HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1994 0302 CC REG ITEM 08C,. k
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CITY OF MOORPARK _)2PAPK, CALIFC2AtA
AGENDA REPORT
TO: The Honorable City Council
FROM: Christine Adams, Director of Community Services
I' Y
DATE: February 24, 1994 (Meeting of March 2, 1994)
SUBJECT: Consider Allocation of Funds for Water Utility Costs for Remainder
of Fiscal Year 1993-94.
OVERVIEW
The water utility costs for the parks in the City are almost depleted. This is due, in
part, to the dry season that we have experienced to date. Staff is requesting that the
City Council consider appropriating additional funds to cover water utility costs for
the remainder of this fiscal year. The Budget and Finance Committee have reviewed
this report and concur with staffs recommendation.
BACKGROUND
Water utility costs have been calculated high in past years to account for potential dry
years with little to no rain fall. Last year, FY 92-93, Southern California experienced
the largest rainfall in seven years, and therefore the water costs that were incurred
were much less than the budgeted amount projected for the year.
The City instituted the ETO program (evapotranspiration) in 1992, which is
recommended by the State of California as a scientific way to measure moisture
retention in turf grass soil, and a formula is then used to determine the amount of
water that should be used on park grasses. A similar program is going to be introduced
in 1994/95 to measure soil moisture in landscaped areas without turf. By using this
methodology, City staff have been able to maintain the appearance of the city parks,
and at the same time make certain that our landscaped parks and streetscapes are not
over -watered.
The attachments to this report show a history of the City's water use. The data
presented does not provide any consistent pattern, as each year the rainfall and
precipitation varies.
The actual expenses on water for the parks (AD 85-1) in FY 92-93 were approximately
$52,000.00. The budget request from staff for $80,000.00 in water utility for FY 93-94
was reduced during the budget process by the City Council to $41,750.00. Staff is
estimating that unless we have very heavy rain between now and the end of May, our
water costs will be closer to $80,000. Actual water costs during 1991-92, which was
also a dry year, were $81,162.00.
Additional funds will be needed for the remainder of this fiscal year for water utilities.
AD 85-1 will be completely expended by March and it is estimated that an additional
$38,250.00 is needed, in the event that there is no additional rain this year. The total
amount of funding needed to be appropriated for water utilities for the parks would be
$38,250.00.
Borrowing this amount from future year's assessment districts will increase the
individual assessments; however, other costs such as the landscape maintenance
contractor and other maintenance and operations expenses are not expected to
increase, and in some cases, staff is already making some preliminary cuts to minimize
any possible assessment increase.
RECOMMENDATION (Roll Call Vote)
Appropriate $38,250.00 from General Fund Reserves to fund the estimated deficit in
AD 85-1 water utility costs (25.1147.652) and to include the repayment as part of the
required public notification process for 1994-95. Decision on repayment to be made
as part of the 1994-95 budget and parks maintenance assessment district (AD 85-1)
deliberations.
AD 85-1 (Parks)
Actual 91/92
Actual 92/93
Water Usage History
$81,162
$52,116
Budgeted 93/94 $41,750
Expended as of 1/20/94 $40,766
Projected Actual 93/94 $80,000