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5.01: Correction Regarding Water Efficiency Grant Program <br /> <br />City Engineer Westby stated that on September 24, 2019, the Ramsey City Council approved <br />th <br />submitting an application to the Metropolitan Council by September 30 for a grant up to <br />$50,000 to help the City conserve water by lowering the cost for residents to purchase and install <br />products that reduce water use including toilets, irrigation sprinklers and controllers, and to <br />perform irrigation system audits. During the City Council meeting, Councilmember Kuzma <br />asked staff if this grant program would be open to all residents, regardless if they were served by <br />City water or a private well. City Engineer Westby responded that the program would be open to <br />all residents. Since such time, staff has learned that only property owners using municipal water <br />would be eligible for the program. During the Council meeting, Councilmember Musgrove <br />However, the <br /> 33.3 percent of $50,000. <br />Staff applied for the grant funding before the end of September as required. However, staff is <br />now seeking input from the Committee as to whether the City Council may have voted <br />th <br />differently on September 24 upon knowing that the program is only open to municipal water <br />users and that the maximum share for the City would be $16,666.67 instead of $12,500. <br /> <br />City Engineer Westby stated that if the City Council would not support the grant program and <br />would not accept awarded grant fun <br />funding. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley referenced the maximum cost to the City, noting that the City will still <br />ultimately decide the details of the program and therefore that would not be an issue as the City <br />will be able to determine its maximum contribution when developing the program details. <br /> <br />Chairperson Kuzma stated that his concern would be that residents on septic systems would not <br />be eligible for the program. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley stated that this grant is from the Metropolitan Council with the intent of <br />reducing City water usage. He noted that the City could create its own grant to mirror the <br />program if desired but noted that the City only has an interest in reducing City water usage <br />because of the demand on public infrastructure. <br /> <br />Chairperson Kuzma agreed that it would be a good thing to reduce water usage. <br /> <br />Councilmember Menth agreed that if the grant can be obtained, the City should continue. <br /> <br />It was the consensus of the Committee that the City should continue with its grant application to <br />the Metropolitan Council for the Water Efficiency Program, and that there is no need for Staff to <br />bring this information back to a regular Council meeting at this time, but instead simply provide <br />an email update to the other members of the City Council, with the understanding that the full <br />Council will need to accept the grant if awarded. <br /> <br />Public Works Committee / October 15, 2019 <br />Page 2 of 6 <br /> <br />