7/25/2024
1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.gov
WATER CONSERVATION SURCHARGE PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTSCity CouncilAugust 20, 2024Public Utilities RiversideCA.gov2
1. June 12, 2018 – City Council approved RPU’s participation in SoCalWaterSmart website for water rebates.2. September 6, 2022 – City Council approved an enhancement to program funding for a total of $610,000 for Water Conservation Surcharge programs.3. April 16, 2024 – City Council conducted a public hearing on the Water Conservation Surcharge and voted to not renew the Water Conservation Surcharge. BACKGROUND1 2 7/25/2024
2 RiversideCA.gov3
RPU water customers have been utilizing SoCalWaterSmart to apply for and to receive rebates for many different conservation measures such as:•Turf Removal•High Efficiency Clothes Washers •Weather-based Irrigation Controllers•High Efficiency Sprinkler Nozzles•High Efficiency Toilets •Flow Monitoring DevicesBACKGROUND RiversideCA.gov4
1. At the April 22, 2024, Board meeting, the Board requested that staff return to the Board with a plan to draw down the Water Conservation Surcharge fund.2. The audited fund balance as of June 30, 2022, is $3,431,189.20.3. In the effort to broadly distribute Water Conservation Surcharge funds, it is necessary to maximize access by increasing programs offered and funding availability for popular incentives and make reductions to the less-popular programs.DISCUSSION3 4 7/25/2024
3 RiversideCA.gov5
1. Enhancements to residential & commercial turf rebates:a. Increase RPU contribution from $3 to $5 per sq ft to provide a $7 sq ft incentiveb. Increase turf program funding 2. Additions to Residential Program:a. High Efficiency Clothes Washersb. High Efficiency Toilets2. Addition to the Commercial Program:High Efficiency ToiletsNEW PROGRAM ENHANCEMENTS RiversideCA.gov6
PROPOSED PROGRAM BUDGET - RESIDENTIALRESIDENTIALProposed BudgetFY 2024/25Proposed ChangesBudgetFY 2023/24Total IncentiveRPUMWDPrograms$400,000$175,000$225,000$7$5$2Turf Removal (Sq Ft)$15,000-$10,000$25,000$200$120$80Weather Based Irrigation Controller$5,000-$10,000$15,000$5$3$2High Efficiency Sprinkler Nozzles$2,500-$7,500$10,000$50$15$35Hose Bib Timer$2,500-$22,500$25,000$175$75$100Flow Monitoring Device $40,000$40,000$0$285$200$85High Efficiency Clothes Washer$10,000$10,000$0$140$100$40High Efficiency Toilets$475,000$175,000$300,000Residential Total 5 6
7/25/2024
4 RiversideCA.gov7
PROPOSED PROGRAM BUDGET -COMMERCIALCOMMERCIALProposed Budget FY 2024/25Proposed ChangesBudgetFY 2023/24Total IncentiveRPUMWDPrograms$700,000$400,000$300,000$7$5$2Turf Removal (Sq Ft)$40,000$40,000$0$240$200$40High Efficiency Toilets$740,000$440,000$300,000Commercial Total$1,215,000$615,000$600,000Program Total RiversideCA.gov8
Strategic Priority 4 - Environmental StewardshipGoal 4.2 -Sustainably manage local water resources to maximize reliability and advance water reuse to ensure safe, reliable and affordable water to our communityCross-Cutting ThreadsSTRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Community Trust
Equity
Fiscal Responsibility
Innovation
Sustainability & Resiliency
7 8
7/25/2024
5 RiversideCA.gov9
That the City Council:1. Approve the increase to the annual Turf Removal Programs,Residential by $175,000 for a total of $400,000, and Commercial by$400,000 for a total of $700,000, total increase of $575,000;2. Approve rebate funding for High Efficiency Toilet Programs,Residential for $10,000 and Commercial for $40,000, total of $50,000;3. Approve rebate funding for a High Efficiency Clothes WasherProgram in the amount of $40,000;RECOMMENDATIONS RiversideCA.gov10
4. Approve the reduction for the Weather Based Irrigation ControllerProgram to $15,000, a decrease of $10,000;5. Approve the reduction for the High Efficiency Sprinkler NozzlesProgram to $5,000, a decrease of $10,000;6. Approve the reduction to the Hose Bib Timer Program to $2,500, adecrease of $7,500; and7. Approve the reduction to the Residential Flow Monitoring DeviceProgram to $2,500, a decrease of $22,500.RECOMMENDATIONS9 10