ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE
2.	CONSIDER LAWN REMOVAL REBATE REQUEST FROM MONTEREY PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF MONTEREY
Meeting Date:		May 13, 2019	Budgeted: Yes
From:		David J. Stoldt,	Program/	4-2-3-C
		General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:		Stephanie Kister	Cost Estimate:	$25,067
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Water Demand Committee reviewed this item on April 23, 2019 and recommended approval. The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on May 13, 2019 and recommended ______________.
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15301

SUMMARY: District Rule 141, Water Conservation Rebates, allows a lawn removal rebate at a public facility to exceed the square-footage limitation of 2,500 square-feet (sf), subject to Board approval. Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) has requested $25,067 for the removal of 25,067 sf of turf located at the International School of Monterey (ISM), 1720 Yosemite Avenue in Seaside (Exhibit 2-A).

Currently, ISM’s lower field has 46,799 sf of irrigated play grass, and there is 4,053 sf of non-essential turf in front of the school. The current 50,852 sf of turf uses approximately 1,593,005 gallons of water annually. The new proposal would abandon the current irrigation and focus the irrigation to an area of play. This area’s size will be decreased, and irrigation efficiency improved. The new field area of 25,785 sf will use 575,521 gallons. This proposal will reduce water use by 1,017,481 gallons (3.1 AFA), a 63 percent reduction in water use annually. The field irrigation would also have a flow sensor and master valve reducing water waste caused by irrigation breaks.

As the school is served by the Seaside Municipal Water System, rebates are funded by the MPWMD funded rebate account. There is approximately $40,000 available in this account for fiscal year 2018-19. Estimated water savings for this project is 1,017,481 gallons/year (3.1 AFA).

RECOMMENDATION: The Committee should recommend to the Board that the requested Lawn removal rebate be granted for the MPUSD project.

BACKGROUND: The Water Demand Committee heard this item in September 2018 and, based on staff recommendation, decided to postpone action on this request until after the completion of the HEART Project. The HEART Project is utilizing the Cal-Am funded and MPWMD funded rebate accounts to provide water efficient toilets, clothes washers and dishwashers in the Disadvantage Communities (DAC) in Seaside. Use of the MPWMD funded rebate account for MPUSD’s turf removal project could have potentially prevent DAC residents from receiving important water-saving retrofits that will save money on their water and power bills and result in far more significant water savings. The HEART Project was completed and rebate funds are available for this request.

EXHIBIT

2-A MPUSD Proposal

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