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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - April 4, 2001 E-22TFC U 'CITY , LODICOUNCIL COMMUNICATION <iFoa AGENDA TITLE: Adopt resolution authorizing the City Manager to provide funding in the amount of $20,000 to extend the Public Benefits Program Grant - Lodi Lawnmower Rebate Program MEETING DATE: April 4, 2001 PREPARED BY: Electric Utility Director ACTION: That the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to provide funding in the amount of $20,000 to extend the existing Public Benefits Program Grant— Lodi Lawnmower Rebate Program. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In August of 2000, the City Council approved the initial Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate Program. This pilot project was designed to promote the use of rechargeable electric mulching lawn mowers to residents of Lodi. To date, the initial effort has been extremely successful, with over 130 residential customers "test driving" a rechargeable electric lawn mower, and eighty-eight (88) of the 100 claim vouchers having been redeemed towards the purchase of a rechargeable electric lawn mower. By extending the Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate Program, 100 additional claim vouchers will be made available to Lodi residents (and City of Lodi Electric Utility customers only) interested in purchasing one of the rechargeable electric mulching lawn mowers. The rebate amount will once again be $200, and the lawn mowers must be purchased at one of the participating Lodi retailers. The benefits associated with rechargeable electric lawn mowers include: no 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 rechargeable electric lawn mower is less than $6 per year, and rechargeable electric lawn mowers produce less than half the amount of noise compared to gas lawn mowers. The City of Lodi Electric Utility staff respectfully recommends approval of the Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate Program, as a qualifying component of the City of Lodi Public Benefits Program, categorized as a Research, Development & Demonstration Services project. FUNDING: 164607 — Public Benefits Program Fund (Category: Research, Development & Demonstration Services) 7 A Funding Approval: Y`''`" i CL � Z4 Vick cAthie, Finance Director `/� Alan N. Vallow Electric Utility Director PREPARED BY: Rob Lechner, Manager of Customer Programs AN V/RUIst C: City Attorney i APPROVED: H. Dixon 0IMfin - City Manager RESOLUTION NO. 2001-87 A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAM GRANT FOR THE LODI LAWN MOWER REBATE PROGRAM ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 $20,000.00 is requested to extend the Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate Program. This particular project will promote the use of rechargeable electric mulching lawn mowers. The project is 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 funding in the amount of $20,000.00 to extend the Public Benefits Program Grant to fund the program known as the Lodi Lawn Mower Rebate Program, specifically designed for Lodi Electric Utility customers. Dated: April 4, 2001 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2001-87 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City Council in a regular meeting held April 4, 2001 by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Hitchcock, Land and Mayor Nakanishi NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Howard and Pennino ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None �- SUSAN J. BLACKSTON City Clerk 2001-87