HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - August 2, 2000 E-169AGENDA TITLE: Public Benefits Program Grant— Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate- Pilot Project ($25,000)
MEETING DATE: August 2, 2000
PREPARED BY: Electric Utility Director
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council approve a Public Benefits Program Grant in the amount
of $25,000 to establish a pilot project known as the Lodi Lawn Mower
Rebate.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:: The City of Lodi Electric Utility is proposing the creation of a pilot project: the
Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate. In an effort to expose the residents of Lodi to
various energy efficient and environmentally friendly products, this particular
pilot project will promote the use of rechargeable electric mulching lawn mowers. The total requested Public Benefits
Program grant for the project is $25,000. Here is how the pilot project will be designed:
available only for Lodi Electric Utility customers;
➢ a total of six (6) rechargeable electric mulching lawn mowers will be purchased and available
to Lodi residents on a one-week "loaner/trial basis." The loaner lawn mowers will be delivered to each customers
home for its trial use by Electric Utility staff (staff will also be responsible for picking up the lawn mowers once the
one-week trial use is complete);
if the resident is satisfied with the operation and performance of the designated lawn mower, they would be
eligible to receive a voucher in the amount of $200 towards the purchase of a new, electric rechargeable
mulching lawn mower;
➢ the vouchers for an electric rechargeable mulching lawn mower must be utilized at one of the three (3)
participating Lodi vendors (A-1 Saw & Mower, Wright Motors, and Orchard Supply Hardware) within 30 days
of date of the voucher;
➢ if residents participating in the program currently own a gasoline -powered lawn mower, they must turn -in that lawn
mower to the vendor they have selected before they purchase an electric rechargeable mulching lawn mower (all
three (3) participating vendors have agreed to accept the older, gasoline -powered lawn mowers for proper
disposal).
Numerous electric utility providers around the state, and nation, have successfully implemented similar projects,
including Sacramento Municipal Utility District and the Salt River Project. The benefits associated with electric
rechargeable mulching lawn mowers include: no air pollution produced by the operation of these lawn mowers, they
are easier to start than gasoline -powered lawn mowers, the electricity charge to operate a 24 -volt electric
rechargeable lawn mower is less than $5 per year, and electric rechargeable lawn mowers produce less than half the
amount of noise compared to gas lawn mowers.
After researching this product and investigating the merits of electric rechargeable mulching lawn mowers, the City of
Lodi Electric Utility respectfully recommends approval of this Public Benefits Program grant and the creation of the
Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate. The pilot project is a qualifying component of the City of Lodi Public Benefits Program,
categorized as a Research, Development & Demonstration Services project.
APPROVED:
H. &Xon Flynn - C' Manager
FUNDING: 164607 -Public Benefits Program Fund
(Category -Research, Developmmentt& Demonstration Services)
Funding Approval: w • A!
Vicky
ei
Athie, Finance Director d4
Alan N. Vallow
Electric Utility Director
PREPARED BY: Rob Lechner, Manager of Customer Programs
ANV/RLAst
C: City Attomey
APPROVED:
H. Dixon Flynn - City Manager
RESOLUTION NO. 2000-138
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING
THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE A PUBLIC BENEFITS
PROGRAM GRANT TO ESTABLISH A PILOT PROGRAM
KNOWN AS THE LODI LAWN MOWER REBATE
WHEREAS, the State has mandated that beginning January 1, 1998, the City of Lodi is
obligated to fund various programs through a Public Benefits Charge (PBC) based on a historical
electric revenue requirement; and
WHEREAS, the requirement amounts to approximately $1M per year that must be
dedicated to qualifying programs such as energy efficiency. A further stipulation is that these
efforts must be done on the customer's side of the meter in order to qualify; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to expose Lodi residents to various energy efficient and
environmentally friendly products, a Public Benefits Program Grant in the amount of $25,000.00
is requested to establish a pilot program known as the Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate. This particular
pilot project will promote the use of rechargeable electric mulching lawn mowers. The pilot
project will be designed as follows:
➢ Available only for Lodi Electric Utility customers;
➢ A total of six (6) rechargeable electric mulching lawn mowers will be purchased and available
to Lodi residents on a one-week "loaner/trial basis." The loaner lawn mowers will be
delivered to each customer's home for its trial use by Electric Utility staff (staff will also be
__.._ responsible for picking up the lawn mowers once the one-week trial use is complete);
➢ If the resident is satisfied with the operation and performance of the designated lawn mower,
they would be eligible to receive a voucher in the amount of $200 towards the purchase of a
new, electric rechargeable mulching lawn mower;
➢ The vouchers for an electric rechargeable mulching lawn mower must be utilized at one of
the three (3) participating Lodi vendors (A-1 Saw & Mower, Wright Motors, and Orchard
Supply Hardware) within 30 days of the date of the voucher;
If residents participating in the program currently own a gasoline -powered lawn mower, they
must turn in that lawn mower to the vendor they have selected before they purchase an
electric rechargeable mulching lawn mower (all three (3) participating vendors have agreed to
accept the older, gasoline -powered lawn mowers for proper disposal).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lodi City Council hereby authorizes the
City Manager to provide a Public Benefits Program grant in the amount of $25,000 to fund the
pilot program known as the Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate, specifically designed for Lodi Electric
Utility customers.
Dated: August 2, 2000
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I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2000-138 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City
Council in a regular meeting held August 2, 2000 by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Hitchcock, Land, Nakanishi, Pennino and Mann
(Mayor)
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None
SUSAN J. BLACKSTON
City Clerk
2000-138