Hialeah tables pilot for smart water meters; council asks company for formal briefing

The Hialeah City Council on a voice vote moved to table consideration of a proposed memorandum of understanding with Sustainability Partners LLC to run a roughly 200‑day advanced metering infrastructure pilot that would install 114 ultrasonic smart water meters at no cost to the city.

Councilmembers said they supported testing automated meter reading but wanted a more complete presentation before approving even a no‑cost pilot. Councilwoman Monica Perez moved to table the item until Aug. 12; the motion carried after a roll call.

City staff described the program as a standard utility pilot designed to test remote, automated readings instead of in‑person meter checks. Kevin Linsky, the city’s public works director, told the council the pilot would let staff “inspect the results” and compare the new meters’ readings to prior bill history to check accuracy and leak detection. Linsky said the vendor installs and operates the system at its own cost for the pilot period and that the city would have no obligation to proceed afterward.

Council members urged more detail on the company’s track record and what specific comparisons the city would use to judge success. “I would prefer if maybe we could table the item and get some kind of presentation, with, you know, what this entails,” Perez said during discussion.

Council President Luis Rodriguez and other members stressed the potential benefits, including quicker detection of leaks, but agreed that a formal, documented presentation — including examples from other municipalities and measured results — should be provided before the city permits the vendor to begin the pilot. The council recorded the motion to table with the following roll call: Miss Perez, yes; Mr. Rodriguez, yes; Mr. Junco, yes; Mr. LaVega, yes; Mr. Zagvi, no; one member absent. The item was tabled to Aug. 12.

City staff said the pilot is limited in scope (114 meters) and duration (about 200 days) and emphasized it is not a purchase agreement and carries “no obligation at all whatsoever” for the city to adopt the vendor’s technology beyond the pilot period. Staff also said one of the anticipated benefits is earlier detection of leaks, which can reduce water loss and operating costs if the system proves accurate.

The council asked that, before Aug. 12, the vendor provide a formal presentation showing (1) municipalities where the company has implemented similar pilots, (2) measured results from past installations, (3) the precise data the city will receive during the pilot and how it will be validated, and (4) any costs that might fall to residents if the pilot leads to future purchase decisions.

The council’s vote to table means the pilot will not proceed until after the additional briefing and a new vote at the Aug. 12 meeting.