installation at six Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) schools supplied by California American Water (Cal-Am). A related funding request for five schools was approved by the Board in December 2011. This current request is to fund purchase and installation of 13 Smart irrigation controllers at six additional schools, includes a five year contract for service with WeatherTRAK, as well as installation and training costs.

MPUSD Energy Specialist, David Chandler, obtained a quote for thirteen sophisticated WeatherTRAK weather-based irrigation system controllers (Exhibit 3-A). The controllers will be secured in a steel housing and receive real-time weather data through the WeatherTRAK satellite communication system. The controller utilizes this information to automatically schedule irrigation based on individual landscape needs and local weather conditions. These are the same controllers installed at five other MPUSD school sites in 2011. This installation will help MPUSD meet its water conservation goal by standardizing the irrigation systems across the school district with high tech irrigation controllers (Exhibit 3-B). By funding this proposal all of the Cal-Am serviced sites will use ET irrigation technology and will have the tools to best manage outdoor water use. The WeatherTRAK technology will result in accurate and exceptionally efficient irrigation water use.

Funding for school retrofits is reimbursable through the conservation budget approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2012. The conservation budget for school retrofits provides funding to local educational facilities to upgrade high water use areas and water fixtures with new technology.

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Administrative Committee support this request by recommending the Board approve the expenditures of up to $61,000 to pay for irrigation equipment.

EXHIBITS

3-A Purchase Estimate

3-B MPUSD Proposal

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