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Council approves $17.77 million appropriation for water‑meter replacement
Summary
Council authorized a $17.77 million appropriation from the water fund to cover the previously awarded Badger Meter contract plus sales tax and contingency after audit‑phase discoveries increased anticipated costs; full deployment expected in 2026.
City staff updated council on the Badger Meter water‑meter replacement project and requested a corrective appropriation of $17,774,550 from the city’s water fund.
Staff said the original contract award ($~16.53M) was included in the capital improvement program but the prior staff report inadvertently omitted the appropriation. An audit phase identified unforeseen site conditions, including additional digging needed at many meter pits that contributed to change orders, and sales tax and a 10% contingency together increased the total ask. Staff reported more than 900 new meters installed so far, an initial set of 100 test meters that validated data and billing integrations, and an installation rate averaging about 200 meters per week with plans to ramp up. If that pace continues staff expects project completion in 2026.
Vice Mayor Hauser moved and Councilmember Martinez seconded the appropriation motion. Council approved the request 4–1 after discussion about contingency sizing, the sales‑tax treatment and why additional costs emerged during the audit phase.
Staff said the appropriation will be funded from water‑fund resources included in the adopted CIP, that contingency adjustments reflect sales‑tax calculations and audit‑phase discoveries, and that staff will continue to manage deployments and change orders to minimize delays and cost overruns.
