01-06-2020 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 3 Council Member Stoesz asked about water reuse, such as with developments that plan to 78 take irrigation water from surface water sources. Is that monitored? Mr. Johnson 79 confirmed that the State Department of Health monitors that water as well. Council 80 Member Stoesz asked if animal consumption (on farms) is monitored also and Mr. 81 Johnson wasn’t familiar with that. 82 83 Mayor Rafferty said that the Council will continue this discussion after the public 84 meeting at the end of the month. 85 2. Irrigation Controller Grant (Regular Agenda Item) – Community 86 Development Director Grochala and City Engineer Hankee noted their written report. 87 Mr. Grochala remarked that the matter was postponed at the last Council meeting. Last 88 year the City received a grant from the Rice Creek Watershed District to replace irrigation 89 monitors/sensors in City parks. The sensors would work to reduce water consumption by 90 50% annually. This project would assist in reducing consumption of water coming from 91 the ground, serve as a good example of the City being proactive, and provide a modern 92 system of monitoring certain elements of use. The grant provides up to 51% of the cost 93 of a system up to the cost of $41,000. Staff has been working toward implementation 94 since last year. Funding for the City share of the cost (one half of $76,500) would come 95 from the City’s water utility. 96 Council Member Stoesz said he has been following this project and he expected the cost 97 would come in much lower. He has done more review and sees the costs are pretty clear; 98 but he still has sticker shock. He asked if funding this cost would impact funds available 99 for a treatment plant if that were a project in the future. Staff explained that this would 100 be funded from an operating account while the other (a treatment facility) would be trunk 101 funds. 102 Council Member Ruhland asked about the cost of the water saved? Mr. Grochala said the 103 savings would be about $16,000 annually assuming the fifty percent reduction. The 104 payoff considering the cost of the system would be about 4.6 years. 105 Council Member Stoesz said he still questions the need considering the cost. He noted 106 that the City does have staff that could manually turn off irrigation when appropriate. 107 Community Development Director Grochala added that the concept is something that 108 could be a model for the future and the community. 109 The council and staff discussed the status of surface water reuse as part of addressing 110 future water needs. 111 Council Member Lyden noted that staff has pointed out the costs savings that cover the 112 cost in 4.6 years; he wonders if cost savings go past that time? Staff said yes. 113