Correction Regarding Water Efficiency Grant Program

On September 24, 2019, the Ramsey City Council approved submitting an application to the Metropolitan Council by September 30th for a grant up to $50,000 to help the City conserve water by lowering the cost for residents to purchase and install products that reduce water use including toilets, irrigation sprinklers and controllers, and to perform irrigation system audits.

During the City Council meeting, Councilmember Kuzma asked Staff if this grant program would be open to all residents, regardless if they were served by City water or a private well.  City Engineer Westby responded that the program would be open to all residents.  Since such time, Staff has learned that only property owners using municipal water would be eligible for this program.
 
During the City Council meeting, Councilmember Musgrove asked Staff what the City’s maximum cost share would be.  City Engineer Westby responded that the City’s maximum cost share would be $12,500, which is 25% of $50,000.  However, the City’s maximum cost share would actually be $16,666.67, which is 33.3% of $50,000.
 
Staff applied for the grant funding before the end of September as required.  However, Staff is now seeking input from the Public Works Committee as to whether the City Council may have voted differently on September 24th upon knowing that the program is only open to municipal water users, and that the City’s maximum share would be $16,666.67 instead of $12,250.
 
If the City Council would not support the grant program and would not accept awarded grant funding, Staff would prefer to withdraw the City’s grant application before the Metropolitan Council reviews and approves the City’s application for funding.

Staff estimates 5 minutes will be needed to present this case and address questions.

Staff requests consensus direction by the Committee as to whether or not Staff should present a case to the City Council on October 22nd informing them that property owners using private wells for water supply would not be eligible to participate in the water efficiency grant program, that the City’s maximum cost share would be $16,666.67, and requesting that they reaffirm their motion to apply for up to $50,000 in water efficiency grant program funds.

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Provide consensus direction as to whether or not Staff should present a case to the City Council on October 22nd informing them that property owners using private wells for water supply would not be eligible to participate in the water efficiency grant program, that the City’s maximum cost share would be $16,666.67, and requesting that they reaffirm their motion to apply for up to $50,000 in water efficiency grant program funds.