City Council Agenda Report
March 19, 2024
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Jesus M. Gomez, City Manager
BY: Glen W. C. Kau, P.E., Director of Public Services/City Engineer Jacqueline Koontz, Senior Civil Engineer
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 24-14 COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL AND LEGAL
OBLIGATIONS FOR GRANT FUNDING ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE UNITED
STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WATERSMART PROGRAM FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE
UPGRADE PROGRAM
Background:
“WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants” is a category of grant funding made available through the United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to support projects focused on planning, and implementing actions, for increasing water supply sustainability through investments in existing infrastructure and attention to addressing local water issues. More specifically, this funding is for projects that seek to conserve and use water more efficiently, and accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply sustainability for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 and FY 2025 (Notice of Funding Opportunity No. R24AS00052). USBR is offering three funding categories, all with a minimum 50% matching funding requirement.
Funding Category Maximum Funding Agreement Term
Funding Group I Up to $500,000 2 Years
Funding Group II Up to $2,000,000 3 Years
Funding Group III Up to $5,000,000 3 Years
Municipal metering projects can provide water savings when existing individual user meters are replaced with advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters. Due to this, the City has been working towards implementing AMI across its service area. In FY 2018, the City completed
City Council March 19, 2024
Resolution No. 24-14 – Grant Funding Assistance Page No. 2 8 0
5 Phase 1 of AMI Meter System Installation project, which replaced 614, 3/4-inch water meters in the central, east, and southeast service areas. In FY 2022, the City completed Phase 2 of the same program by installing 333, 3/4-inch meters along with five larger sized meters. Phase 3 was awarded grant funding through this USBR WaterSMART funding program for FY 2023.
Phase 3 is currently under development and will install 447 additional AMI meters. City staff recently submitted a grant funding application for Phase 4, which will replace approximately 400 meters and associated equipment. The scope of work for replacement of existing water meters includes the installation of data transmitting endpoints, meter boxes, meter box lids, water service laterals, and restoration of streets, curb, gutter, and sidewalk. The following is a breakdown of the estimated Phase 4 total project costs:
Personnel Costs $23,889
Equipment Costs $142,800
Construction Costs $989,100
Estimated Total Project Cost $1,155,789
In order to qualify for grant funding for FY 2024, the City is required to submit an application on, or before February 22, 2024. Staff submitted the City’s application on February 21, 2024 ahead of the deadline. Staff worked with Bucknam and Associates, and their sub-consultant Hazen and Sawyer, to complete and submit a grant application. This is due to their extensive experience providing grant application support, and familiarity with the City’s previous meter replacement projects. The application submitted requested $500,000 under Funding Group I for a two-year funding term. If awarded, grant funding will cover 43% of total project costs. In addition to submitting an application for FY 2024, the City must submit an Official Resolution adopted by City Council to qualify.
Fiscal Impact:
The anticipated notice of award will be in Summer of 2024. The City will be required to commit a total of $655,789 (57%) over a two-year term. City staff anticipates project expenditures to commence January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.
Citizens Advised:
N/A
Strategic Plan 2023 Implementation:
The recommended action will further the City’s Strategic Plan Goal 1: Re-invest in existing and aging infrastructure.
City Council March 19, 2024
Resolution No. 24-14 – Grant Funding Assistance Page No. 3 8 0
5 Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council adopt Resolution No. 24-14, A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY
COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORWALK AUTHORIZING A COMMITMENT TO FINANCIAL
AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS FOR GRANT FUNDING ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE UNITED
STATES BUREAU OF RECLAMATION WATERSMART PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADE PROGRAM.
Attachments:
Resolution No. 24-14