CITY OF POMONA
COUNCIL REPORT
March 16, 2026
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Anita D. Scott, City Manager
Submitted By: Meg McWade, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE CALSENSE SMART IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS FROM IMPERIAL SPRINKLER SUPPLY RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following action authorize the purchase, which exceeds $100,000 annually, of Calsense Smart Irrigation Controllers from Imperial Sprinkler Supply, for a period of three (3) years, at the bid prices or CPI-adjusted prices as permitted by the bid documents and subject to annual budget appropriations.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Authorization of the recommended actions will allow the City to continue replacing older irrigation controllers with modern smart models, based on a competitive bid process that meet statewide water-efficiency requirements. Working with the Water Resources Department, Public Works has already installed 27 controllers citywide, reducing water use and improving oversight. The new technology enables remote management and automatic malfunction alerts, helping staff quickly address issues and prevent water loss.
SB1439/GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLICABILITY:
☒ When this box is checked, it indicates the agenda item is subject to the Levine Act SB1439 requirements. Councilmembers are reminded to check their campaign contributions and determine whether they have received a campaign contribution of $500 or more that would require disclosure and/or recusal from discussing or acting on this agenda item. Campaign contributions of $500 or more made 1) by any person or entity who is identified in the agenda report as the applicant or proposer or 2) on behalf of the applicant or participant, including a parent, subsidiary or otherwise related business entity, or 3) by any person who has a financial interest in the agenda item requires a councilmember to comply with SB1439.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The anticipated cost for FY 25-26 is approximately $114,000. The Adopted Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget has a total of $100,000 for smart irrigation controller replacements in FD571, Water Operations | CC8122, Maintenance and Operations | Materials. The remaining amount ($13,891.46) will come from FD101, General Fund | CC4011, Landscape Maintenance | Materials & Supplies. A budget transfer is in process to ensure sufficient funds are available in these worktags. This purchase does not require an increase in the overall operating budget.
This additional funding will allow the Parks and Landscape team to replace all controllers at Washington Park, Palomares Park, and Ralph Welch Park this fiscal year.
Funding for subsequent years of smart irrigation controller purchases will be requested as part of the annual budget process.
PUBLIC NOTICING REQUIREMENTS:
In accordance with Section 2-993.1(4)a of the City’s Purchasing Ordinance, a public notice inviting bids was posted on the City’s electronic bidding platform, PlanetBids, on February 9, 2026 and bids were due on February 23, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
In 2018, Assembly Bill 1668 and Senate Bill 606 directed the State Water Board to set efficiency standards for commercial, industrial, and institutional water use. As climate change intensifies California’s swings between drought and flooding, recent storms underscore the need to strengthen long-term water preparedness.
As such, the Public Works Department has initiated a long-term transition toward advanced water resource management through the installation of smart irrigation technology. To date, Public Works has replaced over 27 irrigation controllers with new Calsense Smart Controllers across City landscapes, including six parks and 21 street-median and streetscape areas. This effort marks a significant step toward improving water efficiency, reducing runoff, and extending the service life of pavement infrastructure.
The Water Resources Department continues to support this initiative through annual funding allocations that help Public Works implement smart-water technologies in priority locations. The City currently operates more than 250 irrigation controllers, many of which are legacy Superior, Rain Bird, and Irritrol units without smart-water capabilities.
On February 9, 2026, an Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 2026-04– Irrigation Controllers was issued on the City’s electronic bidding platform. The solicitation notified (210) potential suppliers, of which 16 prospective bidders downloaded the IFB, resulting in the City receiving three bids. The lowest cost bid received was from Imperial Sprinkler Supply. The three bids received are reflected in the table below:
Bidder
Bid Amount
Imperial Sprinkler Supply
$113,891.46
SiteOne Landscape Supply
$172,837.73
SGD Enterprises
$291,210.00
Staff intends to utilize this competitive bid to purchase irrigation controllers from Imperial Sprinkler Supply over a three-year period, with an annual CPI escalator. This will support the City’s phased conversion to smart irrigation technology. Establishing a multi-year purchasing arrangement will ensure product consistency, streamlined procurement, and allow the City to continue replacing aging controllers in a cost-effective and efficient manner, subject to annual budget approval.
The long-term strategy is to prioritize replacement of controllers in the highest-water-use areas and continue phased implementation as funding becomes available. Due to the scale of the system, full conversion to smart irrigation will take several years to complete provided funding continues to be available for these efforts.
Prepared by:
Lindsay McElwain, Senior Management Analyst
Authorize Purchase of Calsense Smart Irrigation Controllers from Imperial Sprinkler Supply