Report Prepared by: Leah Brown, Water Conservation Specialist, Public Works - Water
Title
SUBJECT: 2015 Urban Water Management Plan
REPORT IN BRIEF
Recommend approving a professional services agreement with Carollo Engineers to prepare an update for the Department of Water Resources 2015 Urban Water Management Plan
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a motion approving:
A. An agreement with Carollo Engineers in the amount of $40,500 for professional engineering services to prepare the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan, as required under the Water Code Section 10610; and
B. Authorize the City Manager to sign the necessary documents.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the agreement, as recommended by staff; or
2. Deny; or
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200, et seq. and Section 3.04.120 of the Merced Municipal Code.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2016-17 Adopted Budget
DISCUSSION
The Urban Water Management Planning (UWMP) Act of the Water Code, Section 10610-10656 states that every urban water supplier that provides water to 3,000 or more customers should make every effort to ensure the appropriate level of water service reliability to meet the needs of its customers during normal, dry, and multiple dry years. The Act requires urban water suppliers to update and submit their adopted UWMP to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) for years ending in zero and five.
Besides being a State requirement, the UWMP provides important long-term planning opportunities to optimize water supply for growth, development, and redevelopment. Without a completed UWMP, the City will be ineligible for future grant opportunities in water. A dependable water supply is imperative to the economic and social vitality of the City.
In addition to extending the viability of long-term water supplies, the UWMP will evaluate other sources, such as recycled water and surface water exchange from Merced Irrigation District.
Landscape irrigation creates the greatest demands on the water system and the greatest opportunity for conservation. Reducing water demand 10% through conservation would reduce the number of needed wells by two, which equates to four million dollars in capital costs alone. The UWMP will analyze planning, operations, maintenance, and public education opportunities for water conservation. This is just one example of the demand management measures to be considered for the UWMP.
The Department of Water Resources released new UWMP guidelines in March 2016 to aid in the creation of the 2015 Urban Water Management Plan. Beginning in 2016, retail water suppliers, like the City of Merced, are required to comply with the water conservation requirements of SB x7-7 in order to be eligible for State water grants or loans. SB x7-7 states that water be reduced 20% by the year 2020; by 2015, half of that goal should be reached. The city will address progress made to date in compliance with SB x7-7.
Preparation of the plan is extensive, requiring data and input from many City departments, but using the 2010 UWMP as a springboard should ease in its creation. Future development impacts on City water supply and reliability should begin now to evaluate water efficiency, climate change, development planning, water quality, and alternative water sources.
On June 14, 2016, the City issued a request for proposals (Attachment 1) to create and develop the 2015 UWMP, we received proposals from the following companies:
Black Water
Stantec
AKEL
Carollo Engineers
Provost & Pritchard
Erler & Kalinowski, Inc.
The selection committee’s review of the written proposals resulted in the unanimous recommendation of Carollo as having the superior proposal. Staff reviewed the detailed scope of work and costs presented in Carollo’s proposal and negotiated an Agreement for Professional Services (Attachment 3).
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Sufficient funds are available in the Water System-Enterprise Fund Professional Services, 557-1106-532.17-00, to cover this agreement.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Request for Proposal for UWMP
2. Scoring sheet for proposals received
3. Agreement Signed by Carollo