REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
May 17, 2018
FROM: BUD TICKEL, Interim Assistant Director
Department of Public Utilities - Water Division
BY: CHERYL BURNS, Management Analyst II
Department of Public Utilities - Administration
SUBJECT
Title
Actions related to a Pilot Program for Automated Enforcement of Outdoor Watering Restrictions with University of Chicago:
1. Authorize a Pilot Program for Automated Enforcement of Outdoor Watering Restrictions with the University of Chicago Urban Labs (UChicago) to optimize water usage and conservation data, including modified enforcement of the outdoor watering schedule from July 1, 2018 through September 30, 2018.
2. ***RESOLUTION - 544th Amendment to the Master Fee Resolution (MFS) No. 80-420 to adjust the conditions of service work related to water conservation fines language to reflect an upper limit rather than a single fine amount (Subject to Mayor's Veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends Council approve a Pilot Program for Automated Enforcement of Outdoor Watering Restrictions modifying enforcement of the outdoor watering schedule from July 1 through September 30 of 2018, and corresponding Master Fee Schedule (MFS) revisions.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) seeks approval to partner with UChicago to implement a pilot program using existing water meters citywide to assess optimal water conservation enforcement at varying penalty and water use thresholds, to determine the most effective combination for achieving water conservation compliance while minimizing the financial burden to customers. The pilot would use the City's approved water conservation penalties as a "ceiling" to evaluate how water customers respond to automated enforcement across a variety of fine and water threshold combinations. Compliance for almost half of the City's customers will be assessed through automated enforcement, with a majority of the customers experiencing decreased fines and/or increased g...
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