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REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 <br />TITLE: <br />ADOPT A RESOLUTION AND AUTHORIZE <br />A GRANT APPLICATION SUBMISSION FOR <br />THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION'S <br />WATERSMART WATER AND ENERGY <br />EFFICIENCY GRANTS PROGRAM FOR THE <br />LANDSCAPED ROADWAY IRRIGATION <br />PROJECT <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on 1 sl Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2od Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For_ <br />CONTINUED TO <br />/s/ Kristine Ridge FILE NUMBER <br />CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Adopt a resolution authorizing the Executive Director of Public Works to submit a grant application <br />for the Bureau of Reclamation's WaterSMART, Sustain and Manage America's Resources for <br />Tomorrow, Water and Energy Efficiency Grants, Funding Group I for the Landscaped Roadway <br />Irrigation Project, in the amount of $500,000. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The City of Santa Ana maintains and irrigates landscaping for many medians and roadside <br />parkways throughout the City. Some medians and parkways contain landscaping, such as turf, with <br />high water needs, which due to recurring drought cycles in the region, have not received adequate <br />water to maintain a vibrant and aesthetically pleasing condition. The appearance and aesthetic <br />appeal of our roadways is an important aspect of projecting an image of a city that works for its <br />residents and visitors. Therefore, the City embarked on an effort to revitalize landscaping along <br />high -visibility roadways by replacing withered vegetation with drought tolerant, low-water use <br />plants, while still greatly improving the appearance of the medians and parkways. Moving forward, <br />the City will improve medians and parkways along arterial roadways as part of standard street <br />improvements. <br />The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) administers the WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency <br />Grants (WEEG) as a competitive grant program with one of the main objectives to conserve water <br />and use it more efficiently. The program has approximately $7.8 million available for FY 2021-22 <br />and the program requires a minimum of 100% in matching funds. <br />In order to implement an efficient irrigation system to conserve water, staff proposes employing a <br />combination of a drip system to irrigate half of the new landscaping in the roadways, and using <br />efficient sprinkler nozzles in the other half. The project also includes replacing existing turf in <br />roadside parkways with low-water plants. <br />55C-1 <br />