Title
Authorization to Apply for a Grant from the Arizona Community Foundation to Advance the City's Chilled Drinking Water Initiative (Ordinance S-51353) - Citywide
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for and accept funding of up to $25,000 from the Arizona Community Foundation to advance the Chilled Drinking Water Initiative. Further request to authorize the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
In 2023, the City's Office of Innovation launched a pilot to expand access to chilled drinking water in public locations in Downtown Phoenix. The data-driven initiative, which includes community surveying and ongoing evaluations, serves as a model to expand access to drinking water in high density, active transportation areas of the city. In January 2024, two custom-designed chilled drinking water systems, featuring bottle fillers, heat mitigation technologies and flow meters to measure use, were activated near City Hall and the Council Chambers, in partnership with the Water Services and Public Works departments and Downtown Phoenix Inc. The September 2024 evaluation report shows an average water temperature of 73.9 degrees and no major maintenance issues. Since activation, the two units have provided 1,380 gallons of drinking water, equivalent to 10,450 16.9-ounce plastic water bottles. Recently, a third unit was installed at Roosevelt Park near Third Avenue and Roosevelt Street, in proximity to a major bicycle path into Downtown Phoenix, and three additional locations are planned this fiscal year.
If awarded, the Arizona Community Foundation grant in the amount of $25,000 will fund the activation of an additional chilled drinking water system to advance the initiative in Phoenix. The City Treasurer is authorized to accept all funds related to this item.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Office of Innovation.