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<br />Case #2: <br /> <br />Water Meter Replacement Program <br /> <br />Utilities Supervisor Nelson stated that the City started installing water meters in early 1985. He <br />noted that the industry standard for replacing meters is 10-15 years. He reviewed the number of <br />meters the City has in place and how old they are. He reviewed the type of meters that are <br />currently used: ARB5 system and the ProRead system. He noted that both of these are subject <br />to disruption from house projects and require a meter reader to have direct contact with the <br />meter. He stated that new technology utilizes a radio read system that allows for the meters to <br />be read while driving down the street. He stated that the new- meters can also alert the City is <br />there has been tampering, backflow or a leak. <br /> <br />Chair Elvig asked what the difference in cost was between this and the old technology since the <br />meters were due to be replaced anyway. <br /> <br />Utilities Supervisor Nelson stated that the old meters cost around $100 and the new ones cost <br />about $227. He noted that the commercial meters would cost a bit more. He stated that the new <br />meters had a 20 year warranty. <br /> <br />Chairperson Elvig asked about meter readers. <br /> <br />Utilities Supervisor Nelson stated that the City contracts out for these services and they can <br />typically read about 420-480 readings a day. He stated that staff is asking that the City replace <br />250 meters a year and that all new buildings would have to install the new meters. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec asked how long it would take, at that rate, to convert all meters to radio read <br />meters. <br /> <br />Utilities Supervisor Nelson stated that if the City replaced 250 meters a year, it would be caught <br />up in 15 years. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated he feels taking 15 years to convert to the new system is a long <br />time. <br /> <br />Chairperson Elvig stated that he agrees and feels the City should try to move this conversion <br />faster than 15 years if the City can do that and be fiscally responsible. He asked if the City took <br />on any extra liability with the new meters, for example, if the City sees an anomaly on the <br />reading, does the City need to send a letter immediately the homeowner that the City detected a <br />leak. He stated that he feels the City will need to review policies on this type of issue. He stated <br />that he feels the accuracy available with the new meters is a real positive for the City and would <br />like to see the goal to replace all meters in 7.5 years instead of 15, if at all possible. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec suggested that the City finance people can take a look at this and calculate out <br />how long it will take to make the updates. <br /> <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated that the City should target certain geographic areas and do them <br />all at once so there is not a hopscotch approach in neighborhoods where some are drive by reads <br /> <br />Public Works Committee /January 15,2008 <br />Page 5 of 13 <br />