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ITEM:
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CONSENT
CALENDAR
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3.
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CONSIDER EXPENDITURE OF
BUDGETED FUNDS TO PURCHASE A WEBSITE SOFTWARE LICENSE FOR WATER WISE
GARDENING IN MONTEREY
COUNTY
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Meeting
Date:
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February 25, 2010
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Budgeted:
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Yes
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From:
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Darby Fuerst,
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Program/
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7813.86
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General Manager
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Line Item No.:
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Prepared
By:
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Stephanie Pintar
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Cost
Estimate:
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$5,250
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General Counsel Review: N/A
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Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee considered this
item on February 12, 2010 and recommended approval.
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CEQA Compliance: N/A
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SUMMARY: In
2009, the District purchased an annual license for the Water Wise Gardening
software for Monterey
County. The license is $5,000 per year and allows
unlimited links to the host website. For
an additional $250, additional frames can be purchased that allow the website
to track user statistics. Monthly web
traffic reports that provide detailed information about the visitors that visit
the software are included in the license.
During 2009, the District had over 2,000 hits on the Water Wise Gardening
software.
District staff is requesting authorization to renew its one-year license
and add one additional frame to enable implementation of the Water Wise
Gardening for Monterey County software on the Water Awareness Committee (WAC)
of Monterey County website with a link to MPWMD’s
website. The actual cost to the District
is expected to be less than $2,000, after reimbursement for a portion of the
costs by WAC, Marina Coast Water District, and California American Water. A portion of the payment ($1,000) is a
reimbursable cost through California American Water.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Administrative Committee
approve expenditure of $5,250 and authorize the General Manager to renew the
contract with GardenSoft to purchase a web license
and additional frame for the Water Wise Gardening for Monterey County
software. Funding is currently in the
budget for this project under 4-2-1, Community Outreach and 4-2-2, Conservation
Programs.
BACKGROUND: In 2005, WAC
contracted with GardenSoft to develop a Water Wise
Gardening CD-ROM tailored to Monterey
County. General
distribution of the CD has occurred in all areas of Monterey County
that are served by WAC members and by participants in the project. As landscaping
irrigation generates the largest water usage on residential properties, and with
evolving County, City, and District landscape requirements and ordinances, the
information provided helps property owners be “garden smart” and reduce water
use while still meeting any landscaping requirements. This is done with the user-friendly access
and direction provided by the Water Wise software. The development of the CD
master cost $15,000, which was divided up among the project participants. The CD-ROMs were purchased at a bulk cost of
$3.15 each.
The CD-ROM provides photos of
various types of local gardens; examples of front and back yards, hillsides,
raised planters, shrub and perennial borders, walkways, parking strips, patio
areas, theme gardens, native gardens, decks, fences, gates, surfaces, benches,
trellises, low-maintenance gardens, and Mediterranean style gardens. There are hot-links embedded within the
garden images of plants which link to photography, plant or material
identification, and related information. Users are able to search for plants
relevant to specific Monterey
County areas by botanical
name or common name, by look or color, by general variety, and much more. A
brief questionnaire leads the user to the appropriate plants to solve their
gardening wants or needs. A series of information pages are provided that list
watering tips on a month-by-month basis and general lawn and planting area
instructions for each month of the year.
Finally, a list of all cooperating agencies, cities, and groups is
listed within the software.
EXHIBITS
None
U:\staff\word\boardpacket\2010\20100225\ConsentCal\03\item3.doc