By David Clouston

Salina Journal

Water -- both for play and consumption -- tops the agenda for Salina city commissioners today, as they take up hiring a designer for a proposed new city swimming pool complex, as well as taking action on proposed new water use rates designed to foster water conservation.

At the March 17 commission meeting, city staff was authorized to proceed with the selection of an aquatic design consultant to address replacing the aging Kenwood Park pool.

Comissioners are scheduled to vote on a resolution hiring Aquatic Design Consultants of Louisburg at a cost of $33,760 to design a new pool complex.

If voters approve construction of a new family aquatic center, the $33,760 fee will be credited back to the city upon proceeding with the final design and construction phases.

The pool designer resolution, which had been targeted for commission consideration last week, was delayed a week because the representative of Aquatic Design Consultants wasn't available to appear before commissioners.

A team of city staff selected Aquatic Design Consultants over two competitors. The scope of the work the consultant is to complete includes a design developed from information received from the public and city officials.

It also includes projecting revenue earned by the new pool, operating expenses, from what distance will it draw swimmers and the estimated cost of the project.

Aquatic Design Consultants works throughout the United States designing aquatic facilities. Among its recent facilities in Kansas have been aquatic centers for the cities of Gardner and Bonner Springs. More information on the company is available at http://aquatic-design-consultants.com.

The new proposed conservation-minded water rate structure would begin charging double once a city water customer goes over their average water use, plus a 20 percent cushion.

The water rates for the years 2009 through 2013 are based on determining a customer's average water use during the months of January, February and March and then dividing the sum by the number of billings. Each customer's average would be recalculated each April.

The minimum baseline use rate would be 960 cubic feet (800 cubic feet x 120 percent), which takes into account about 69 percent of the city's residential water customers.

The resolution establishing the new water rates would take effect July 16.

Commissioners are also expected to consider final approval of a measure prohibiting outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. through Sept. 30.

Salinans planting new lawns will be allowed to apply for special permits to water those areas at other times until the grass is established.

Violations of the policy will be handled as necessary by prosecution in municipal court. The resolution also sets forth steps to disconnect a user's water supply if the user continues to violate the policy, as well as setting fees for reconnecting service that's been disconnected.

The fee for reconnection following a first offense would be $50, $200 for the second violation reconnection and $300 for any additional reconnections.

n Reporter David Clouston can be reached at 822-1403 or by e-mail at dclouston@salina.com.