Water Budgets and Irrigation Requirements for City Parks, Sports Fields, Santa Fe Golf Course, and Fairmount Cemetery Roger D. Havlak, Parks Superintendent Shane Kelton, Operations Director City of San Angelo

Water Budgets Purpose The purpose of this presentation is to discuss water requirements and possible options for water budget rates for City-maintained parks/sports fields, Santa Fe Golf Course, and Fairmount Cemetery for the upcoming fiscal year

Water Budgets Reason for Supplemental Irrigation To sustain healthy landscapes and safe playing surfaces for the enjoyment of our general public To minimize soil erosion and excessive weed populations To avoid the replacement costs from plant injury/death due to drought stress.

Water Budgets Tree Assessment LocationTotal Trees Stressed Trees Dead Trees Parks/Sports Fields3, (12%) 84 (2%) Santa Fe Golf Course35234 (10%) 4 (1%) Fairmount Cemetery1,57688 (6%) 42 (3%)

Water Budgets Topics for Discussion: Water budget funding deficits Inadequate funding for consistent irrigation to minimize impacts on turf, trees, and other landscape plants Water needed for restrooms, drinking fountains, water features, etc.. Stormwater fees (began in 2010) Option to waive or lessen water fees for City-owned open space or dedicated parks and sports fields

Water Budgets Current Status Parks Department maintains a total of 555 acres.  356 acres in parks; 199 acres in sports fields  292 acres (parks and sports fields) have viable irrigation systems 194 acres of parks 43 acres of sports fields (excluding TBSC) Drip irrigation only provided to newly established/planted trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants (i.e. Firefighter’s Memorial City Park) Texas Bank Sports Complex has 55 acres of irrigated turf/trees. Fairmount Cemetery has 57 acres of irrigated turf/trees. Santa Fe Golf Course has 36 acres of irrigated turf/trees.

Parks and Sports Field Site Ratings Class AAClass AClass BClass CClass DClass E TBSC Kid’s Kingdom City Park Visitor Center Paseo Ext. Old Town Municipal Pool Kirby Producers Meadowcreek Jaime Padron City Hall Santa Fe Santa Fe East Bart De Witt SASA/La Liga Lakeview Northern Western Unidad MLK Civic League El Paseo Sunken Gardens Rio Concho A/B Glenmore Golf Course Bell Brentwood Brown Harmon Mountainview Rio Concho C Santa Rita South Concho East Webster Santa Fe Crossing Rio Vista South Carl Ray Johnson North River drive Rio Concho D Sulfur Draw Health Found. Trail Ave N and Campus Churchill Blvd. Espl. Glenmore Circle Harris Esplanade Harrison/Webster Van Buren/Harrison Live Oak Triangle Oxford Triangle Pruesser Espl. Twohig/David Espl. US Hwy 87 South US Hwy 87 North Classen Triangle Parkways Espl. Angelo Blvd Espl. Panels-North 40 Police Annex Paseo De Vaca Wool Monument East 29 th Complex Ben Ficklin Spencer Outlook Lakeview Kiwanis Purkey Pete Chapa North Concho Park Heights El Paseo RR Post Office property Bird Triangle Christoval Rd. South Concho West Santa Fe Depot Blue = Irrigation Systems (Minor repairs needed) Red = Irrigation Systems (Major repairs needed--$70,000) Black = No Irrigation System Orange = Allocated funds approved for valves/fittings, etc. Green = Irrigation System (Repairs needed--$60,000 to $75,000)

Water Budgets Costs for Water Prior to 2011, Park’s paid approximately $2.81 per 1,000 gallons Currently, Park’ pays an average of $4.20 per 1,000 gallons Costs approximately $114 per acre for one inch of water (27,154 gallons) Supplemental irrigation requirements range from 28 to 56 inches of water per year, depending on the quality desired and amount of rainfall At 38 inches of water per year, cost is $4,332 per acre Parks with viable irrigation systems (194 acres) = $840,000/year Texas Bank Sports Complex (55 acres) = $238,000/year Fairmount Cemetery (57 acres) = $247,000/year Santa Fe Golf Course (36 acres) = $156,000/year

Water Budgets Water Costs for the Past 6 years $4.20 per 1,000 gallons) Division Parks$172,930$217,379$203,544$208,496$84,281$119,632 Texas Bank Sports Complex $672$200,188$186,034$215,422$116,306$129,494 Fairmount Cemetery $49,329$29,400$24,171$34,095$12,978$45,729

Water Budgets Costs for Water (cont.) Annual Budget for FY Parks = $207,948 Texas Bank Sports Complex = $42,079 Fairmount Cemetery = $16,033 Only allows for 2 to 3 irrigations of one inch of water per year **An obvious deficit exists in the water budget for all sites.

Water Budgets Current Water Budget Issues Division# of Irrigated Acres Current Water Budget Budget Needed for 38” of Irrigation ($4.20/1,000 gallons) Budget Needed for 28” of Irrigation ($4.20/1,000 gallons) Parks 194$207,948$840,000$620,000 Texas Bank Sports Complex 55$42,079$238,000$176,000 Fairmount Cemetery 57$16,033$247,000$182,000 Santa Fe Golf Course 36N/A$156,000$115,000

Water Budgets Water Rate Options Division# of Irrigated Acres Current Water Budget Budget Needed for 38” of Irrigation ($1.04/1,000 gallons) Budget Needed for 28” of Irrigation ($1.41/1,000 gallons) Parks 194$207,948 Texas Bank Sports Complex 55$42,079$59,000 Fairmount Cemetery 57$16,033$61,000 Santa Fe Golf Course 36N/A$39,000

Water Budgets Annual Non-Irrigation Water Requirements Parks Office building, restrooms, drinking fountains, water features, etc.. $23,113 Stormwater fees (20 sites)$11,580 Total = $34,693 Texas Bank Sports Complex Restrooms, drinking fountains, etc.. $3,532 Stormwater fees$6,000 Total =$9,532 Fairmount Cemetery Office building, shop, restrooms, drinking fountain, etc.. $1,200 Stormwater fees $90 Total =$1,290

Staff Recommendations Water Budget Deficits Decrease total water fees to $1.04 per 1,000 gallons for Parks Division, Texas Bank Sports Complex, Fairmount Cemetery, and Santa Fe Golf Course Allocate the following budget amounts for FY o Parks Division$207,948 + $34,693 = $242,641 o Texas Bank Sports Complex$59,000 + $9,532 = $68,532 o Fairmount Cemetery$61,000 + $1,290 = $62,290 o Santa Fe Golf Course (Trees Only)$10,000 + $0 = $10,000 Possible Sources for Funding Texas Bank Sports Complex HOT Funds Increase the One-half Cent Sales Tax funds Fairmount Cemetery Increase from General Fund Santa Fe Golf Course Increase from General Fund