Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Approving And Authorizing The Appropriate City Officials To Execute An Interlocal Agreement With Broward County To Provide Cost Share Support Of A Water Conservation Incentives Program In A Total Amount Not To Exceed $107,530.87 Over A Five Year Period.
Strategic Plan Focus
Resilience & Sustainability
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the Attached Resolution.
Explanation:
Resilience and sustainability goals are often best served through partnerships. To this end, and in the belief that we achieve more by acting together, the City has long partnered with Broward County on various water conservation and quality preservation initiatives. The attached resolution proposes a renewal of one such long-standing partnership, the Broward County Water Conservation Incentive Program, aka the Broward Water Partnership “Conservation Pays” Program.
South Florida water systems face a number of water supply challenges including saltwater intrusion to well fields and periodic droughts. Water conservation incentive programs have been identified by the Broward Resources Task Force as the most cost-effective means of meeting regional projected water demands. Following these findings, Broward County established the Conservation Pays Program in 2011 to provide unified water conservation messaging, information, and services throughout the County. Hollywood was a partner in that initial program via an Interlocal Agreement (ILA) from 2011 to 2016 (R-2011-101) and continued under an additional ILA enacted in 2016 (R-2016-243). That current ILA will expire later this year (2021).
The Conservation Pays program provides professional conservation marketing, branding, and outreach. This includes an aggressive media campaign promoting overall sustainability as well as water conservation. Messaging is conveyed Countywide across all media platforms including television, radio, print, web (conservationpays.com), and social media. Messaging under the Conservation Pays branding explains and encourages a variety of sustainability measures while focusing primarily on water conservation. Replacing wasteful water fixtures and appliances with more efficient options is emphasized. Focused messaging and toilet rebate applications are also provided in and coordinated with local toilet suppliers throughout Broward County, e.g. Home Depot, Lowes, etc. These in-store displays and information seek to inform and incentivize buyer selection of more conserving water fixtures. In-store messaging emphasizes and enables the replacement of water wasting toilets with newer, more efficient models.
This program also offers Hollywood utility customers the opportunity to participate in various Conservation Pays Programs, contests, and educational games for all ages. The Conservation Pays Program was recognized for excellence by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2019 as their “Partner of the Year”. Hollywood was honored by Broward County that same year as the Broward Water Partnership Partner of the Year.
The afore-mentioned program also factors into a number of City permits and activities, including the Water Treatment Plant’s Consumptive User Permit from the South Florida Water Management District. Participation in the Broward Water Partnership will further help fulfill other mandated conservation requirements, e.g. the Integrated Water Resource Plan.
The Department of Public Utilities recommends that the City Commission approve and authorize the appropriate City Officials to execute the attached Interlocal Agreement for the cost share support of a Water Conservation Incentives Program, the Broward Water Partnership “Conservation Pays” Program, within the Water Utility Service Area as more specifically set forth in the Interlocal Agreement.
Fiscal Impact:
In order to share the benefits of region-wide advertising and other media and specialized outreach spending, all the municipalities involved will divide the estimated cost of the program, and each of the municipalities, including the City of Hollywood, must enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Broward County.
The overall cost-sharing support cost for the Broward Water Partnership “Conservation Pays” Program is in the estimated amount of $107,530.87 over a five year period as more specifically set forth in the attached Appendix “A”.
Funding for this project will be included in the adopted FY 2022 Capital Improvement Plan, and is available in account number 442.409904.53600.531210.001364.000.000.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Ali Parker, Public Utilities Public Outreach Coordinator
Vivek Galav, Director, Department of Public Utilities
Gus Zambrano, Assistant City Manager/Sustainable Development