SR-101408-1E~~
c;cYos City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: October 14, 2008
Agenda Item: I - ~-
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Dean Kubani, Manager Office of Sustainability and the Environment
Subject: Acceptance of Water Conservation Grant Funds
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the City Council:
1) authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute two separate contracts
each for atwo-year term with the State Department of Water Resources to
accept grant funding in the amount of $250,000 for the Sustainable Landscape
Grant Program and $70,000 for the Rain.Harvest Rebate Program; 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 $320,000 in 2008 Prop 50 Urban Drought
Assistance grant funds to provide additional funding for the City's current Sustainable
Landscape Grant Program and the Rain Harvest Rebate Program (Programs). The
goals of both Programs are to provide increased funding to encourage and assist Santa
Monica property owners in conserving water during the current drought. The total
program implementation cost is $1,167,250. These grants provide $320,000. The
remaining City funds of $875,250 are available in the current budget.
Background
The Governor of California declared a drought emergency in July 2008. As a result
emergency competitive grant funding was made available to water agencies that
proposed implementation of water conservation programs to meet the Governors
mandate to save 20% by 2020. The City's own Sustainable City Plan includes a goal to
reduce water use 20% by 2010. In order to achieve that goal, the Office of
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Sustainability and the Environment. (OSE) has developed water-efficient programs,
policies, and regulations. These programs include .promotion of water-saving
technologies and practices for businesses, residents and students. The Programs will
bring the City closer to reaching its water reduction goal by providing customers with
financial assistance to install water-savings products.
Discussion
The Sustainable Landscape Grant Program is an existing program where Santa Monica
property owners compete for funding to install water-efficient irrigation equipment,
including drip irrigation and rotary nozzles for sprayheads, as .well as dimate-
appropriate plants: With the funds awarded, the City will be able to provide an additional
50 sustainable funding grants for qualified projects.
The Rain Harvest Rebate Program is also an existing rebate program for Santa Monica
property owners. The goal is to redirect 300 downspouts directly connected to the
municipal storm drain system to rain barrels and/or cisterns to collect rain water for use
in landscape irrigation, replacing potable water for irrigation. With the funds awarded,
the City will be able to double the current rebate amount for qualified products..
There are significant water savings opportunities in landscaping. Staff estimates that a
total of 16.21 acre-feet per year (5;282,839 gallons) could be saved through the
installation of qualified water-saving products as part of both Programs. Saving 16.21
acre-feet each year will save the City approximately $10,212 in the purchase of water
from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Table 1. Water Savings Potential
Type of Program Estimated Water
Savings in AF/Yr
Sustainable Landscape 16
Grant Pro ram
Rain Harvest Rebate .21
Pro ram
TOTAL 16.21
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The total cost to implement both Programs is $1,167,250. The City will receive
$320,000 in additional grant funding from the Department of Water Resources for
implementing both Programs. The City's net cost will be $847,250 for administration,
grants, rebates, marketing, reporting, and monitoring. 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 $250,000 at account number
20226.402390 and establish a revenue budget in the amount of $70,000 at
account number 20226.402450
2) Appropriate $160,000 in capital projects account number M310082.589000.
3) Appropriate $160,000 in capital projects account number M250082.589000.
Prepared by:
Kim O'Cain, Water Resources Specialist
Approved:
Dean Kubani
Manager, Office of Sustainability and
the Environment
Forwarded to Council:
City Manager
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Reference Contract Nos.
8989 (CCS) and 8990
(CCS).