Agenda Item Name:
Title
Memorandum of Agreement to continue the Turf SWAP Landscaping Rebate Program and inter-fund loan.
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Presenter:
Stacie Greco, 264-6829
Description:
Request signature for the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) from the Suwannee River Water Management District for the Turf SWAP landscaping Rebate Program, and approve an inter-fund loan for $100,000.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Sign the MOA for the Turf SWAP Rebate program and approve an inter-fund loan for $100,000.
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Prior Board Motions:
The initial Turf SWAP rebate program was approved during the 12/13/16 BoCC meeting.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
EPD staff will administer the grant funded program and minimal Gainesville Clean Water Partnership Funds (087-5519 and 087-5511) may be used for program promotion.
Funds:
258.55.5511.337.3100 - Revenue
258.55.5511.537.82.31 - Expense
These funds are already budgeted; however, since the program operates on a reimbursement basis, the Department needs an inter-fund loan to begin the project.
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Background:
Outdoor water use is commonly credited for up to 60% of residential water use; hence EPD largely focuses conservation efforts on reducing discretionary outdoor water use. Researchers at the University of Florida (Friedman et al, 2013) estimated that nearly 90% of new homes in the GRU service area are built with in-ground irrigation systems. This trend, up from only 10% in 1983, will continue to contribute to excessive outdoor water use. While Alachua County adopted an irrigation efficiency ordinance in 2015 for ensuring that future irrigation systems are installed efficiently, an incentive is needed for reducing water use from the over 10,000 existing irrigation systems in the GRU service area alone.
The County received $300,000 in funding from the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership FY2015-2016 Springs Water Conservation Cost-Share Funding opportunity for the Turf SWAP (Save Water, Add...
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