TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Mark Danaj, City Manager
FROM:
Tony Olmos, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:Title
Conduct Public Hearing Regarding Water Conservation Program (Public Works Director Olmos).
CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct a public hearing regarding the City’s Water Conservation Program and to either:
1. Direct staff to draft an amendment to the Water Conservation Ordinance and place it on a future agenda; or
2. Direct staff to prepare a resolution declaring a Stage 2 Water Shortage for the Mayor’s signature.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Depending on City Council direction, there may be some costs associated with enforcement.
BACKGROUND:
On April 1, 2015, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-29-15 that, among other things, directed the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) to impose restrictions on water suppliers to achieve a statewide 25 percent reduction in potable urban water usage through February 2016; require commercial, industrial, and institutional users to implement water efficiency measures; prohibit irrigation with potable water of ornamental turf in public street medians; and prohibit irrigation with potable water outside newly constructed homes and buildings that is not delivered by drip or micro-spray systems.
On April 14, 2015, the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) declared a Condition 3 (Stage 3) drought. Per the provisions in the City’s Water Conservation Ordinance in effect at the time, additional water use restrictions by stage would mirror the stage declared by MWD. Therefore, Manhattan Beach went into Stage 3 Drought Shortage, which limited outdoor watering to one day per week among other things.
On May 5, 2015, the Water Board adopted an Emergency Regulation for Statewide Urban Water Conservation to implement Executive Order B-29-15. Subsequently, all California cities were given their individual water conservation goals based on their past conservation history. Manhattan Beach was given a goal of 20%. This meant that Manhattan Beach was required to conserve 20% from June 2015 to February 2016 as compared to the same period from 2013.
On June 2, 2015, the City Council revised the water conservation ordinance to comply with the Water Board’s emergency water conservation regulations. The amendment to the ordinance primarily included the following changes:
• Gave City Council authority to set the drought “Stage” that corresponds to the level of additional water use restrictions.
• Staggered the allowed watering day by odd or even address for Stages 3 and 4.
• Revised the penalty section.
On August 18, 2015 City Council meeting, staff presented City Council with an update on the Water Conservation program to date and outlined options available to the City Council if they wanted to consider making any changes to the water conservation program. As a result, City Council directed staff to provide notice of a public hearing for September 1, 2015.
DISCUSSION:
As described in the City’s water conservation ordinance, the City Council shall conduct a public hearing to consider making changes to the Drought Restrictions.
In the first two months (July and August) since implementation of the current drought restrictions, the City has achieved a water conservation rate of 21.8%, which exceeds its mandated goal of 20%. This early success allows Council some flexibility in considering options to loosen water restrictions currently in place.
Possible Council options and direction to Staff may include:
1. No action.
2. Amending the Water Conservation Ordinance. If Council chooses this option, staff will draft an amendment to the ordinance and bring that back for Council consideration at a future council meeting.
3. Changing the current drought restrictions from Stage 3 to Stage 2 in accordance with the current Water Conservation Ordinance procedures. This option would allow residents to water two days per week, but will require more aggressive enforcement to assure that the City’s water conservation goal will continue to be met. If Council chooses this option, staff will prepare the resolution for the Mayor’s signature and the resolution will become effective immediately. Staff will perform outreach to notify the public of this change.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council conduct a public hearing regarding the City’s Water Conservation Program and to either:
1. Direct staff to draft an amendment to the Water Conservation Ordinance for future Council consideration; or
2. Direct staff to prepare a resolution declaring a Stage 2 Water Shortage for the Mayor’s signature.