AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Meeting Date:           February 28, 2011

From:                          Darel W. Craine, Deputy Director, Environmental Services  

Subject:                      Resolution authorizing the Environmental Services Department to apply for a Water Conservation Cost Sharing Agreement with Saint Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD)

Staff Recommendation:

Staff recommends approval to apply for and accept if awarded a matching grant with Saint Johns River Water Management District for a Customer Characterization Study

Analysis:

The City’s consumptive use permit (CUP) requires that we evaluate our water conservation in an effort to maximize reduction of water usage.  This agreement will secure a 50% cost share grant from SJRWMD to perform a customer characterization study. 

At least forty site visits for homes located in Plantation at Leesburg and Royal Highlands will be conducted.  A qualified field technician will collect indoor water use date for all water use fixtures and appliances and perform an irrigation audit for each home.  The City will use this information to further refine conservation strategies currently in place.  Information collected in this study will also be used as part of the feasibility analysis required by CUP condition 3.2, which requires a proposal for a Cash-for-Grass Pilot Study to be submitted to the District by Ju7ne 30, 2011.  The results will be summarized and provided to the Water Management District for use in the water conservation potential study.

Options:

1.  Approve the request to apply for the cost sharing grant; or

2.  Such alternative action as the Commission may deem appropriate

Fiscal Impact: 

Environmental Services Department has budgeted $20,000.00 in the 2010/2011 fiscal year. This cost share would match the City’s funds, dollar for dollar.

Submission Date and Time:    2/24/2011 4:17 PM____

Department: __Environmental Services___ Prepared by:  __Tracey Dean_______                      Attachments:         Yes__X_   No ______ Advertised:   ____Not Required ______ Dates:   __________________________                      Attorney Review :       Yes___  No ____ _________________________________            Revised 6/10/04

Reviewed by: Dept. Head ________ Finance  Dept. __________JB______                                    Deputy C.M. ___________________                                          Submitted by: City Manager ___________________

Account No. _043-0000-334-3100__ Project No. ___________________ WF No. ______________________ Budget  ______________________ Available _____________________

RESOLUTION NO._______________

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA, AUTHORIZING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR AND IF AWARDED, THE MATCHING GRANT WITH SAINT JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT (SJRWMD) FOR A CUSTOMER CHARACTERIZATION STUDY WILL BE PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF LEESBURG, FLORIDA:

            THAT the Environmental Services Department is hereby authorized to apply for a Customer Characterization Study grant with Saint Johns River Water Management District, whose address is PO Box 1429, Palatka, FL 32178, and if awarded, the water conservation cost sharing agreement will be presented for approval.

 THAT this resolution shall become effective immediately.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Leesburg, Florida, at a regular meeting held the _28th____ day of _February__, 2011.

                                                                            __________________________

                                                                             Mayor

ATTEST:

__________________________

City Clerk