ITEM 8-B
Santa Monica, California
Council Meeting: April 14, 1992
To: Mayor and City Council
From: City Staff
Subject: Recommendation to Adopt Amended Emergency Water
Conservation Ordinance
INTRODUCTION
Based on improved state water supply projections, this report
recommends that Council adopt two amendments to the City's
emergency water conservation ordinance: 1) suspend all mandatory
cutback requirements; and 2) modify the water demand mitigation fee
for new development so that the fee calculation is based on one
times the total estimated water demand rather than the current
requirement for mitigation based on two times the estimated total
demand.
DISCUSSION
Mandatory Cutback Requirements
On March 17, 1992, the City Council approved amendments to the
City's emergency water conservation ordinance which reduced the
mandatory cutback target for businesses and residents from 20
percent to 10 percent of 1990 water usage. This change was prompted
by similar action which had been taken by the Metropolitan Water
District. On Friday March 27, 1992, the MWD Board of Directors
voted to suspend all mandatory water conservation targets for their
member agencies, including the City of Santa Monica. This MWD
action is based on an further improvement in the state water supply
situation and a projected increase in the availability of water
from the State Water Project. Although the drought is not over,
more water will be available to urban water agencies this year than
was available last year.
Based on latest water supply projections from the state and the
latest action by the Metropolitan Water District, it is proposed
that the City suspend Santa Monica's mandatory cutback requirements
and adopt a voluntary 10 percent conservation goal. The voluntary
conservation goal is necessary both since the current drought is
not yet over and because long term water conservation has become an
imperative for Southern California as well as most other parts of
the state. The effective date of this change is proposed to be
retroactive to April 1, 1992. No future penalties will be assessed
to customers who do not meet their 10 percent voluntary cutback
goal but each customer will be notified on their utility bill as to
their ongoing conservation accomplishments. It is proposed that
staff present to Council a monthly water use report which will
indicate overall City performance towards the voluntary 10 percent
conservation goal. If it appears that the City's conservation
targets cannot be met with a voluntary program, staff will
recommend that mandatory cutback requirements and surcharge
penalties be re-implemented.
Water Demand Mitigation Requirements for New Development
In addition to the recommended suspension of mandatory conservation
targets, it is recommended that the Council modify the current
water demand mitigation fee section of the emergency ordinance so
that only one times the total gross water demand from new projects
must be mitigated. Staff believes that a change to a one times
gross mitigation requirement from the current two times gross
mitigation requirement would be consistent with the modification of
other mandatory provisions of the emergency ordinance but would
still maintain an important ongoing mechanism to control demands on
the City's water supplies from new development.
Existing Water Conservation Requirements
No changes are recommended to the other mandatory water
conservation requirements. These provisions are summarized below:
o No watering of lawns or landscapes between the hours of 10 am
and 4 pm on any day, and no watering of lawns or landscapes
more frequently than two times each week;
o No hosing down of sidewalks, driveways, patios, alleys, or
parking areas;
o Lawns and landscapes shall not be excessively watered, and
water shall not run off these areas onto streets, alleys, or
gutters at any time;
o Swimming pools may not be filled except for the first filling
of a permit-constructed pool or in cases where it can be
certified that leak repair work has been performed;
o All water leaks from exterior or interior pipes or plumbing
fixtures must be repaired immediately;
o No person shall waste water or allow it to flow without
reasonable use;
o No washing of vehicles of any kind is permitted except with a
hand-held bucket or a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle, or
at a vehicle washing facility which recycles its water; and
o Restaurants shall serve water only upon request and must post
a sign on each table indicating this restriction.
Failure to follow these rules can result in a $100 citation or a 20
percent surcharge to be placed on a violator's water bill. Staff is
continuing to formulate additional requirements for such items as
drought tolerant landscaping, water efficient plumbing fixtures and
other conservation measures for application to residential and
business water use. Many of these additional conservation
provisions will be presented to Council for review and approval
over the next few months.
Responding to Long-Term Water Supply Problems
The clear message contained in projections of future water supply
for the state is that businesses and residents cannot return to
their pre-drought water use patterns. Santa Monica is fortunate to
be able to obtain approximately 50 percent of its water from local
groundwater sources. These groundwater resources, however, are
finite and must be used judiciously. For the foreseeable future,
Santa Monica will continue to rely on imported water for
approximately one-half of its total needs. Recent estimates by the
Metropolitan Water District and others conclude that the adequacy
of future supplies of imported water into the region is
problematic. Water conservation practices, therefore, must become
ingrained into our everyday patterns at home and at work.
The goal of the amended water conservation ordinance and the
various water conservation programs which have been implemented by
the City over the past few years is to permanently reduce per
capita water demand. Achievement of this long-term goal will allow
the City to realize substantial environmental and financial
benefits. The changes which are requested in this report are
consistent with this goal.
Public Information/Outreach
Once the proposed ordinance changes are approved by Council, a
notification will be mailed to all City water customers in as
timely a fashion as is possible. Other media will also be utilized
to ensure that customers are both aware of the change in the
ordinance as well as the ongoing need to conserve. Information on
the new phase of the City's BAYSAVER program for both residential
and commercial customers will also be included in this public
education effort. The BAYSAVER program is now available to business
customers in addition to residential customers.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommendations in this report will result in a
decrease in Water Mitigation Fee revenues of approximately $400,000
during the next fiscal year. The magnitude of the actual impact may
differ from this estimate based on fluctuations in development
activity. The FY 1991-92 estimated actual revenues for water
mitigation fees already reflects the reduced fee levels.
Elimination of emergency surcharge penalties will result in $0
accruing to the surcharge revenue accounts in the water and
wastewater funds for the upcoming fiscal year. The current
estimated actual for FY 1991-92 surcharge revenue receipts is still
believed to be accurate since it was based on very conservative
early estimates. With the suspension of mandatory conservation
requirements and the substitution of a voluntary 10 percent
conservation goal, it is projected that water usage will increase
citywide by approximately 10 percent over the levels of the past
year, during which time a 20 percent cutback requirement was in
effect. This increase in water use will result in an increase in
water and wastewater user charges.
Analysis of the various revenue changes discussed above leads staff
to conclude that the net impact of the various revenue fluctuations
will be neutral on both the water and wastewater funds. It is
therefore not necessary to recommended any changes to the current
or proposed water/wastewater program budgets. The BAYSAVER Phase II
program budget which was adopted by Council two months ago
anticipated the decrease in water mitigation fee revenues which are
proposed in this report.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is recommended that City Council amend the City's emergency
water conservation ordinance to suspend mandatory cutback
requirements and revise the water demand mitigation fee. A copy of
the amended ordinance is attached.
Prepared by: Stan Scholl, Director of General Services
John Mundy, Utilities Manager
Craig Perkins, Environmental Services Manager
Susan Munves, Conservation Coordinator