Commission approves two water-bottle filling stations funded by sugar-sweetened beverage tax

The Albany Parks and Recreation Commission approved staff recommendations to add two water-bottle filling stations funded by the city's sugar-sweetened beverage tax revenue: a replacement/upgraded station at Ocean View Park (estimated $10,000 to $15,000) and a supplemental station along the Ohlone Greenway.

Staff said the Ocean View installation would replace a nonfunctional drinking fountain; the Ohlone Greenway unit would supplement an existing decorative fountain and provide bottle-filling capability and a dog-bowl feature. "The Ocean View one is going to be priced at about 10 to $15,000," staff said during the item presentation.

Commissioners discussed placement details and requested clearer language describing whether an installation is a replacement or a new supplement to existing infrastructure; staff agreed to revise the presentation language and clarified one decorative fountain would remain in place while the filling station would be added nearby.

A motion to approve submitting the water-station purchases and placement recommendations to City Council passed on a roll-call vote with commissioners recorded as voting yes. Staff said the item will be included with other park-related items planned for the June 1 City Council packet.