#04 - Irrigation Meter Policy - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 STAFF REPORT DATE: 5/9/23 DISCUSSION TO: City Council Workshop FROM: Marty Powers, Director of Public Works REVIEWED BY: Adam Swanepoel, Assistant Public Works Director AGENDA ITEM: Irrigation Billing Policy BACKGROUND: Inconsistencies have been identified in the way irrigation systems have been categorized and billed throughout the city. The larger stand-alone irrigation systems often serve multiple properties, multiple homes, out lots, boulevards, medians, HOA properties and/or commercial properties. To stay consistent when billing, staff needs direction on how to categorize and bill irrigation systems. ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: How does the council wish to categorize and bill standalone irrigation or landscaping water systems? Should a meter serving only an irrigation system or landscaping system be identified and billed as commercial or at a higher rate? Should a meter that serves only an irrigation systems on a single residential property that has living quarters on it, be billed at a residential, commercial or at an increased rate? ANALYSIS: A residential home typically has one water meter that serves both its domestic and irrigation needs. These meters are billed at residential rates. A water meter serving only an irrigation or landscaping system often serves out lots, multiple homes, multifamily buildings, boulevards, medians and/or larger landscaping on HOA or commercial properties. Staff gathered information from other cities as to how they classify and bill water usage going through a meter that only serves an irrigation or landscaping systems. We found the majority of Cities or water systems, charge a commercial or rate higher than their residential rate for this water. Commercial Rates for irrigation typically start higher and have a more aggressive tier. Lake Elmo’s quarterly base rates of $21.86 for residential and $27.33 for commercial are slightly under the average commercial base charge of $31.57 for the compared cities. Irrigating is a luxury, not a necessity. Currently one city well can meet the demand of 560,000 gallons per day during fall, winter and spring. During the summer irrigation season, all three wells are required to operate at or above max pumping capacity to meet demands which average nearly 3 million gallons per day. Increased irrigation rates often discourages excessive watering. FISCAL IMPACT: Commercial or increased irrigation rates will increase revenue to cover additional expenses associated with increased pumping, treating and distributing. OPTIONS: Direct staff on how to categorize and bill each stand-alone irrigation or landscaping system meter.