AgdaPkt 2008-03-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REPORT 6.1A Page 1 March 10, 2008 SUBJECT Purchase of Automatic Remote Meter Reading Equipment RECOMMENDATION 1. Authorize by motion the purchase of automatic remote meter reading equipment from Sensus Metering Systems for an amount not to exceed four hundred ten thousand dollars ($410,000). 2. Waive the bidding requirements of the City of Redwood City Code. in accordance with Chapter 2, Article 7, Section 2.76 by affirmative vote of at least five members of the City Council on the grounds that strict compliance with the bidding requirements would not serve the public interest. BACKGROUND The City of Redwood City implemented a Water Use Allocation Program (WUAP) for Redwood City residential customers in 2001. WUAP provides a fair and equitable way to distribute water during possible future droughts by taking into_consideration individual customer needs and their conservation efforts. WUAP uses factors such as weather data, the number of people in a household. the size and type of landscape, size of swimming pool. and any other special water needs to calculate water use budgets. The existing WUAP will only calculate water use budgets for residential accounts; however, staff is working to advance WUAP technology and allow it to calculate budgets for customers with dedicated landscape irrigation meters as well. This is an effort known to staff as the "Budget-Based Rates Project (BBRP)." Similar to residential accounts, water use budgets will be calculated for sites given their landscape area and weather conditions, among possible other factors (e.g., quantity and type of plant materials at a site). In January 2009, staff will implement the BBRP and begin monthly billing for landscape irrigation accounts using a rate structure consisting of the following three tiers: . 0 - 100% of water use budget . 100 - 150% of water use budget . >150% of water use budget The purpose of the BBRP is to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce water waste by rewarding property managers, homeowners associations, and other businesses that use water efficiently and to create incentives for those who do not. Those having difficulty staying within water use budgets can take advantage of a service provided through the City's Water Conservation Program that will evaluate the condition of a customer's irrigation system, assess its operation, and recommend changes in a detailed report. The report will provide steps that managers can take to stay within their respective water use budget through recommendations that generally include improved