Members of the public and private sectors held a sit-down Monday in Riverside.

A delegation of Riverside city officials met with managers and executives from Toro’s irrigation business, one of Riverside’s largest private employers, and a staple in the community since 1962.

The meeting, which the city requested, was held so that both entities could continue to build on the cooperation and communication that has long characterized their relationship. Phil Burkart, vice president of Toro Irrigation Business, led the ninety minute discussion that included how the historic drought in California is affecting Toro and the city and how each is responding.

Mayor Rusty Bailey, who led the city delegation that included Chief of Police Sergio G. Diaz, said Toro is a good example of a private company the city can tap into a local business for technical expertise.

“Toro is a leader in their field, and they’re coming up with cutting-edge irrigation technologies that can help us save water,” Bailey said after the meeting, which was followed by a tour of the facility. “We would be crazy not to take advantage of that.”

Burkart reminded everyone of the success of  www.FreeSprinklerNozzles.com, a program started by Riverside Public Utilities and Western Municipal Water District with strong support from Toro. That program has enabled the distribution of an estimated 50,000 high efficiency nozzles in Riverside to replace less efficient, “water guzzling” nozzles at reduced cost to local businesses and homeowners.

Ultimately, the city is hoping that Toro’s irrigation business can help it with the drought situation, specifically Governor Jerry Brown’s mandate that the state cut its yearly water use by 25 % and that the City of Riverside reduce its water consumption by 28%. The fact that Riverside reduced its water use by 30% in May was reason to celebrate and to continue the success.

Nevertheless, the 28% Riverside benchmark is going to be difficult to meet, in Riverside and in some other cities, one city official admitted.

“It’s been tough trying to reach that goal,” said Kevin Palmer, assistant general manager with Riverside Public Utilities. “It’s a real uphill battle, especially in the summer because that’s when people use the most water.”

Burkart also outlined Toro Irrigation’s other water-saving technologies, and discussed the varied acquisitions the company has made in the past several years that have brought assembly, sales and marketing personnel to Toro’s Riverside facility – including a landscape lighting business that has shown vibrant growth.

“People want to keep their lawns for various notable reasons such as curb appeal, creating safe play areas, cooling their property, suppressing dust andcontrolling soil erosion; all the while removing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen to the environment. Educating the public to these benefits and introducing them to the new irrigation technologies is crucial at this time, and can help them save water and keep their lawn” said Rob Starr of Toro’s water management group.

Both sides agreed to meet again in the future and to discuss more specifics, particularly concerning the drought, Baron said.