A Resolution of the City of Sunrise, Florida, approving an “Interlocal Agreement between Broward County and City of Sunrise for Cost Share Support of Broward Water Partnership/Conservation Pays Program”; and providing an effective date. City Manager Mark Lubelski. Rodrigo de Castro, Director of Utilities.

$513,288.59 Total Five Year Cost

$57,013.79 Incentives/Rebates cost for each of the five years (detailed in Exhibit B)

$42,986.21 Media Outreach/Administration year one (1) cost - with 3% annual “cost-of-living adjustment” in Years 2 to 5

The City of Sunrise has partnered with Broward County in this ongoing water conservation incentives program through the Broward Water Partnership since 2011. Since its commencement, the Conservation Pays program has distributed 38,136 water-saving devices and 31,160 rebates to Broward residents, for a water savings of 8.23 billion gallons. In addition, program dollars have been leveraged to gain an additional $50,000 in cost-share support from the South Florida Water Management District to advance the rebate program. The program has received numerous awards, including NACo and NACIO awards, recognition by the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association and EPA’s Water Sense program, and eight national communications awards.

Over the past 15 years, the “Conservation Pays” program has been successful in improving education and promotion of conservation – helping Sunrise customers save over 1 billion gallons of water, providing over 5,500 toilet rebates, and nearly 5,000 showerheads and faucet aerators. Utility customers that take advantage of valuable incentives and opportunities by installing high efficiency toilets, showerheads and faucet aerators can reduce their utility bill at little to no cost. The City of Sunrise was recognized as the “Partner of the Year” in 2020 for our continued high level of participation from the community and engagement of City staff on water conservation.

The City of Sunrise continues to lead the partners in the number of participants:

• In FY 2022, 126 rebates and 185 water-saving devices were distributed.
• In FY 2023, 175 rebates and 171 water-saving devices were distributed.
• In FY 2024, 314 rebates and 132 water-saving devices were distributed.
• In FY 2025, 206 rebates and 69 water-saving devices were distributed even though participation in the program declined due to the pandemic.
• In FY 2026, 108 rebates and 79 water-saving devices have been distributed to date.

The 929 toilet rebates and 636 water-saving devices distributed to Sunrise customers during the past five years is estimated to have helped to save more than 64 million gallons of water.

The current interlocal agreement from Fiscal Years 2022-2026 is about to end, but the City has the option to renew funding by entering into the new 5-year interlocal agreement for Fiscal Years 2027-2031. Per the attached Interlocal Agreement, the program initiatives and cost are divided into two main categories: Incentives/Rebates, and Media Outreach/Administration:

• 2027 - Incentives/Rebates = $57,013.79; Media Outreach/Administration = $42,986.21
• 2028 - Incentives/Rebates = $57,013.79; Media Outreach/Administration = $44,275.80
• 2029 - Incentives/Rebates = $57,013.79; Media Outreach/Administration = $45,604.07
• 2030 - Incentives/Rebates = $57,013.79; Media Outreach/Administration = $46,972.20
• 2031 - Incentives/Rebates = $57,013.79; Media Outreach/Administration = $48,381.36

Per the Program’s Incentives and Rebates, there are several initiatives that customers can take advantage of. Qualified households that replace their higher flowing, older toilets with higher efficiency toilets are eligible to receive up to two $125 rebates. Sunrise customers apply for these rebates ahead of their purchase and installation on the website at www.conservationpays.com. Owners can also pick up free water saving devices including low-flow showerhead(s), faucet aerators, and toilet leak detection tablets at the Utilities Administration Building at 777 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, in Sunrise.

The Marketing Outreach/Administration includes a robust marketing campaign that includes direct mailers, newspaper ads, billboards, radio PSAs, flyers and posters, and videos. In addition, City staff have applied concerted efforts to educate Sunrise customers in our schools, community meetings, at public events (Water Matters Day and Sunrise Earth Day, etc.) and through social media. These efforts have been significant in informing customers about how to accomplish marked reductions in their consumption of water, both in their homes and on their lawns, which reduces their utility bills and provides a positive impact on the environment.

The total cost for the five-year agreement is $513,288.59. The Conservation Pays program supports implementation of the Sunrise Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) goal for protecting water resources (S1). Staff recommends approval of the attached Interlocal Agreement (ILA) with Broward County.