HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 - Weather-Based Irrigation Controller ProgramCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 10
July 11, 2006
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Public Works Department
Robert Stein, P.E.
949 -644 -3322 or rstein @city.newport- beach.ca.us
SUBJECT: WEATHER -BASED IRRIGATION CONTROLLER PROGRAM FUNDING
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Authorize a reimbursement fund of $30,000 to supplement the MWDOC rebate
program for Hydropointe Data Systems to provide and install irrigation controllers for
private residences in Newport Coast.
2. Approve a Budget Amendment appropriating $30,000 from the General Fund
Unappropriated Surplus Fund Balance, 010 -3605, to Account 7014- C5100851.
DISCUSSION:
The State Water Resources Control Board and the California Coastal Commission
believe that the sensitive marine life areas along Newport Coast are adversely impacted
by urban runoff contaminated by pollutants. Polluted urban runoff coming from the
Newport Coast watershed travels to the ocean and potentially harms the sensitive
marine life areas. The most efficient and cost effective way for the City to address this
issue is to reduce runoff generated from over irrigation. Reducing irrigation runoff
requires the correct application of water for the particular soil, plant materials,
topography, weather conditions and types of irrigation system conditions. The new
weather -based irrigation controllers have the capability of regulating irrigation flows
according to these parameters.
Six months ago, City staff aggressively promoted a program sponsored by the
Metropolitan Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) to encourage property owners
in the City, and especially in Newport Coast, to install weather -based irrigation
controllers, in particular, the WeatherTRAK smart controller. As an added incentive to
homeowners, the City supplemented the MWDOC rebate program with $15,000 of City
funds so that the homeowners could have the controllers installed at no cost. In a
three -month period, Hydropointe Data Systems installed controllers at 72 residences
with funding of $34,840 and $13,660 provided by MWDOC and City respectively. The
funding paid for:
Weather -Based Irrigation Controller Program Funding
July 11, 2006
Page 2
• Smart irrigation controller purchase,
• Controller installation,
• Survey of the irrigation system efficiency (feedback going to the homeowner), and
• Follow -up visits to the homes to check sites, review the program with residents and
provide suggestions for any maintenance of their irrigation system.
Once the smart controllers were installed, it was found that many of the irrigation
systems were operating poorly and required maintenance. Irrigation system repair
costs were the responsibility of the homeowner. The City is tracking water usages for
these homes and it is expected that water usage will be significantly reduced. A 2004
study conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Irvine
neighborhoods showed that the use of the WeatherTRAK smart controller produced a
71% reduction in runoff (www.mwdoc.org).
The proposed new City funding will again supplement the MWDOC grant program and
will target communities in Newport Coast that are high water users. (The MWDOC
rebate allotment has increased from $40 /station to $60 /station. MWDOC funds are
available on a first -come first- served basis and are expected to last only until the end of
the year.) The City will be monitoring runoff from key homeowner association areas
that feed into Buck Gully and Morning Canyon under a separate contract to document
overall reductions by area.
Environmental Review:
Installation of the new irrigation controllers are a minor alteration of exiting private
facilities and are categorically exempt pursuant to Article 19, Section 15301, Existing
Facilities, of the CEQA Guidelines.
Funding Availability:
Upon approval of the budget amendment, funds for the project will be available in the
following account:
Account Description
Misc. Watershed Activities
Prepared by:
Robert Stein, P.E.
Principal Civil Engineer
Attachment: Budget Amendment
Account Number Amount
7014- C5100851 $30,000
Submitted by:
HydroPoint Data Systems
HydroPoint Data Systems
1726 Corporate Circle
Petaluma. CA 94952
To Bob Stein
The City Of Newport
QUOTE
QUOTE k 12001
DATE: JUNE 30, 2006
EXPIRATION DATE 06/30/06
Free Smart Timer Rebate Program; PO Number
required to activate vendor activity.
SALESPERSON
JOB
PAYMENT TERMS
DUE DATE
Tom Ash
Phase 2 of the Newport Beach Smart Controller
Due on receipt
QTY
DESCRIPTION
UNIT PRICE
LINE TOTAL
Phase 2 of the Newport Beach Smart Controller
Installation Program, not to exceed $30,000
The program will use the same process as Phase 1. The
City of Newport will use the MWDOC rebate program to
combine with City funds to supply a controller and
installation free to qualified residents. The number of
units is unknown due to the MWDOC rebate formula
($60 /valve) and the unknown number of valves at
homes.
Funding breakdown:
$550 (12 station)
HydroPoint Data Systems provides the smart controller
$700 (18 station)
and installation for $550 (12 station), $700 (18 station),
$850 (24 station)
$ 850 (24 station)
MWDOC: Pays $60 /valve not to exceed the price of the
controller.
Newport Beach: Pays for the installation of the
controllers and any difference between the MWDOC
actual rebate and the set controller cost
Newport Beach program contribution not to exceed
$30,000.00
SUBTOTAL
SALES TAX
TOTAL
Quotation prepared by:
This is a quotation on the goods named, subject to the conditions noted below: (Describe any conditions pertaining to these prices and
any additional terms of the agreement. You may want to include contingencies that will affect the quotation.)
To accept this quotation, sign here and return: _�_______ .._. ....... ......._____... _. ...
Please print
Please print date:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESSI
City of Newport Beach NO. BA- 07BA -001
BUDGET AMENDMENT
2006 -07 AMOUNT: $30,000.00
EFFECT ON BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE:
Increase Revenue Estimates Increase in Budgetary Fund Balance
Increase Expenditure Appropriations AND X Decrease in Budgetary Fund Balance
Transfer Budget Appropriations No effect on Budgetary Fund Balance
SOURCE:
from existing budget appropriations
from additional estimated revenues
NX from unappropriated fund balance
EXPLANATION:
This budget amendment is requested to provide for the following:
To increase expenditure appropriations for a reimbursement fund to supplement the MWDOC rebate program_ to provide
and install irrigation controllers for private residences in Newport Coast.
ACCOUNTING ENTRY:
BUDGETARYFUND BALANCE
Fund Account Description
010 3605 General Fund - Fund Balance
REVENUE ESTIMATES (3601)
FundtDivision Account Description
EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATIONS (3603)
Amount
Debit Credit
$30,000.00
Automatic System Entry.
$30,000.00
Signed: zl✓lri C-:
Financial pproval: Administrati a Services Director gDate
Signed: .-✓ s�✓ y .5 p li
Administrative pro I: City Manager Dat6
Signed:
City Council Approval: City Clerk Date
Description
Division
Number 7014 Misc & Studies
Account
Number C5100851 Misc Watershed Activities
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division
Number
Account
Number
Amount
Debit Credit
$30,000.00
Automatic System Entry.
$30,000.00
Signed: zl✓lri C-:
Financial pproval: Administrati a Services Director gDate
Signed: .-✓ s�✓ y .5 p li
Administrative pro I: City Manager Dat6
Signed:
City Council Approval: City Clerk Date