RESOLUTION R2025-XX
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NAPA, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, APPROVING AND authorizing THE UTILITIES DIRECTOR TO (1) AMEND EXISITNG CONTRACT WITH BADGER METER, INC., INCREASING THE COMPENSATION FROM $200,000 TO AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $450,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026, FOR THE PURCHASE OF WATER SERVICE METERS AND ASSOCIATED ITEMS FOR USE IN THE MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM; (2) EXECUTE A CONTRACT IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $500,000 WITH BADGER METER, INC., FOR FISCAL YEAR 2027, FOR THE PURCHASE OF WATER SERVICE METERS AND ASSOCIATED ITEMS FOR USE IN THE MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM; and (3) DETERMINE THAT THE ACTIONS AUTHORIZED BY THIS RESOLUTION ARE EXEMPT FROM CEQA.
WHEREAS, the purchase of water service meters is required to measure and record the volume of potable water supplied to customers throughout the water utility service area; and WHEREAS, it is essential that the data collected is accurate, as the basis for water billing, ensuring reliable compensation for water usage, and effective customer service; and WHEREAS, City staff is deployed daily to monitor, maintain, and repair water meter equipment, read, record, and transmit data to our Finance Department for accurate customer billing; and WHEREAS, water service meters are needed for installation of new water meters associated with new development projects, and for periodic small and large meter replacements when repairs are no longer possible; and WHEREAS, aging water meters require significant staff time to repair, and result in lost revenue to the Water Enterprise Fund; and WHEREAS, residential one-inch meters are the most common service connection in our system, composing 90% of all service meters.
WHEREAS, the 20-year life span of the nearly 23,000 meters in the City water system requires periodic testing to ensure accuracy since failures result in low reads and uncollected revenue; and WHEREAS, over the years, City has assessed a variety of types of meters supplied by multiple manufacturers including Neptune, Sensus, and Badger, and has surveyed the experiences of other agencies affiliated with the American Water Works Association who have implemented products of competing manufacturers. City has invested years of installation of these meters, thereby standardizing them as the default meter used throughout the service area; and WHEREAS, Badger manufactured meters now comprise approximately 95% of all water meters currently used in the City’s service area.
WHEREAS, City’s water meter testing program demonstrates performance beyond anticipated life expectancy and provides accurate readings for the City’s needs and compatibility with the billing software. Staff is familiar with this meter, as well as with replacement of registers, and minor repairs.
WHEREAS, there are efficiencies gained in maintaining consistency across this number of assets in the water system and needing to maintain only one manufacturer set of inventory for parts and repairs, and especially ensuring there is compatibility with our existing Encoder Receiver Transmitters (ERTs) already installed throughout the service area; and WHEREAS, City has invested in the automated meter reading (AMR) program to greatly improve the efficiency of water meter reading that is performed for every 2-month billing cycle. AMR program includes the installation of ERT modules on each meter. The ERT modules transmit data to a hand‐held electronic device in a fraction of the time that is required to manually open each individual meter box and read the meter.
WHEREAS, City uses ERTs manufactured by Itron because they are compatible with our existing Badger meters and have proven to be reliable along with the Itron hand‐held devices needed to collect the data. City has now completed the installation of over 25,500 ERT modules at each service connection, a big step toward full automated meter reading; and WHEREAS, the use of this specific combination of items has resulted in reduced staff time required to change out inaccurate meters, reduced need for staff training to maintain familiarity with multiple products, and the elimination of duplicate inventories of manufacturers’ parts including chambers and registers to service and rebuild multiple types of meters; and WHEREAS, Badger Meter, Inc. is the local Northern California supplier and as such can provide same‐day delivery, if needed; and WHEREAS, for the reasons stated above, entering into a contract with Badger Meter, Inc. for the aforementioned items will ensure the most cost-effective result for the City and meet the purpose and goals of NMC Section 2.91.010; and WHEREAS, pursuant to NMC Section 2.91.030(B)(2), any contract (a) will be approved as to form by the City Attorney, (b) as determined by the City Auditor, there are sufficient unencumbered funds to cover the cost of the contract, and (c) upon approval by the City Council of the recommended action for the meeting of December 2, 2025, the City Council will have delegated authority to the City Manager’s designee, the Utilities Director, to amend the existing, and approve the proposed contract with Badger Meter, Inc.; and WHEREAS, the City Council has considered all information related to this matter, as presented at the public meetings of the City Council identified herein, including any supporting reports by City Staff, and any information provided during public meetings.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Napa, as follows:
The City Council hereby finds that the facts set forth in the recitals to this Resolution are true and correct, and establish the factual basis for the City Council’s adoption of this Resolution.
The City Council hereby determines the Recommended Action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(a) (Existing Facilities) which exempts operation, repair, maintenance or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographic features involving no expansion of use beyond that previously existing.
The City Council hereby finds entering into a contract with Badger Meter, Inc. for the aforementioned items will ensure the most cost-effective result for the City and meet the purpose and goals of NMC Section 2.91.010.
The City Council hereby finds that for the reasons stated in the recitals above, that contracting with Badger Meter, Inc. is recommended as contracting for a specialty item pursuant to NMC 2.91.050, and although there are other manufacturers of water meters, the City predominately uses Badge Meter water meters in 95% of the system and also uses related equipment (ERTs) that work directly with the Badger Meter, Inc. water meters. If the City was to procure other water meters, it would lead to an escalation of costs as other equipment would be needed to work with new water meters creating inefficiency in the water system. Further, pursuant to NMC Section 2.91.030(B)(2), any contract (a) will be approved as to form by the City Attorney, (b) as determined by the City Auditor, there are sufficient unencumbered funds to cover the cost of the contract, and (c) upon approval by the City Council of the recommended action for the meeting of December 2, 2025, the City Council will have delegated authority to the City Manager’s designee, the Utilities Director, to amend the existing, and approve the proposed contract with Badger Meter, Inc.
The City Council hereby authorizes the Utilities Director to 1) amend existing contract with Badger Meter, Inc., increasing the compensation from $200,000 to an amount not to exceed $450,000 for Fiscal Year 2026, for the purchase of water service meters and associated items for use in the municipal water distribution system; 2) execute a contract in amount not to exceed $500,000 with Badger Meter, Inc. for Fiscal Year 2027, for the purchase of water service meters and associated items for use in the municipal water distribution system.
This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Napa at a public meeting of said City Council held on the 2nd day of December, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST: ________________________
Tiffany Carranza
City Clerk
Approved as to form:
_________________________
Christopher Diaz
Interim City Attorney
R2025-XX Page 1 of 3 December 2, 2025
R20XX-XX Page 1 of 1 Type approved date of resolution here ATTACHMENT 1
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