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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnvironmental Quality Committee Packet 02-13-2019 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE AGENDA February 13, 2019 WHERE: MEDICINE LAKE ROOM A Plymouth City Hall 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 CONSENT AGENDA All items listed on the consent agenda* are considered to be routine by the Environmental Quality Committee and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a Committee member, or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda and considered in normal sequence on the agenda. 1. 7:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER 2. 7:00 P.M. PUBLIC FORUM A. Jim Crider Northwest Metro Climate Action Group – Individuals may address the Committee about any item not contained in the regular agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the Forum. 3. 7:20 P.M APPROVAL OF AGENDA - EQC members may add items to the agenda for discussion purposes or staff direction only. The EQC will not normally take official action on items added to the agenda. 4. 7:25 P.M. CONSENT AGENDA* A. Approve January 9, 2019 EQC Meeting Minutes (Strong) 5. 7:30 P.M. GENERAL BUSINESS A. B. EQC refresher, Orientation, and Organization Election of Committee Chair and Vice Chair 6. REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS A. 2018 Water Efficiency Rebate Program Summary (Scharenbroich) B. 2019 Water Efficiency Rebate Program (Scharenbroich) 7. FUTURE MEETINGS: March 13, 2019 • Green Step Cities • EQC Mission and Vision 8. 8:30 P.M. ADJOURNMENT DRAFT Minutes Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) January 9, 2019 MEMBERS PRESENT: Committee Members Paul Senne, Marky Williamson, Andy Polzin, Kathy Osborne, Marita Prokop, Clark Gregor MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Water Resources Manager Vanessa Strong, Senior Engineering Technician Ben Scharenbroich, Council Liaison Jim Prom, Council Member Nick Roehl 1. Call to Order – 7:00 P.M. 2. Public Forum Council Member Jim Prom introduced his replacement as the new Council Liaison, Council Member Nick Roehl. The EQC members, City staff and incoming new EQC members each introduced themselves and gave a brief overview of their background. 3. Approval of Agenda Motion by Committee Member Polzin, seconded by Committee Member Osborne, recommending approval of the January 9, 2019 Environmental Quality Committee meeting agenda. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. 4. Consent Agenda A. Approve November 14, 2018 EQC Meeting Minutes B. Approve December 12, 2018 EQC Meeting Minutes Motion by Committee Member Gregor seconded by Committee Member Williamson recommending approval of the Consent Agenda. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. 5. General Business A. Approve 2018 Annual Report and 2019 Work Plan The EQC reviewed the 2019 Work Plan to finalize the topics. Some suggestions for the Work Plan: • Committee Member Polzin suggested Ed Matthiesen, of Wenck and Associates, to be present at the September 11th meeting for the Bass and Pomerleau Alum Treatment project discussion. • Tour city projects related to environmental quality. • Tour an organics processing facility. • Surface Water Management Plan - Updating City Code and City Ordinances on water quality. • Move up Organics and Textiles discussion to May. • Consider having students be committee members. Environmental Quality Committee Minutes January 9, 2019 Page 2 The committee agreed to accept the 2019 Work Plan, stating that it is subject to change. Motion by Committee Member Gregor seconded by Committee Member Polzin recommending approval of the 2018 Annual Report and 2019 Work Plan with the suggested amendments. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. B. Discuss Environmental Extra Topics The committee gave their feedback on the proposed topics of interest for the annual publication. Senior Engineering Technician Scharenbroich explained that not all of the topics will be included in the publication due to space availability, but topics not included can be promoted through other avenues such as the city website, social media, direct mailings, etc. 6. Reports and Staff Recommendations A. Water Efficiency Grant Program Update Senior Engineering Technician Scharenbroich said he is waiting on invoices and receipts from applicants to compile the final report for the 2018 program. He will have it ready to present at the February EQC meeting. 7. Future Meetings • February 13, 2018 8. Adjournment Environmental Quality Committee adjourned at 7:59 p.m. O:\Utilities\Storm Sewer and Water Resources\Water Effiency Grant Program\2018\Reporting\Water Efficiency Rebate Program 2018 Recap - EQC 021319.docx CITY OF PLYMOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY COMMITTEE TECHNICAL MEMO DATE: February 6, 2019 TO: Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) FROM: Ben Scharenbroich, Senior Engineering Technician SUBJECT: Water Efficiency Rebate Program – 2018 Recap SUMMARY: The City of Plymouth supports water conservation practices that help to reduce the water demand from municipal water supply customers. Water use in the City of Plymouth can increase from just over 150 million gallons per month in February to nearly 450 million gallons per month in July and August. This dramatic jump in water consumption is attributed to outdoor watering by residential and commercial property owners. A rebate program was developed by the City of Plymouth to focus on improving the water efficiency of irrigation systems at residential and commercial properties throughout the city. Rebates were offered to residential and commercial customers to replace old, inefficient irrigation controllers and irrigation sprinkler heads with new, WaterSense® certified products. Rebates for irrigation controllers are awarded for the cost of the item, up to $200 for residential customers and $500 for commercial and multi-family customers. Rebates for sprinkler heads are awarded for the cost of the items, up to $100 for residential customers and $200 for commercial and multi -family customers, with a minimum purchase of 10 sprinkler heads. The rebate program for 2018 was funded by the City Council for $50,000. Rebates were awarded on a first come, first served basis. Payment was made upon successful installation of the items and submittal of the rebate request form and original receipts. The 2018 rebate program is currently closed. City staff estimated before the rebate program began that if 25 commercial irrigation systems and 185 residential irrigation systems are upgraded, the city and its property owners, would save an estimated 14,500,000 gallons of water annually. The results of the rebate program as of December 31, 2018 are shown in Table 1 below. Staff found that all residential and commercial property owners who received a rebate through this program were overwatering their property and would receive benefit from an irrigation system upgrade. The rebate program provided property owners the incentive to upgrade old irrigation O:\Utilities\Storm Sewer and Water Resources\Water Effiency Grant Program\2018\Reporting\Water Efficiency Rebate Program 2018 Recap - EQC 021319.docx systems with WaterSense® Certified irrigation products, which should result in decreased water usage going forward, assuming the system is utilized properly. Table 1: Water Efficiency Rebate Program – Results as of December 31, 2018 Devices Installed People Benefited Estimated Gallons Saved Annually Estimated Gallons Saved per Device Rebates Funded Residential Irrigation Controller WaterSense® 135 478 6,787,000 50,274 $25,359.99 Commercial Irrigation Controller WaterSense® 16 1205 3,080,000 192,500 $6,051.83 Residential Irrigation Sprinkler Heads WaterSense® 20 5 25,500 1,275 $170.00 Commercial Irrigation Sprinkler Heads WaterSense® 0 0 0 0 $0 Totals 171 1,688 9,892,500 57,850 $31,581.82 In 2018, the City of Plymouth funded $31,581.82 in rebates for this program to residential and commercial property owners. It is important to note that property owners have invested over $47,900 in upgrading the water efficiency of homes and businesses through this program. In addition to the rebates issued to residential and commercial property owners, Plymouth Public Works, Parks & Recreation and Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) staff continued to improve the efficiency of irrigation systems at City properties and playfields. The Zachary Playfields and the two HRA senior housing apartment buildings were targeted for irrigation system upgrades in 2018. These upgraded systems will be monitored in 2019 and the results will be provided to the EQC at the end of the year. Overall, the rebate program was successful in 2018 and the improvements will save the city and its property owners an estimated 9,892,500 gallons of water annually. Pending approvals, staff anticipates continuing a Water Efficiency Rebate Program in 2019 and will promote the program to residents and businesses throughout the city. CITY OF P LYMOUTH WATER EFFICIENCY REBATE PROGRAM 3400 Plymouth Boulevard Plymouth, MN 55447 (763) 509-5527 REBATE S FOR PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE WATER EFFICI ENCY AND CONSERVE WATER The City of Plymouth supports water conservation practices that help to reduce the water demand from municipal water supply customers. To encourage water conservation, the City of Plymouth has established a rebate program to reduce municipal water use at both residential and commercial properties throughout the city. PURPOSE OF PROGRAM The City of Plymouth is offering rebates to residents and commercial property owners to promote water conservation and use their drinking water more efficiently. Plymouth’s water supply is abundant, but it is not limitless. Water usage can increase from just over 170 million gallons per month in February to just over 430 million gallons per month in July. 2017 WATER USAGE IN PLYMOUTH B Y MONTH Saving water is simple and smart. Residential and commercial property owners in a position to upgrade to more water efficient irrigation equipment can receive a rebate to help offset the cost of upgrading. The rebate program is set up to help reduce the amount of water being wasted at homes or businesses by inefficient irrigation equipment. Replacing old, inefficient irrigation controllers and sprinkler spray bodies with WaterSense certified equipment can help improve water efficiency, conserve water and reduce utility bills. The City of Plymouth aims to reduce the amount of water used by 4,700,000 gallons per year with this rebate program. AWARD AMOUNTS The rebate is for the cost of the item, up to a maximum of $200 for Residential customers and $500 for Commercial & Multi-Family Customers for WaterSense irrigation controllers. The cost of the item up to a maximum of $100 for Residential customers and $200 for Commercial & Multi-Family Customers for WaterSense sprinkler spray bodies (minimum of 10). The cost of the item, up to a maximum of $ ____ for the installation of a stormwater reuse system. The stormwater reuse systems will be considered on a case-by-case basis and requires City approval prior to installation. The purchase of rain barrels does not qualify for this rebate. Rebate applications will be accepted until November 30, 2019 or until funds are exhausted. Applications shall be taken on a first come first served basis. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS Plymouth property owners who are customers of the municipal water supply system that replace existing inefficient irrigation controller systems and sprinkler spray bodies with WaterSense certified irrigation controller systems and sprinkler spray bodies. The installed components systems must be installed within the City of Plymouth. ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES The following products purchased after April 1, 2019 could qualify for rebates. These include: Replacing irrigation system controllers with EPA WaterSense labeled controllers. o http://www.epa.gov/watersense/products/controltech.html Replacing irrigation sprinkler spray bodies (minimum of 10) with EPA WaterSense labeled sprinkler spray bodies. o https://www.epa.gov/watersense/spray-sprinkler-bodies.html Products with EPA WaterSense Certification can be found here: o http://www3.epa.gov/watersense/product_search.html A Directory of Certified Professionals with EPA WaterSense Certification can be found here: o https://www.epa.gov/watersense/find-pro.html Stormwater Reuse System o https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Stormwater_re- use_and_rainwater_harvesting&redirect=no DEADLINE Reimbursements will be issued on a first come first served basis until November 30, 2018 or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. Payment will be made upon successful completion of work and submission of payment rebate request form accompanied by original receipts for expenses. Payment is only for equipment cost. Labor charges are not applicable for rebates. Further Facts and informational links  EPA WaterSense – Water Conservation http://www3.epa.gov/watersense/our_water/start_saving.html  Estimate Water Savings Calculator http://www.home-water-works.org