Agenda Packets - 1995/07/17 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council may wish to initiate a charge to create a fund for future meter system upgrades, or system wide water related improvements, similar to the Vehicle and Equipment Replacement Fund. Also at the June work session, Councilmember Trude suggested an alternative system that would not be as high tech, but would address all of staff' s and Council' s concerns, and not burden the customers of the City any more than necessary. While not fully automated, the second option will accomplish this and address the current dilemma of dealing with an aging meter system. This system, will increase productivity, virtually eliminate data input for billing, and will provide a substantial base for a future upgrade to a totally automated meter reading system. *** The third option would be to do nothing, and continue to lose potential revenue. Option #3 Do nothing to the water meter system. Water Enterprise Fund will lose apprOxima_tQ 1$30, 000 this year, and through aging meters, resulting in decreased accuracies, the fund will continue to lose increasingly more revenues in the future. It should be noted, that these figures are based on calculations of a random selection of water meters, for percent accuracy and projected revenue estimates. Not all commercial accounts will be capable of phone read. In this case radio read equipment will be install, which is slightly higher than phone equipment in price. As mentioned earlier, the Water Department is an Enterprise Fund, which should by design, be self funded through it' s revenue earned. Currently the fund is not receiving all of it' s potential revenue. Operating the Department, or City, as if it were a business, which was one of the Focus 2000 goals, may suggest that this is an opportune time to recoup revenue earned, and prevent potential loss of future earnings . This proposal has been before the City Council for a vast amount of effective debate. Staff and vendors have spent a considerable amount of time and effort in testing, researching methods, options, and financing. Staff respectfully requests a closure to this proposal . Should Council have any questions or concerns that staff may address prior to the Work Session, please feel free to call me . / Gtr/ Michael Ulrich, Director of Public Works RECOMMENDATION: Council accept, and award the RFP from WaterPro to conduct and install the proposed water meter change out, authorize a loan from the Special Projects fund in the amount of $500, 000, the utilization of $330, 000 from the WAC fund to pay for the capital expense of the equipment, and transferring both amounts to account # 700-3961 Transfers from other funds, ammended the Water Fund Budget account # 700-3961 Transfers from other funds by adding $830, 000, and add $830, 000 to account #700-4123-703 Water Infrastructure Program for that amount, institute a quarterly meter charge on all meters based on Option #1, authorize the quarterly billing charge, should it be necessary, and to authorize the Director of Public Works to sign all change orders up to one per cent (1%) of the projected project cost .