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ITEM: |
CONSENT CALENDAR |
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2. |
CONSIDER
EXPENDITURE FOR UPDATES TO gardensoft waterwise GARDENING software |
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Meeting
Date: |
August 19, 2019 |
Budgeted: |
Yes |
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From: |
David J. Stoldt, General Manager |
Program/ |
Conservation
Programs |
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Line Item
No.: |
4-2-2-J |
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Prepared By: |
Kyle Smith |
Cost Estimate: |
$4,650 |
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General Counsel Review: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on August 12, 2019 and recommended approval. |
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CEQA Compliance: This action
does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental
Quality Act Guidelines section 15378. |
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SUMMARY: District staff is requesting authorization to expend $4,650 in budgeted funds for GardenSoft to make necessary modernization upgrades to the District’s Monterey County Water Wise Gardening program www.montereylandscaping.org. GardenSoft is a web development company that licenses the District’s software through an annual subscription fee paid every March. This March marked the ten-year anniversary of the Districts software and it is due for an update. The fees included in the proposal are one time fees to upgrade and enhance the software, additions will not affect the annual subscription fee. The project will not exceed $4,650 and was included in the Fiscal Year 2019-20 budget. The District’s Water Wise Gardening software has 70 to 100 users per month.
Modernization updates can be
found in the proposal attached as Exhibit
2-A.
These upgrades will give the website a modern look and feel, making the
site more intuitive and user friendly.
There will be an opportunity to increase District messaging and update
links to all other District sites. As an example of an updated website please
visit http://www.marinwater.water-wise-gardening.com/. The Fact Sheets guide the user in creating a
sustainable landscape. Each is an
individual page on the website which covers a wide range of topics and adds
depth to the site. The fact sheets are
included as hot links in the garden tours.
Those links are highlighted in green and will send the user to the
specific Fact Sheet when selected. This
leads the user though the site and exposes them to more information. All the content on the Fact Sheets is
customizable.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff
recommends that the Board approve the modernization upgrades and fact sheets
for a not-to-exceed expenditure of $4,650.
The upgrades and fact sheets will streamline the website and offer the
user a better experience with more detailed information about local Water Wise
Gardening.
BACKGROUND: The District’s Water Wise Gardening site is a resource for gardeners of all skill levels that was curated to highlight plants that will thrive on the Monterey Peninsula and will help conserve water. At its root, the site is a database of plants, where users can find what they are looking for thorough searches or by garden tours that highlight specific plants. The site is a valued resource for users installing a new landscape as well as for users looking up specific information about a plant for an existing landscape. Over half of those users have the page book marked and navigate directly to the site.
IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES: None
EXHIBIT
2-A GardenSoft Scope of Work/Web Contract
U:\staff\Boardpacket\2019\20190819\ConsentCalendar\02\Item-2.docx