Fiscal Note
No Fiscal Impact
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Authorizing City of Madison to enter into an Agreement with the SolarBee Division of Pump Systems, Inc. to install 6 solar-powered circulation devices (SolarBees) in Monona Bay for a free trial period from April 2005 to November 2005.
Body
PREAMBLE
The City of Madison has been offered a valuable opportunity to assess the effectiveness of using circulation devices in Monona Bay, free of charge for a period of 7 months. The devices have shown to improve water quality by inhibiting algal blooms, and in some cases reducing weed problems. The devices increase oxygen into the water column while forcing floating blue-green algae underwater. This combination of systems works to promote the growth of green algae, which is food for zooplankton (which small fish feed on) while suppressing colonies of blue-green algae. Because this company has never used their product in an environment such as Monona Bay, they have offered us a free trial. The Army Corps of Engineers will be performing tests on this product next year in Wisconsin. The City of Madison's experience with them will help their study as well.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Madison is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the SolarBee Division of the Pump Systems, Inc Company to install 6 SolarBee devices in Monona Bay from April 2005 to November 2005, free of charge.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Engineer is directed to pursue the permitting and installation of 6 SolarBee devices in Monona Bay area.