SR-101408-1Cc7®
~,tYof City Council Report
Santa t~ionica
City Council Meeting: October 14, 2008
Agenda Item: I-C--
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Dean Kubani, Manager -Office of Sustainability and the Enviroriment
Subject: Acceptance of Grant funds for Water Efficiency Internship
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute athree-year contract with
the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to accept grant funding in
the amount of $15,000 for a water efficiency internship and
2. authorize budget changes to appropriate funding in expenditure accounts and
establish budget in revenue account.
Executive Summary
The City of Santa Monica was awarded an Enhanced Conservation Program grant in
the amount of $15,000 to provide a Water Efficiency Internship in partnership with Santa
Monica College and Sustainable Works. The goals of the Water Efficiency Internship
(Internship) are to recruit future water conservation. professionals, and to provide
pertinent water conservation i-elated materials to our hospitality businesses,
encouraging these businesses to install water-efficient fixtures and landscaping, and to
encourage their customers to participate in the 20-Gallon Challenge to save 20 gallons
of water each day.. The Internship will be coordinated by Sustainable Works (SW), a
consultant employed by the City of Santa Monica to implement various programs
related to sustainable-practices including water conservation. Sustainable Works is a
nonprofit organization based at Santa Monica College and provides the local
community, including students, residents and businesses, with resources to become
more sustainable.
The City is required to provide $5,255, making the full cost of the Internship $20,255.
Funds are available in the current budget for this item.
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Background
The City's Sustainable City Plan includes a goal to reduce water use 20% by 2010. The
Internship will bring the City closer to reaching its water reduction goal by working
directly with water customers and assisting them in implementing water-savings
products and behaviors.
Discussion
The Internship will primarily focus on water-conservation and secondarily on urban
runoff mitigation outreach campaigns that focus on the City's local hospitality
businesses, which typically have the highest water use. The intern will visit hotels,
restaurants, and targeted businesses to distribute water conservation-related materials,
and will help these customers upgrade to more water-efficient fixtures: The intern will
also assist in reporting water waste violations.
SW will select the qualified intern from a pool of Santa. Monica College students. This
Internship is a one-year, part-time, as-needed position that will commence upon award
of contract.
Water Savings Potential
There are significant water savings opportunities within the City's hospitality industry.
Staff estimates that a total of 84 acre-feet per year. (27,375,600 gallons) could be saved
if each participating business implemented water-saving products and practices, such
as high-efficiency toilets and serving water only upon request at restaurants. The City
offers a variety of rebates for businesses that install qualified products. Table 1
illustrates the water savings potential by water customer type.
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Table 1. Water Savings Potential
Type of Participating
Business Number of Audits Estimated Water
Savings in AF/Yr
Restaurants 150 21
Hotels/motels 10 59
Highest commercial water
customers 50 4
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The total. Water Efficiency Internship cosf is $20,255. The City will receive $15,000 for
implementing the Internship. The City's net cost will be $5,255 for training, marketing
materials and mileage reimbursement. Funding for this program is available in account
number 01226.555060.
The following 2008/09 budget changes are needed to record receipt of the grant funds
and make them available for program use:-
1) Establish a revenue budget in the amount of $15,000 at account number
20226.402330
2) Appropriate $15,000. in operating account number 01226. 511500.
Prepared by:
Kim O'Cain, Water Resources Specialist
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Dean Kubani `-s P/.k'amont EN
.Manager -Office of Sustainability and ity Manager
the Environment
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Reference Contract No.
8988 (CCS).