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HomeMy WebLinkAboutC34440 - Authorize to Bid - Phase I - Comprehensive Water Conservation StrategyCITY OF PALM DESERT CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE STAFF REPORT REQUEST: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A COMPREHENSIVE WATER CONSERVATION STRATEGY BEING IMPLEMENTED DUE TO STATEWIDE MANDATORY WATER REDUCTIONS. SUBMITTED BY: Ryan Stendell, Senior Management Analyst DATE: May 28, 2015 CONTENTS: Phased Turf Reduction Exhibits Civic Center Park Overseeding Exhibit Draft Drought Enforcement Policy Recommendation 1. By Minute Motion, affirm staffs comprehensive water conservation policy to address the Statewide Mandatory Water Reductions, and; 2. Authorize staff to bid Phase I Turf Reduction Projects located in the Civic Center Complex, and; 3. Appropriate $110,000 from the Unobligated General Fund to FY 15/16 Account No. 400-4614-4-3915-01 to fund Phase I turf reduction projects. Executive Summary Approval of staffs recommendations would set policies regarding temporary water reductions, authorize and fund the Phase I Turf Removal Project and provide input on how to proceed with median landscaping along the El Paseo corridor. While the Council has the option to simply reduce all watering by 36%, staff believes taking a measured approach combining watering and overseeding reductions is the preferred method. Background As you have likely read in the news, the Governor has issued an executive order identifying mandatory water conservation measures due to the extreme drought conditions in California. City staff is monitoring the situation very closely and actively participating in discussions with CVWD about potential impacts. The City currently Staff Report Water Strategy 2015 March 28, 2015 Page 2 within its parks, medians, and public spaces. The City Manager and staff have been working to identify measures to achieve the Governor's executive order. Below, please find the staff -proposed strategy to reduce water consumption, which includes immediate water reductions, overseeding impacts, and turf removal projects. PARKS, MEDIANS & PUBLIC SPACES: Civic Center Park: Civic Center Park is the City's signature recreational facility and is a very important part of our community. Because the character of Civic Center Park is unique, staff feels the need to identify separate standards for this facility. Water Reductions: • Reduce all irrigation by 10%. This park utilizes a City -owned and operated well and does not use the domestic water system. Staff believes that keeping Civic Center Park at near historical watering standards is very important for park events, as well as for passive and active users. The landscaping will be closely monitored and adjustments made to minimize plant loss. • No daytime watering except irrigation system checks. • Misting systems will not be activated this year. Overseeding: Staff feels it is important to keep some turf in good condition through the winter months, therefore, proposes overseeding specific areas of Civic Center Park, as shown on the attached map. Staff's proposal is to overseed approximately 539,185 square feet of turf, which represents approximately 17% of the City's turf inventory. Turf Removal Projects: Attached, please find two maps referring to Civic Center Park, titled City TuH Reduction Phase 1 and City Turf Reduction Phase 2, which outline what staff believes are non -essential turf areas within the Civic Center Park, and City Hall complex. While not inexpensive, the recommendation is that the City Council appropriate monies for Phase 1 in FY15/16. Phase 1 will save up to 68,000 gallons of water per month, with a possible additional savings of 97,000 gallons in Phase 2. Staff will attempt to fund these projects through all possible sources, including potential turf buyback grants. Staff Report Water Strategy 2015 March 28, 2015 Page 3 El Paseo Corridor: El Paseo is the City's premier shopping and dining corridor and its image is very important to its success. Because the character of El Paseo is unique, staff feels the need to identify separate standards for this corridor. Water Reductions: • Reduce all irrigation by 25%. The medians will show signs of stress such as browning of leaves and hot spots in the grass, but the vegetation's long-term viability should not be impacted. The landscaping will be closely monitored and adjustments made to minimize plant loss. • No daytime watering except irrigation system checks. Overseeding & Turf Removal Projects: The Governor's mandate and CVWD's newly passed ordinance states that there will be no watering of turf on any median during this period of extreme drought. Considering the high visibility and importance of this corridor, staff is investigating possible solutions and will return to Council prior to implementing any permanent modifications. All Other Parks, Medians, & Public Spaces: Water Reductions: • Reduce all irrigation by 25%. The parks will show signs of stress, such as browning of leaves and hot spots in the grass, but the vegetation's long-term viability should not be impacted. The landscaping will be closely monitored and adjustments made to minimize plant loss. • No daytime watering except irrigation system checks. • Deactivate the water play feature at Joe Mann Park. Overseeding: • All parks, with the exception of Civic Center Park, will not be overseeded in the Fall of 2015. The result of not overseeding will be dormant Bermuda turf through the winter months. The turf areas will still be useable and water savings could be as high as 50%, as compared to overseeded turf. Complaints should be expected, but this is a temporary condition and the Bermuda grass will reemerge in warmer months. Staff Report Water Strategy 2015 March 28, 2015 Page 4 Staff believes this action will demonstrate leadership by the City of Palm Desert in water conservation during this drought period, and hopefully lead others in the City to cut back on their water consumption as well. Turf Removal Projects: Phase III of the attached exhibits identifies a project along Haystack Road. The intent of this project would be to eliminate the turf directly adjacent to the road, which staff believes is not necessary. This area falls within an approved Landscape and Lighting District, which currently has a capital fund balance of $20,817 and could be used if other funds are assembled. Strategic Communication: Staff believes that it is very important to assure constituents that City -owned spaces will continue to be maintained to a high standard. Temporary signs, similar in size to a temporary real estate sign, will be posted to help educate the public about what the City is doing in response to the drought. Staff will also conduct public outreach through the media, the City's website, and the BrightSide newsletter. Enforcement: Due to the Governor's drought declaration and in conjunction with Assembly Bill 1 making its way through the legislature, it is recommended that enforcement of Chapters 8.20 and 8.70 be temporarily suspended until February of 2016, pertaining to landscape and turf areas. The following is recommended: • The root systems of turf areas should not be allowed to completely dry up and die. Completely shutting off the water will result in deterioration of the root system of the turf areas, which will turn into bare dirt that will need to be landscaped anew when drought conditions abate. • Turf areas should be maintained in a reasonable manner to include trimming, weeding, reduced, but regular, irrigation to prevent the root system from dying, fertilizing, and mowing. Yellow or brown areas of turf are to be expected, and trees and shrubs may not grow as vigorously as during years of normal water supply. However, this period of drought does not permit property owners to cease all irrigation, to forego routine pruning and trimming, to allow unchecked weed growth, or to allow shrubs and trees to be unwatered, neglected or to languish and die unattended. • Trees, shrubs and all other plant material should continue to be irrigated and maintained. Staff Report Water Strategy 2015 March 28, 2015 Page 5 Conclusion: It is difficult to say with certainty that staff's proposals will satisfy the Governor's mandates as our local water provider (CVWD) is still early in its response to the requirements by the State of California. Staff has analyzed the value of each reduction measure and believes the sum efforts will be close to the required 36%. We will have to be thoughtful and remain flexible going forward as we learn more about the impacts to our facilities. Fiscal Analysis Staff's recommendation includes an appropriation of $110,000 to fund the Phase I Turf Reduction Project. Staff will look at options for applying for turf buyback grants, which would lower the actual cost of Phase I. Future turf reduction phases will be brought forward as funding is identified. The City might assume to see a reduction in water costs given the major decrease in water use and overseeding reductions. However, CVWD is restructuring its tiered water rates, almost doubling previous rates. It is not yet known exactly how this will impact our budgets, but we will be monitoring closely. Prepared By: Ryan Stendell Senior Management Analyst Reviewed and Concur: Lauri Aylaian Director of Community Development proval: n M. Wohlmuth, City Manager I�, Date: 2015 City Turf Reduction Phase I +/- 13,676 Sq Ft +/- $109,409 +/- 68,381 Monthly Gallons Saved VICINITY MAP CITY OF PALM DESERT Drought Enforcement Strategy Program PURPOSE AND SCOPE The purpose of the Enforcement Strategy Plan for the City of Palm Desert is to promote public education and awareness of the Governor's Executive Order and Coachella Valley Water District resolution relative to meeting the mandated 36% reduction in water usage pertaining to the effects on property maintenance of turf and landscape areas City wide. • Educate the public regarding the abeyance of property maintenance ordinances relative to turf areas City wide. • Identify appropriate methods to maintain a dormant/brown lawn without allowing the root system to deteriorate completely. • Promote compliance through education. • Continue reporting water waste utilizing the procedures in the Nuisance Water Program. FINDINGS Because of the current statewide drought, and the declared policy of the State, the City finds and determines that it is necessary and appropriate to adopt and implement a policy to hold in abeyance enforcement action for property maintenance standards relative to turf areas as outlined in the municipal code. Through pride of ownership and proper maintenance, property owners have established "neighborhood compatibility standards" within their respective communities in order to maintain aesthetically compatible properties consistent with the maintenance standards outlined in the City's property maintenance ordinances. With the recent drought regulations mandating up to 36% reduction in water use, the City finds it in the best interest of the community to suspend enforcement action on turf landscape areas. Suspending enforcement will cause an impact to the aesthetics of landscape areas in residential and commercial properties within the City. However, the City finds that the benefits of the reduction in water usage during these extraordinary times outweigh the temporary diminuation of aesthetic quality. 1 Date: 2015 City Turf Reduction Phase 2 +/- 19,452 Sq Ft +/- $155,615 +/- 97,259 Monthly Gallons Saved VICINITY MAP CURRENT ORDINANCE AND POLICIES Municipal Code Palm Desert Municipal Code Chapters 8.20 and 8.70 make it unlawful and a public nuisance for any person that owns, leases, rents or occupies any property in the city to maintain such property such that the substantial lack of maintenance to landscape, shrubs, plants or vegetation constitute an unsightly appearance, public nuisance and fire hazard. Non -over seeding Policy As outlined in the non -over seeding policy, it is recommended that all turf areas be irrigated at a minimum of once per week to keep the turf root system from completely drying out, even if those turf areas will be left dormant until the drought conditions dissipate. The turf areas should be maintained in a manner that should include trimming, weeding, irrigation and fertilizing as necessary. This will allow the turf to be restored when water supplies return to normal conditions. CVWD Resolution and Proposed Legislation Coachella Valley Water District adopted a resolution on May 12, 2015 outlining mandatory restrictions in order to meet the Stage 3 goal of reducing 36% water use. CVWD is asking municipalities within their boundaries to temporarily suspend code enforcement against residents who intentionally permit their lawns to go dormant or brown because of the drought. Additionally, AB 1 is making its way through the legislative process to amend section 8627.7 of the Government Code prohibiting a city or county from imposing fines under local property maintenance ordinance for failing to water a lawn during a declared drought. RECOMMENDATION Due to the Governor's drought declaration and in conjunction with Assembly Bill 1 making its way through the legislature, it is recommended that enforcement of Chapters 8.20 and 8.70 be suspended until February of 2016, specifically pertaining exclusively to turf areas. The following is recommended: • The root systems of turf areas should not be allowed to completely dry up and die. Completely shutting off the water will result in deterioration of the root system of the turf areas, which will turn into bare dirt that will need to be landscaped anew when drought conditions abate. • Turf areas should be maintained in a reasonable manner to include, but not be limited to, trimming, weeding, reduced, but regular, irrigation to prevent the root system from dying, fertilizing, and mowing. Yellow or brown areas of turf are to be expected, and trees and shrubs may not grow as vigorously as during years of normal water supply. However, this period of drought does not permit property owners to cease all irrigation, to forego routine pruning and trimming, to allow unchecked weed growth, or to allow shrubs and trees to be unwatered, neglected or to languish and die unattended. • Trees, shrubs and all other plant material should continue to be irrigated and maintained. 2 CHARGER SCULPTURE A 'T —,L 47 w 0� W Av V, 4? vo f I 4t, pt PA OW %w1w .4 mi 4 4 MOO ffyl 'A '4;: u 14 1IF0*10410, W *14. 1 N, ils #Owl w _ ' " WAS its 7! 6 It 44(,; R - 1p OF wl-kpj�tllioliw ®r-an Ix 61p4w.*� iv W,-, Date: 2015 Civic Center Park a u ® - NO SEED VICINITY MAP