HomeMy WebLinkAbout#04 - Irrigation Meter Policy1
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.
2
RECOMMENDATION:
Based upon a review of other city fee schedule and practices, staff recommends to categorize all stand-
alone irrigation/landscaping meters as commercial and to bill as such.
ATTACHMENTS:
Proposed Lake Elmo Irrigation Policy
Lake Elmo Fee Schedule
Other City Billing Data
PROPOSED
LAKE ELMO IRRIGATION METER BILLING POLICY
Determining Water Rates for Irrigation Systems
Irrigation: The process of watering of land by artificial means to foster lawn, tree and plant
growth. The waste water from these systems does not go down the city sanitary sewer
Purpose:
It is the purpose of the policy to provide a uniform and systematic method for staff in classifying
and billing water use though meters that only serve irrigation or outdoor landscaping systems. It
is the intent to classify and bill the water use and water meters at commercial rates.
Commercial Rates will be applied to all water meters that serve only irrigation or landscaping
system. A metered irrigation system can (but is not limited too) serve one or more properties
that could include HOA systems, common areas, medians, boulevards, green spaces, commercial
properties, multiple residential yards or a combination. Landscaping systems can include (but is
not limited to) decorative water fountains and gardens. The wastewater from these systems does
not drain into the city sanitary sewer system nor are sewer related fees charged on the water use.
Public Works staff will determine how each water meter should be classified and relay that
information to Utility Billing for proper processing.
Residential and Commercial rates include different base charges, fees and tiers which are set at
the beginning of each year and approved by council in the fee schedule
4/25/2023
Lake Elmo’s 2023 Fee Schedule Water Rates
Water Usage
Residential - Quarterly Base Rate $21.86 Base
Residential - Plus Rate per 1,000 Gallons
Plus Rate for 0-15,000 Gallons $2.18
Plus Rate for 15,001-30,000 Gallons $2.63
Plus Rate for 30,001-50,000 Gallons $3.15
Plus Rate for 50,001-80,000 Gallons $3.79
Plus Rate for 80,001 + Gallons $4.52
Water Usage
Commercial - Quarterly Rate $27.33 Base
Commercial - Plus Rate Per 1,000 Gallons
Plus Rate for 0 - 15,000 Gallons $3.39
Plus Rate for 15,001 - 30,000 Gallons $3.56
Plus Rate for 30,001 - 50,000 Gallon $4.12
Plus Rate for 50,001 - 80,000 Gallons $5.46
Plus Rate for 80,001 + Gallons $7.25
STAND ALONE IRRIGATION SYSTEM WATER FEES
WATER
SYSTEM
BILLED AT
RESIDENTIAL,
COMMERCIAL OR A
SPECIFIC
IRRIGATION RATE
IRRIGATION
STARTING
RATE
TEIRD
Y/N
DOMESTIC
RESIDENTIAL
STARTING
RATE FOR
COMPARISON
BASE CHARGES
R (residential)
C (commercial)
I (Irrigation only)
Oak Park
Heights
$1 more than
Residential Rate
$4.60 YES $3.60 $44.33/ Quarter
Mahtomedi SPECIFIC IRR Rate $5.86 NO $3.31 $21.64
White Bear TWP SPECIFIC IRR Rate $6.75 YES $2.55 R- 43.50
C- $43.50 – $107.6
(Based on size of
MTR)
Shoreview Commercial Rate $3.02 YES $1.87 $33.00 /Account
Woodbury Commercial Rate $4.00 NO $1.90 R- $8.00/Quarter
C- $8.00/ Month
I-$8.00/Quarter
Mounds View Commercial Rate
includes a more
aggressive tier system
$2.70 YES $2.70 $21.00/Quarter
Brooklyn Park SPECIFIC IRR Rate $4.48 NO $2.50 Charged based on
size of MTR/
Quarter
Brooklyn Center SPECIFIC IRR Rate
$3.42 YES $3.42 $20.53/Quarter
St. Louis Park SPECIFIC IRR RATE $4.42 NO $2.23
Wyoming Commercial Rate $3.44 YES $3.44 ¾” $41.72/Quarter
1.5”$75.08/quarter
2”$120/quarter
Stillwater IRR box – Commercial
HOA’s serving homes
- Res, water rates are
increased during the
irrigation quarters
$2.94 YES $2.94 TBD
Oakdale COMMERCIAL TEIRS
ARE MORE
AGREESSIVE THAN
RESIDENTIAL
$2.23
YES $2.23
R – Quarterly 13.57
C – Monthly -10k