ITEM: 

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

4.

CONSIDER EXPENDITURE OF BUDGETED FUNDS FOR SCHOOL RETROFIT PROGRAM

 

Meeting Date:
July 19, 2010

Budgeted: 

Yes

 

From:

Darby Fuerst,

Program/

Conservation Programs

 

General Manager

Line Item No.: 

4-2-2-D

 

 

 

Prepared By:

Stephanie Pintar

Cost Estimate:

$125,000 (Reimbursable)

 

General Counsel Review: N/A

Committee Recommendation:  The Administrative Committee reviewed this item on July 13, 2010, and recommended approval.

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

SUMMARY:  Staff is seeking Board authorization to expend budgeted funds for the School Retrofit Program.  Earlier this year, WaterWise, Inc. conducted interior and exterior water audits at the highest water using schools in the Pacific Grove Unified School District (PGUSD) and in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD).  The audit reports and retrofit recommendations for PGUSD have been received, and the MPUSD reports and recommendations are anticipated shortly. 

 

The Water Demand Committee is scheduled to review and discuss the recommendations at its July 21, 2010, meeting.  Due to the limited time between the Board meeting and the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, staff is requesting authorization to implement the retrofit recommendations immediately following review and approval by the Water Demand Committee.  MPWMD would purchase the equipment and pay for installation, if needed.  Funding for school retrofits within the California American Water system is reimbursable through the conservation budget approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in 2009. 

 

For Pacific Grove High School, Pacific Grove Middle School, and Robert Down Elementary School, the recommendations include approximately $40,000 in retrofits, with estimated water savings of approximately 7.46 acre-feet per year.  Retrofit recommendations include such items as toilet, showerhead and faucet aerator replacements and irrigation system upgrades that include installation of weather-based irrigation system controllers and rain sensors, soil moisture sensors and high efficiency spray nozzles and other irrigation system repairs.  Retrofits at the Monterey High School in the MPUSD are expected to be similar in nature, although water savings are likely to be higher due to the locations of the schools (i.e., further inland) and the age of the existing equipment.

 

Audits of other schools in the PGUSD, MPUSD and Carmel Unified School District (CUSD) will take place later in FY 2010-2011.  CUSD was not included in this initial implementation program due to Water Permit issues that remain outstanding.

 

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Board adopt this item with the Consent Calendar.  If adopted, the Board authorizes the expenditure of up to $125,000 for implementing water saving retrofits approved by the Water Demand Committee within the PGUSD and the MPUSD.

 

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES:  Funding is available through reimbursement by California American Water in the conservation budget approved by the California Public Utilities Commission in May 2009 (conservation surcharge).  Funds for this expenditure were included in the Fiscal Year 2010-2011 budget. 

 

EXHIBITS

None

 

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