Title
Water Services Department and University of Arizona Strategic Partnership Intergovernmental Agreement (Ordinance S-49423)
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement with the University of Arizona for water- and wastewater-related research initiatives, for a total not to exceed $500,000. Further request authorization for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix Water Services Department (WSD) partners with the University of Arizona on various research and university-related initiatives related to its water and wastewater utilities. Topics may include, but are not limited to: water conservation education and outreach, water consumption patterns, water demand forecasting, water quality, water resource management, climate change and its impacts on water quality and quantity, water and wastewater treatment techniques, energy usage in water and wastewater utilities, statistical analysis of large data sets, industrial water use, workforce planning and development, warehousing and inventory management, asset management, riparian restoration, capital improvement project procurement methods, water education and outreach, construction engineering, industrial discharge, drinking water aesthetics, wetland management, growth and land use, premise plumbing, and watershed management. WSD wishes to streamline these various efforts into one funding and partnership agreement and to establish an annual internship program through which students work directly with WSD on these and other initiatives.
Contract Term
The term of the Intergovernmental Agreement will begin on or about March 1, 2023 and shall be for three years. Provisions of this agreement include two options to extend the term for one additional year each, which may be exercised by the City Manager or his designee.
Financial Impact
The cost to the City of Phoenix to fund this Agreement is $500,000. Funding is available in the Water Services Department's operating budget. Payments may be made up to the agreement limits for all rendered services, which may extend past the agreement termination.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Water Services Department.