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ADMINISTRATIVE
COMMITTEE |
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3. |
CONSIDER
EXPENDITURE OF BUDGETED FUNDS FOR
LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION AUDITS/BUDGETS AND AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO RENEW
CONTRACTS WITH SPOT WATER MANAGEMENT AND PACIFIC WATER MANAGEMENT FOR
AUDITING SERVICES |
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Meeting
Date: |
August 11, 2009 |
Budgeted: |
Yes |
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From: |
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Program/ |
Conservation Programs |
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Line Item No.: |
4-2-2-D |
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General
Manager |
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Prepared
By: |
Stephanie
Pintar |
Cost Estimate: |
$125,000 (Reimbursable) |
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General Counsel Approval: N/A |
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Committee Recommendation: The
Administrative Committee reviewed this item on August 11, 2009 and
recommended __________________. |
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CEQA
Compliance: N/A |
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SUMMARY: Staff is seeking Board authorization to renew
contracts with Spot Water Management (SWM) and Pacific Water Management (PWM) for
Landscape Water Audit and Landscape Water Budget services in a not-to-exceed
amount of $125,000. Funding for this
program is in the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget and is reimbursable through
California American Water (CAW). Both auditors
have been under contract with the District for these services since 2007. Copies of the Scope of Work and the Audit
Procedure are shown as Exhibits 3-A
and 3-B, respectively.
Landscape Water
Audits and Landscape Water Budgets completed by a Certified Landscape
Irrigation Auditor (CLIA) are required for specific users by District Rule No.
172 (Exhibit 3-C). Rule 172 requires landscape water audits and
landscape water budgets be offered by the District and/or CAW or their agent at
no charge to all water users of CAW that have dedicated landscape meters or
large irrigated areas over three acres, and to all large residential water
users that average more than 32 units of water per month of use. The audit involves an on-site analysis of
existing plant types and locations, soil types, existing irrigation and
watering practices and equipment. The CLIA
then determines a watering budget based on those factors and efficient water
use.
Stage 2 Water
Conservation (and higher stages) implements enforcement of Landscape Water
Budgets to maintain regulatory compliance.
During Stage 2, all water users required to have a Landscape Water
Budget must manage outdoor irrigation within their budget. Use in excess of the Landscape Water Budget
is considered Water Waste and is subject to Water Waste fees and enforcement. Every October (i.e., beginning of new Water
Year), CAW reviews their customer database to determine which customers are
subject to the audit/budget requirement.
As of July 14, 2009, 452 audits remain to be done, most of which are
dedicated irrigation meters. Since Rule
172 was established, 280 audits have been completed, with about 50 completed in
the past year.
The new contracts
will carry a not to exceed amount of $125,000 for Fiscal Year 2009-2010. Funding for this effort was included in the
FY 2009-2010 budget. Payment to the
contractors is made at the completion of the audit and budget and is reimbursed
by California American Water through the conservation budget approved by the
California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in 2009. The Administrative Law Judge involved in the
PUC decision was particularly supportive of completing these audits.
RECOMMENDATION: The Administrative Committee should recommend approval to the Board for authorizing the General Manager to renew contracts with PWM and SWM in a not-to-exceed amount of $125,000 for the purpose of completing Landscape Water Audits and Landscape Water Budgets to comply with the requirements set forth in District Rule 172.
IMPACT
TO STAFF/RESOURCES: Funding is
available through reimbursement by California American Water in the
conservation budget approved by the Public Utilities Commission in May 2009. Funds for this expenditure were included in
the Fiscal Year 2009-2010 budget.
EXHIBITS
3-A Scope of Work
3-B Procedure for Landscape Irrigation and
Budgets
3-C District Rule No. 172
U:\staff\word\committees\Admin\2009\20090811\03\item3.doc