By Jason Islas
Staff Writer

February 21, 2014 -- Improvements to Santa Monica’s traffic and water systems are the two most expensive items on a list of routine expenses the City Council will consider Tuesday.

The City could allocate about $100,000 for a contract to develop and maintain a system to track and compare residential water use.

The software, which would be developed by WaterSmart Software Corporation, would also compile the information in bi-monthly reports in order to better help residents understand how much water they are using.

“Many residential customers complain about the difficulty understanding their water bill, the amount of water used compared to their neighbors and the target of 123 gallons per person per day,” staff said.

“’WaterSmart’ is designed to provide easy to read print or email reports that show the water use for individual homes, the water use of similar size homes in the neighborhood, and specific water savings tips based on a resident’s individual profile,” staff said.

That, City officials said, would help Santa Monica reach its target of being completely water self-sufficient by 2020. (“Santa Monica Urges Voluntary Water Reductions,” January 31)

The Council will also consider dolling out $55,578 to KDC, Inc., a California firm that is working on Santa Monica’s Advanced Traffic Management System.

The project, in its fourth phase, will bring “traffic signal upgrades and the installation of fiber optic communications along the Ocean Park Boulevard, Main Street, and Neilson Way corridors within the City,” staff said.

The increase in the contract to KDC, Inc., staff said, is a result of a number of complications, including “unforeseen conditions, additional requirements encountered during construction, an underestimation of bid quantities, and an error in the bidding documents,” staff said.

The Council will consider spending another $9,625 for the City’s contract with Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc. to continue counting traffic at 77 locations around Santa Monica.

Kimley-Horn has been working with Santa Monica on a survey “to review and update speed limits along 200 street segments in the City,” staff said.

Also before the Council Tuesday is a $15,000 contract with RNC General Capital Management to manage Woodlawn Cemetery’s funds.