HomeMy WebLinkAboutDrctn - Future Turf in Medians on El PaseoCITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: REQUEST DIRECTION ON THE FUTURE OF TURF IN THE
MEDIANS ON EL PASEO
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works
DATE: May 26, 2016
Recommendation
By Minute Motion, provide direction to staff on the future of turf in the medians
on El Paseo.
Strateqic Plan Obiective
The requested action does not directly impact the strategic plan at this time.
Background
On May 9, 2016, Governor Brown signed Executive Order B-37-16 that includes a
permanent prohibition on irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians. Over the
years, the City has converted all medians to drought tolerant landscaping with the
exception of the medians on El Paseo. There is approximately one acre of turf
remaining on these medians, which is located in various areas between Highway 74
and Portola Avenue. Irrigation is still taking place in these medians to preserve the
trees. Because our budgets were prepared prior to the Governor's Executive Order,
there are no funds allocated for addressing this issue.
The following are potential short-term and long-term solutions:
Short Term Solutions
• Do not overseed, but continue to water the trees
• Overseed and continue to water the trees
• Use turf paint and continue to water the trees
Lonq Term Solution
• Redesign the median with a comprehensive landscape design that will assist in
achieving implementation of the strategic plan goals for art and culture, economic
development, and energy and sustainability.
Staff Report
El Paseo Median Turf
Page 2 of 2
May 26, 2016
Staff requests City Council's direction on how to proceed with the landscape in the
medians on El Paseo.
Fiscal Analysis
There is no fiscal impact/associated with this action.
Prep #B.
Mar rd,P._� 4 J et . Moore, Director of Finance
Directoric Wor4ks
Approval:
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EXECUTIVE ORDER B-37-16
MAKING WATER CONSERVATION A CALIFORNIA WAY OF LIFE
WHEREAS California has suffered through a severe multi -year draught that has
threatened the water supplies of communities and residents, devastated agricultural
production in many areas, and harmed fish, animals and their environmental habitats;
and
WHEREAS Californians responded to the drought by conserving water at
unprecedented levels, reducing water use in communities by 23-9% between June
2015 and March 2016 and saving enough water during this period to provide 6.5 million
Californians with water for one year; and
WHEREAS severe drought conditions persist in many areas of the state despite
recent winter precipitation, with limited drinking water supplies in some communities,
diminished water for agricultural production and environmental habitat, and severely -
depleted groundwater basins; and
WHEREAS drought conditions may persist in some parts of the state into 2017 r
and beyond, as warmer winter temperatures driven by climate change reduce water
supply held in mountain snowpack and result in drier soil conditions; and
WHEREAS these ongoing drought conditions and our changing climate require
California to move beyond temporary emergency drought measures and adopt
permanent changes to use water more wisely and to prepare for more frequent and
.persistent periods of limited water supply; and
WHEREAS increasing long-term water conservation among Californians,
improving water use efficiency within the state's communities and agricultural
production, and strengthening local and regional drought planning are critical to
California's resilience to drought and climate change; and
WHEREAS these activities are prioritized in the California Water Action Plan,
which calls for concrete, measurable actions that "Make Conservation a California Way
of Life" and "Manage and Prepare for Dry Periods" in order to improve use of water in
our state.
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NOW, THEREFORE, I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of
California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
statutes of the State of California, in particular California Government Code sections
8567 and 8571, do hereby issue this Executive Order, effective immediately.
1T 1S HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
The orders and provisions contained in my January 17, 2014 Emergency
Proclamation, my April 25, 2014 Emergency Proclamation, Executive Orders B-26-14,
B-28-14, B-29-15, and B-36-15 remain in full force and in effect except as modified
herein.
State agencies shall update temporary emergency water restrictions and
transition to permanent, long-term improvements in water use by taking the following
actions.
USE WATER MORE WISELY
1. The State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) shall, as soon as
practicable, adjust emergency water conservation regulations through the end of
January 2017 in recognition of the differing water supply conditions across the
state. To prepare for the possibility of another dry winter, the Water Board shall
also develop, by January 2017, a proposal to achieve a mandatory reduction in
potable urban water usage that builds off of the mandatory 25% reduction called
for in Executive Order B-29-15 and lessons learned through 2016.
2. The Department of Water Resources (Department) shall work with the Water
Board to develop new water use targets as part of a permanent framework for
urban water agencies. These new water use targets shall build upon the existing
state law requirements that the state achieve a 20% reduction in urban water
usage by 2020- (Senate Bill No. 7 (7th Extraordinary Session, 2009-2010).)
These water use targets shall be customized to the unique conditions of each
water agency, shall generate more statewide water conservation than existing
requirements, and shall be based on strengthened standards for:
a. Indoor residential per capita water use;
b. Outdoor irrigation, in a manner that incorporates landscape area, local
climate, and new satellite imagery data;
c. Commercial, industrial, and institutional water use; and
d. Water lost through leaks.
The Department and Water Board shall consult with urban water suppliers, local
governments. environmental groups, and other partners to develop these water
use targets and shall publicly issue a proposed draft framework by January 10,
2017.
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3. The Department and the Water Board shall permanently require urban water
suppliers to issue a monthly report on their water usage, amount of conservation
achieved, and any enforcement efforts.
! ELIMINATE WATER WASTE
4. The Water Board shalt permanently prohibit practices that waste potable water,
such as:
• Hosing off sidewalks, driveways and other hardscapes;
• Washing automobiles with hoses not equipped with a shut-off nozzle;
■ Using non -recirculated water in a fountain or other decorative water
feature;
• Watering lawns in a manner that causes runoff, or within 48 hours after
measurable precipitation; and
• Irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians.
5. The Water Board and the Department shall direct actions to minimize water
system leaks that waste large amounts of water. The Water Board, after funding
projects to address health and safety, shall use loans from the Drinking Water
State Revolving Fund to prioritize local projects that reduce leaks and other
water system losses.
6. The Water Board and the Department shall direct urban and agricultural water
suppliers to accelerate their data collection, improve water system management,
and prioritize capital projects to reduce water waste. The California Public
Utilities Commission shall order investor -owned water utilities to accelerate work
to minimize leaks.
7. The California Energy Commission shall certify innovative water conservation
and water loss detection and control technologies that also increase energy
efficiency.
STRENGTHEN LOCAL DROUGHT RESILIENCE
8, The Department shall strengthen requirements for urban Water Shortage
Contingency Plans, which urban water agencies are required to maintain. These
updated requirements stall include adequate actions to respond to droughts
lasting at least five years, as well as more frequent and severe periods of
drought. While remaining customized according to local conditions, the updated
requirements shall also create common statewide standards so that these plans
can be quickly utilized during this and any future droughts.
9. The Department shall consult with urban water suppliers, local governments,
environmental groups, and other partners to update requirements far Water i
Shortage Contingency Plans. The updated draft requirements shall be publicly
released by January 10, 2017.
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10. For areas not covered by a Water Shortage Contingency Plan, the Department
shall work with counties to facilitate improved drought planning for small water
suppliers and rural communities.
IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL WATER USE EFFICIENCY AND DROUGHT PLANNING
11. The Department shall work with the California Department of Food and
Agriculture to update existing requirements for Agricultural Water Management
Plans to ensure that these plans identify and quantify measures to increase
water efficiency in their service area and to adequately plan for periods of limited
water supply.
12. The Department shall permanently require the completion of Agricultural Water
Management Plans by water suppliers with over 10,000 irrigated acres of land.
13. The Department, together with the California ❑epartment of Food and
Agriculture, shall consult with agricultural water suppliers, focal governments,
agricultural producers, environmental groups, and other partners to update
requirements for Agricultural Water Management Plans. The updated draft
requirements shall be publicly released by January 10, 2017.
The Department, Water Board and California Public Utilities Commission shall
develop methods to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Executive Order,
including technical and financial assistance, agency oversight, and, if necessary,
enforcement action by the Water Board to address non -compliant water suppliers.
This Executive Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or
benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of
California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person..
FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter {possible, this order be filed in the
Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this
order.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have
hereunto set my hand and caused the
Great Seal of the State of California to
be affixed this 9th day of May 2016.
W�pAk&.
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.
Governor of California
ATTEST:
ALEX PADILtA
Secretary of State