12-04-2015 BPU RPT 04 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Wni =R tvtRUv ii -- RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES WON Board Memorandum PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2015 ITEM NO: 4 File ID — 15 -3853 — D SUBJECT: PROP 84 INTEGRATED REGIONAL WATER MANAGEMENT (IRWM) PROGRAM 2014 DROUGHT SOLICITATION IMPLEMENTATION GRANT FUNDING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE SANTA ANA WATERSHED PROJECT AUTHORITY (SAWPA) AND CITY OF RIVERSIDE FOR UP TO $215,030 ISSUE: The item for the Board of Public Utilities consideration is approval of the Prop 84 IRWM Program 2014 drought solicitation implementation grant funding contract with SAWPA which will enable reimbursement funds to be made available to the City for evaluating conservation -based water rates. Additional reimbursement funds would become available if the City implements conservation -based water rates. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities recommends that the City Council approve the Prop 84 IRWM Program 2014 Drought Solicitation Implementation Grant Funding Agreement with SAWPA, to become eligible to receive reimbursement funds towards evaluating and potentially implementing conservation - based water rates. BACKGROUND: On September 4, 2015, the Board held a public hearing to consider the adoption of the One Water One Watershed (OWOW) 2.0 IRWM Plan for funding through Prop 84 with the Department of Water Resources via the SAWPA. After the hearing, the Board recommended that the City Council adopt the plan which allowed RPU to receive $1 million in funding towards the Jackson Street Recycled Water Project. On October 6, 2015, the City Council adopted the OWOW 2.0 IRWM Plan. In July 2015, the California Department of Water Resources and SAWPA entered into a Prop 84 IRWM Program Implementation Grant Agreement providing that SAWPA would serve as the program manager for $12,860,110 in IRWM Program grant funds to be disbursed to sub - grantees, consistent with IRWM Program requirements. The funds are to be used to assist water agencies with implementing conservation -based water rates. Adoption of the OWOW 2.0 IRWM Plan has allowed for RPU to become eligible for this program and receive reimbursement funds for evaluating and potentially implementing conservation -base water rates. Approval of the contract with SAWPA will allow for grant funds to be made available to the City for completing studies to understand and potentially adopt conservation -based water rates. Additional grant funds would become available if the conservation -based water rates are adopted and implemented. Eligible project costs covered by the grant include consultant costs, a rate design study, aerial imagery and global information system data, legal review, consultant fees for training board members, temporary customer service during the initial implementation of the work, Prop 218 notices, bill design, and initial equipment needed during the implementation of the conservation based water