Customers who pay the slightly higher rate for the green energy supply — an additional $7.28 per month for the average household — would not be subjected to the rising fuel adjustment charge, which has increased an average 12.3% since 2003, according to the utility.
The new program, driven largely by interest from large corporate clients, is expected to accelerate Water & Power’s expansion of its renewable energy portfolio, which now stands at about 16% of its total annual energy procurements.
Program enrollment would open in August and close by Dec. 31.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The council will likely approve the program given the unanimous enthusiasm it received during introduction last week.
LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION
City planners will seek permission from the council to initiate changes to the zoning code, reducing the amount of required “live plant material” in front yards.
The changes — which will make more concessions for non-plant ground covers such as mulch, wood ships, bark and decorative rock — are meant to be an interim step in meeting upcoming state mandates to better manage landscape irrigation as a way to preserve tight water supplies.
The majority of municipal water supplies are spent on yard irrigation.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The council will likely provide city planners with direction on initiating the zoning-code amendments given the city’s difficulty in meeting a voluntary water conservation rate of 10%.
PARKING METERS
The council will be asked to approve a $655,000 contract with a private firm to install 50 multi-space parking meter stations in downtown, city-owned parking lots.
The digital pay stations are expected to increase short-term parking turnover for downtown merchants and achieve an 85% occupancy rate at all on- and off-street public parking facilities.
Motorists will have the option of paying for metered parking at the stations with coins, credit cards and so-called “smart” cards. Customers will also be able to add time to their parking spot via their cellphones.
The contract with Digital Payment Technologies would also provide for the option of installing an additional 30 pay stations down the line.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The council will likely approve the parking pay stations as a way to increase city revenue and make more efficient use of parking spaces downtown.
