HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-09-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - WATER CONSERVATION ORD CHANGE (2)i
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented
CONSENT CALENDAR nn M. Harris
Chairperson/Drought Committee
DATE: September 24, 1991
SUBJECT: WATER CONSERVATION ORDINANCE - DROUGHT COMM TEE RECOMMENDED
CHANGES
DEPARTMENT: Community Development
BACKGROUND
At the Council/Committee Joint Session held on September 11, 1991 the Council
asked the Committee to bring back its recommended changes to the Water
Conservation Ordinance. On September 12, 1991, the Drought Committee met and
reviewed its previous recommended changes as well as an additional
modification that relates to the water conservation goal.
The modifications recommended by the Committee are as follows:
1) The Ordinance restricts watering times to 6:00 p.m, to 8:00 a.m, and only
on every other day. This results in overwatering and excessive runoff.
Watering every other day will be too stressful for landscaping in the
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 p.m. Even if the property under their care is
residential this causes some confusion, and the enforcement 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 p.m.
3) The recycling regulations require that glass. bottles be washed out prior
to placing them in the green barrel. This seems to be a waste of water.
The Public Works Departmenthas indicated that it is not necessary to
thoroughly clean all bottles, only to remove the heavier deposits.
However, there may be some concern from residents that the green barrels
close to the residence may create a nuisance from flys or, other such
vermin. It is suggested that the recycling regulations be modified to
encourage people not to wash out their glass bottles, but if required to
do so.
APPROVED
Agenda Item:
WATER CONSERVATION ORDINANCE
Page 2
Recommendation
Reduce the requirement that bottles be washed prior to placement in the City's
recycling containers whenever practical.
4) The current Ordinance requires a goal of at least a 25% reduction in
overall water consumption within the City. Since this water reduction
cannot be justified strictly on the merits of a water shortage for the
Santa Clarita Valley, it is suggested that an absolute goal be . removed.
At the Council's suggestion, the Committee will develop standards at
various water conservation levels to insure that these levels of
performance can be obtained for various drought scenarios. This will be
one of the action items that the Committee will be working on in the
coming months.
Recommendation
Delete the 25`k reduction of overall water consumption in the Ordinance and
replace it with, "The goal of this Water Conservation Ordinance is to achieve
a significant reduction of overall water consumption .within the City of Santa
Clarita."
The Committee feels that these specific .action items are necessary at this
time to reflect the current water supply situation and the climatic
environment of the City. The Committee will continue to review the Ordinance
and suggest recommendations to the Council as necessary. Specifically, the
Committee's next work effort will be in the establishment of conservation
standards for various levels of reduced water supply. As a first thought they
may be divided into 1) standard water conservation levels; 2) moderate water
supply restrictions; 3) severe water supply restrictions and 4) emergency
water supply restrictions. We will bring back what levels of specific
compliance efforts are needed for each of these levels of water supply.
The Committee asked me to express its sincere appreciation for the opportunity
to discuss and impart to the Council its findingsoverthe last several months
to assist in the City's efforts towards water conservation. The Council's
support has certainly made the Committee's efforts worthwhile and satisfying.
RECOMMENDATION
The City Council review and approve the recommended changes to the Ordinance
and direct staff to set a Public Hearing on a modified Ordinance at the next
available Council Agenda. _
hds/517