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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-08-13 - AGENDA REPORTS - DROUGHT CMTE RPT (2){ f AGENDA REPORT City Manager Item to be UNFINISHED BUSINESS DATE: August 13, 1991 SUBJECT: Drought Committee Report DEPARTMENT: Community Development L-VwKeh�f 1=1 The Drought Committee has had two meetings since the Council last reviewed their recommendations for modifications to the Drought Ordinance. Since the Committee's original recommended modifications, (see attached), they have discussed additional modifications based- on the review of data regarding current water consumption and available supply. Since this is a complex issue and could affect the original goals of the Council and those stated in the ordinance, they felt a study session is necessary. The Committee has taken the following actions, and seeks direction from the City Council: 1. The Committee wishes the Council to consider the modifications previously submitted in response to the Council's direction to the Committee in Ordinance No. 91-16, which contains the following statement: "to make recommendations to the City.Council concerning the timing of and need for implementation of future additional water restrictions as may be developed; ..." They wish to further discuss these modifications, including evaluation of the 25% water usage reduction goal at a special meeting as described below. 2. The Committee requests that the City Council meet with them in joint study session format, so that they may transmit the data and information collected to date in a presentation format; and so that a greater understanding between Council expectation and Committee duties, as outlined in Ordinance No. 91-16 can be developed. Two.spokespersons from the Drought Committee, one a citizen representative and one a water purveyor representative, will be present at the Council's August 13 meeting to discuss these items. Receive the Drought Committee's report; give further direction to the Drought Committee and to staff;. and set a time for a joint study session of the Council and Committee. Attachment: Recommended Modifications �-�` Agenda Item: � a; WATER CONSERVATION LEVEL The water production data for 1991 shows a dramatic 50% reduction during the rainy month of March, but only a 17% reduction in April. It is the committee's opinion that the March figures should be ignored, and that an accurate estimate of the achieved water conservation level will not be obtainable until additional months of water consumption data are available. The committee was concerned about the effect of growth on the conservation level. The water agencies provided information on the number of metered connections in each agency for analysis by the City staff. This analysis showed that the growth rate from April, 1990 to April, 1991 was about 3%, and that the water conservation level was actually 20% in April when adjusted for growth impacts. Greater reduction efforts are clearly need if water consumption is to be cut by 25%. This might be achieved through additional publicity for the Drought Ordinance and, through stronger enforcement. The committee has concluded that .it is still too early to draw any firm conclusions about the compliance level because only one month's worth of data can be safely relied on at this time. RECOMMENDED MODIFICATIONS The committee regularly discusses problems that have been encountered with the implementation of the water conservation program to determine if any modifications should be made in the Drought Ordinance. The committee has identified the following for consideration by the City Council: 1. The ordinance restrict watering times, to 6:00 pm to 8:OO.am, and only on every other day. This results in over -watering and excessive runoff. Watering every other day will be too stressful for landscaping in Santa Clarita's hot summer sun. RECOMMENDATION: Modify the Drought Ordinance to allow watering each day, for no more than 10 minutes per watering station or cycle: 2. Commercial gardeners are only restricted from watering lawns between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., even if the property under their care is residential. This causes some confusion in the enforcement and creates the impression that some residents are not being subject to the ordinance. RECOMMENDATION: Prohibit the watering of all residential -lawns between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. 3. The recycling regulations require that glass bottles be washed out prior to placing them in the green barrels. This seems to be a waste of water. The PublicWorksDepartment has indicated that it is not necessary to thoroughly clean all bottles, only to remove the heavier deposits. Reduce the requirement that bottles be washed prior to placement in the City's recycling containers. 4. The committee feels that it is inappropriate to install new sod or seeded lawns from June through September, which are the hottest months of the year. RECOMMENDATION: Prohibit the placement of new sod or seeded lawns during the months of June through September. C';