SUBJECT
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Approve Conservation Project Agreement with the Polk Regional Water Cooperative for the Development of A Polk Regional Water Cooperative Conservation Program (Annual Recurring Cost to the County; proposed FY 2025, first-year impact of the project is projected to cost $18,983.08).
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DESCRIPTION
The Polk Regional Water Cooperative (Cooperative) and its Member Governments seek to enter into a Conservation Project Agreement to develop and implement a Water Cooperative Conservation Program (Conservation Program) which provides consumer focused water conservation services to the customers of Member Governments. The Conservation Program is expected to include implementation of consumer-focused conservation outreach and advertising, record keeping, and documentation related to the Conservation program, installation and evaluation of irrigation conservation measures of Member Government customers, a system for reimbursement of funds to Member Governments for conservation activities, and other potential conservation initiatives as agreed upon by the Cooperative. The Cooperative and its Member Governments anticipate and expect this Agreement and the Conservation Program to be provided annually with base fund monies that are specifically appropriated by the Florida Legislature pursuant to the Heartland Headwaters Protection and Sustainability Act, Chapter 2017-111, Laws of Florida and may be supplemented by Cooperative Funding through other agencies and the Member Government contributions.
RECOMMENDATION
Request County Manager approve the Conservation Project Agreement with the Polk Regional Water Cooperative at a cost specified by Section 3.9 of the attached agreement to be approved by the Project Board on an annual basis.
FISCAL IMPACT
Under the terms of the Cooperative Conservation Program Agreement, the annual anticipated cost of the project is calculated using each Member Government’s annual average water use in comparison to the total annual average water use by all Member Governments, as reported to the Southwest Florida Management District, during the calendar year preceding the one in which the fiscal year budget is adopted. Funds are budgeted and available within the Utilities Water Resource Enforcement Budget.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Name: Summer Collazo
Title: Environmental Specialist III - Water Conservation
Division: Utilities Division
Phone: (863) 298-4236
E-mail Address: SummerCollazo@polk-county.net <mailto:SummerCollazo@polk-county.net>
Name: Krystal Azzarella
Title: Utilities Environmental Affairs Manager
Division: Utilities Division
Phone: (863) 298-4195
E-mail Address: KrystalAzzarella@polk-county.net <mailto:KrystalAzzarella@polk-county.net>