Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrd 1309 - Cmpltn of Course on Water-Efficient LndscpngORDINANCE NO. 1309 CITY OF PALM DESERT DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: AMEND CHAPTER 5.95.010 LANDSCAPE -RELATED BUSINESSES, TO ADD PROVISIONS RELATING TO WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING AS A REQUIREMENT TO OBTAIN A BUSINESS LICENSE. SUBMITTED BY: Deborah S. Glickman, Management Analyst DATE: October 27, 2016 CONTENTS: Proposed Amendment Proposed Curriculum Recommendation Waive further reading and pass Ordinance No. 1309 , an amendment to Chapter 5.95.010 of the Palm Desert Municipal Code to add provisions relating to water efficient landscaping as a requirement to obtain a business license, to second reading. Sustainabilitv Committee Recommendation At its meeting of August 29, 2016, the Sustainability Committee recommended approval of the amendment to Ordinance No. 1158, which currently conditions landscape -related businesses to complete a two-hour certification course in landscape overseeding as a requirement for attaining a City of Palm Desert business license. The proposed amendment would add a second course on water efficient landscaping to the requirements for a business license. The Commission approved the addition of the new course with a unanimous vote of 7-0-0. At this meeting, the Committee asked staff from the City and the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) to consider the possibility that for larger landscape companies there be a requirement that more than one representative take the course. After the meeting, CVAG confirmed that the ordinance amendment would only require one staff member per company to take the course annually. Additionally, City landscape staff reviewed this request and determined that it would not be necessary to have more than one person per company take the training. If it appears necessary at a later date, staff will return to City Council with an updated request. Staff Report Amendment to Municipal Code Chapter 5.95.010 Page 2 of 3 October 27, 2016 Strateqic Plan The amendment to include a mandatory course on water efficient landscaping as a requirement for a business license contributes to the following priority in the Energy & Sustainability element of the City's Envision Palm Desert Strategic Plan. Priority 1: Reduce per capita consumption of energy and water. Background The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) is requesting that each member city and the County adopt consistent Valleywide regulations that require completion of a course about water efficient landscaping as a prerequisite for the issuance of a business license to landscape -related businesses. Last fall, CVAG staff began working with Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) staff to create a program modeled after CVAG's existing Landscaper Overseeding Certification Ordinance and the online "smart scalping" course. The new course would focus on water use efficiency for professional landscapers, to increase their knowledge and use of best practices in water conservation. Since that time, CVAG staff has been working with CVWD, College of the Desert (COD), and other local water agencies to combine the water efficiency course with the existing Landscaper Overseeding Certification Program - City of Palm Desert Ordinance No. 1158 and Municipal Code Chapter 5.95.010. By doing so, landscape professionals could be certified in best practices to meet regional goals to improve our air quality and increase water efficiency using a "one -stop shop" approach. The amendment to the existing landscaper overseeding certification to add the requirements for water efficiency certification has been reviewed by CVAG general counsel and CVWD staff and was approved by the CVAG Executive Committee on June 6, 2016. The water efficiency course will be combined with the air quality course and will be free to participants. CVWD staff has developed the water efficiency curriculum with their professional staff and is now working with COD to prepare the course to be offered online. The content of the course is complete; the current task is formatting the curriculum into an online class and translating a version to Spanish. COD will ultimately manage the course along with CVAG's existing online smart scalping course. Educational outreach in coordination with CVWD, COD, CVAG member agencies, and other local water agencies is planned. If landscape companies do not have access to the internet, computer stations will be available at COD for use free of charge. The goal is to complete the curriculum and amend the ordinance by the end of 2016. This amendment to the existing "smart scalping" model landscaper certification ordinance was reviewed by the CVAG Energy and Environmental Resources Committee at its meeting of May 12. They recommended approval of the proposed Staff Report Amendment to Municipal Code Chapter 5.95.010 Page 3 of 3 October 27, 2016 amendment. The online water efficiency course and proposed amendment were also discussed with the CVAG Technical Planning Subcommittee of planning directors and community development directors at their May 17 meeting. They were supportive of the approach. CVWD and Desert Water Agency also participated in that meeting. Following the approval of the CVAG Executive Committee, the model ordinance is now being circulated for consideration by all CVAG member agencies. By combining course material on overseeding and water efficiency, participants could be certified in one simple process. Implementation of this program should require little to no staff time as business owners will simply provide proof of certification during the normal business license process. This course will be of no cost to the City of Palm Desert or landscaper businesses, as CVWD has agreed to implement the program using funds from a settlement between CVWD and the State Water Resources Control Board. At this time, staff is requesting the approval of the Municipal Code amendment. Fiscal Analvsis The costs associated with developing the program with College of the Desert are being funded by the Coachella Valley Water District. Minimal staff time will be required to review the certification in conjunction with business license applications and renewals. Submitted By: I DeKorah S. Glickman Management Analyst Approval: Lauri Aylaian, City Manager Department Head: ---m Ryan Stendell Director of Community Development ORDINANCE NO. 1309 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 5.95.010 OF THE PALM DESERT MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING SECTION 5.95.010A, RELATING TO A REQUIREMENT OF COMPLETION OF A COURSE ON WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING FOR ISSUANCE OF BUSINESS LICENSE TO LANDSCAPE -RELATED BUSINESSES IN THE CITY OF PALM DESERT. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Section 5.95.010A be and the same is hereby added to the Code of the City of Palm Desert, California, to read as follows: "Section 5.95.010A effective thirty (3) days from the date of adoption, as a prerequisite to the issuance or renewal of a business license for any entity providing services or nursery products in the city of Palm Desert related to or used for landscape installation, maintenance, or design, the applicant shall present proof that at least one employee has, within the twelve months immediately preceding the application, completed a two-hour course developed by the Coachella Valley Association of Governments, the Coachella Valley Water District, and local stakeholders, on water efficient landscaping. (Ord. 1153 § 3, 2008) Section 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published once in the Desert Sun, a newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in the County of Riverside and circulated within the City of Palm Desert, and the same shall be in force and effect thirty (30) days after its adoption. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California, at its regular meeting held this day of , 2016, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ROBERT A. SPIEGEL, MAYOR ATTEST: RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, CITY CLERK CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA