SR-510-013 (2)~_ . .
City Council Report
~ c~cy or
Santa Monica°
City Council Meeting: September 12, 2006
Agenda Item: ~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Craig Perkins, Director - Environmental and Public Works Management
Subject: Award Professional Services Agreement to EcoMotion for Project
Development and Implementation Services for the Community Energy
Independence Initiative
Recommended Action
This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate
and execute a professional services agreement with EcoMotion to provide project
development and implementation services for the Community Energy Independence
Initiative (CEII) Demonsfration Project.
Executive Summary
On March 14, 2006, City Council approved a two-year Community Energy
Independence Initiative (CEII) demonstration project that will establish the foundation for
a community-wide CEII by installing energy efficiency measures and solar electric or
solar thermal systems in up to 50 residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.
EcoMotion will assist in developing, marketing, and implementing the demonstration
project site installations as well as preparing a community-wide CEII business plan for
Council approval. The total cost for this contract is $494,975. It is recommended that a
7'/z% contingency in the amount of $37,123 also be encumbered for additional
1
expenses that may need to be covered during the implementation of this unique
demonstration project.
Discussion
Background
,
In 2002, the City of Santa Monica received a$35,000 grant from the U.S. Department of
Energy's Million Solar Roofs program to prepare a solar potential study. The City
augmented the grant with $20,000 to include energy efficiency and on-site distributed
generation in the analysis. The study concluded that Santa Monica could generate all
the electricity it currently consumes and become a"net zero energy city" if:
• all suitable rooftops (17,500 structures) were equipped with solar electric or solar
thermal systems;
• nearly every home and business in the City were brought up to current energy
efficiency standards; and
• facilities with sufficient thermal load were equipped with small cogeneration
systems.
The study recommended an implementation strategy that addressed the significant cost
and regulatory barriers that the City will encounter on the path to energy independence.
On March 14, 2006, City Council conceptually approved the study's recommendations
and a two-year CEII demonstration project that would establish the foundation for a
community-wide CEII. Funding for the first year of the demonstration project existed in
the Community Energy Efficiency Fund that was established in 2002 using one-time
utility user tax revenues collected during the State's 2001 energy crisis.
2
Consultant/Consultant Selection
On May 31, 2006, the City's Energy and Green Building Program Office sent a Request
for Proposals to five companies for project design, marketing and public outreach, and
demonstration site management services for the CEII demonstration project. Two
proposals were received: one from EcoMotion and the other from Richard Heath and
Associates, Inc. Staff interviewed both firms and selected EcoMotion as the best
proposal based upon the comprehensive scope of services proposed, previous
experience developing effective energy efficiency programs, and EcoMotion's lower
budget for the two year demonstration project.
Budqet/Financial Impact
The contract amount to be awarded to EcoMotion is $494,975. A 7'/2% contingency in
the amount of $37,123 is also proposed for a total of $532,098. Funds are available
from Account C010763.589000, "Energy Efficiency /Conservation Fund."
Prepared by: Susan Munves, Energy and Green Building Programs Administrator
Forwarded to Council:
Craig Perkins `~ P. ont Ewell
Director - E ironmental and Public t anager
Works Management Department
3
^