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Median Landscape Alternatives <br />June 2, 2015 <br />Page 2 <br />such as wood chips and mulch, are impractical due to uneven median surfaces and the <br />associated increase in maintenance costs. However, several alternatives do provide long- lasting <br />benefits and are presented here for City Council consideration. <br />Staff analyzed several factors for each alternative. The following table shows the Operating <br />Savings and the estimated current Capital Cost to implement each alternative: <br />Alternatives <br />Savin s* <br />Est. <br />Capital <br />Groundcover Water <br />FYE 16 <br />How Long? <br />Cost* <br />one -time fine <br />1. Grass (no change /status quo) <br />Potable <br />($2.72 M) <br />unless E.O, is <br />extended <br />2. None (not reinstall grass turf) <br />None <br />$360 K <br />until grass <br />d ies <br />3 Grass (no change with non - potable <br />Non-potable <br />($350 K} <br />ongoing <br />water deliver service) <br />4 Drought - tolerant with decomposed granite; high-priority areas of the city <br />water = None /Potable <br />FYE 16 = $577,000 <br />Est. capital cost = $5.0 M <br /> <br />5. None reinstall grass at 2 rs) <br />None /Potable <br />$660 K <br />2 yrs <br />$5.7 M <br />6. Decomposed granite (only) <br />None <br />$310 K <br />on oin <br />$9.0 M <br />7. Hardsca a combination <br />None <br />$310 K <br />ongoing <br />$13.5 M <br />$ Drought - tolerant with decomposed <br />potable <br />$110 K <br />ongoing <br />$15.0 M <br />granite <br />9. Artificial turf <br />None <br />$250 K <br />ongoing <br />$21.0 M <br />Present value <br />** Total fines for 272 days @ $10, 000 /day over the 9 -month emergency period <br />Shutting off the water in the medians will result in the loss of the City's investment in ornamental <br />grass (valued at $8 M). To avoid reversion to dirt at every median in the City, staff is <br />recommending Alternative No. 4 as a way to establishing a new, environmentally conscious <br />aesthetic citywide. In this option, irrigation of the medians will cease, as ordered by the <br />Governor, until they are landscaped with drought- tolerant plants. Plans will be drafted to identify <br />high - priority median locations and replace existing landscaping with a combination of drought - <br />tolerant plants and decomposed granite. <br />Council approval of this action will authorize staff to evaluate the feasibility in establishing an <br />interfund loan for the estimated $5 M implementation cost. This loan will be repaid using the <br />estimated annual operating cost savings of $577,000. Staff will bring the identified median <br />locations, total project cost, and loan details for review and approval at a subsequent Council <br />meeting. Projects to convert remaining median locations will be pursued as additional funding <br />sources are identified. <br />65C -2 <br />