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HomeMy WebLinkAbout28 - Voluntary Water ConservationCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item No. 280 {October 14, 2008) TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Utilities Department Steve Myrter, Utilities Director (949) 718 -3400, smyrter @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 08- ENCOURAGING CITYWIDE TEN PERCENT VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION ISSUE Should City Council adopt a resolution encouraging City of Newport Beach water customers to assist the City in reaching its goal to reduce citywide water usage on a voluntary basis by ten percent? RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution Number 08 -_ encouraging City of Newport Beach water customers to assist the City in its goal to reduce water usage citywide on a voluntary basis by ten percent through implementation of water conservation measures. DISCUSSION: Background: The City of Newport Beach has a number of on -going programs to encourage water conservation. To supplement this effort, the voluntary conservation measures as defined in the attached Resolution will assist staff with their outreach efforts to appeal to the public to join the City with the goal of reducing water use on a voluntary basis by ten percent citywide. Also, adoption of these Voluntary Water Conservation Measures will underscore the City's general support of recent state and regional efforts to better educate the public on the need and way to better conserve water. State and Regional response to Water Supply Challenges: The City relies on a combination of local groundwater and imported water to meet overall potable water needs. The City's current water supply plan for fiscal year 2009 requires that at least 31% of the City's annual potable water demand be met through Resolution Encouraging Voluntary Water Conservation October 14, 2008 Page 3 imported water supplies purchased from Metropolitan Water District (MET) through their Orange County member agency wholesaler, Municipal Water Districts of Orange County (MWDOC). However, over the past two years, lack of water throughout California has led numerous communities to implement both voluntary water conservation measures and in some instances mandatory water conservation. Earlier this summer, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a statewide drought following two straight years of below- average rainfall, very low snowmelt runoff, and the largest court- ordered water transfer restrictions to southern California in history. He issued an Executive Order calling upon water providers to take action to reduce water consumption for the remainder of 2008 and to prepare for water conditions that could worsen in 2009. The MET Board of Directors followed suit by declaring a Water Supply Alert to help sustain the State's water reserves and to urge all water agencies in the region to encourage extraordinary conservation measures. The Water Supply Alert is the level that immediately precedes that level upon which MET would implement mandatory water allocations to its member water agencies. Voluntary Water Conservation Measures: Staff recommends adoption of the attached Resolution to encourage all City of Newport Beach water customers to assist the City in its goal to reduce water usage citywide on a voluntary basis by ten percent. In establishing this voluntary reduction target staff felt it was important to be consistent with MET's larger regional water conservation goal calling for a voluntary ten percent water use reduction throughout southern California. This Resolution defines voluntary water conservation measures, such as time -of -day watering for irrigation to reduce water waste and refraining from use of water for cleaning hardscape surfaces that the City is asking all City water customers to adopt in their efforts to assist with this overall water reduction goal. Staff believes that implementation of these measures is an appropriate level of response for Newport Beach. It will be coupled with increased public outreach and education regarding water . conservation. Also, the Orange County Groundwater Basin, the City's water primary water supply source, provides significant dry year supplies for north Orange County. The City will continue to lead by example in assisting our water customer's efforts to adopt water conservation measures and investments. Current City procedures comply with the Voluntary Water Conservation Measures and the City will continue its on -going goal to install water use efficiency devices where feasible. In 2003 the City initiated a program to upgrade City park irrigation system controllers with new state of the art computerized irrigation controllers that enables irrigation systems to operate with much greater water use efficiency. By the end of this fiscal year, 169 of the 259 irrigation controllers dedicated to City parks will have been converted to this more water efficient type device. Also, this fiscal year's City Capital Improvement Program lists two water conservation projects that will convert both Bonita Creek Park and East Bluff Park from being irrigated with potable water to being irrigated with recycled water that will result in substantial potable water savings. Resolution Encouraging Voluntary Water Conservation October 14, 2008 Page 3 Conservation Programs & Public Outreach Along with implementation of Voluntary Water Conservation Measures detailed in the Resolution, staff will continue to conduct our on -going conservation program with an increase emphasis on public outreach and education. In order to assist our customers in achieving a reduction in potable water usage, staff is currently developing additional public outreach and educational materials including a website dedicated to water conservation (www.watersmartnewport.org). Staff also continues to emphasize water conservation education through Home Owner Associations and community groups, Municipal Service statement inserts, newsletters, and NBTV Television programming. Staff is also pursuing grant funding opportunities to enhance the City's water use efficiency programs through various state grants, federal grants, and MET's conservation and local resources program funding. Next Steps: Staff has been actively participating as part of a countywide taskforce working closely with MWDOC in developing their Imported Water Allocation Plan that will determine how imported water allocations would be set for county retail water agencies. MWDOC would implement this Plan should the regional imported water supply outlook worsen for 2009. During the winter of 2008/2009 staff will continue to work closely with MWDOC regarding imported water supply issues and conservation efforts, and take additional measures as appropriate to address the impacts of the statewide drought. Also, during this time period staff will review the City's current Water Conservation Ordinance and recommend changes to clarify the wording and options available to the City Council should it become necessary to appeal to our customers for greater levels of water use reduction. Proposed modifications to the City's existing conservation ordinance will also incorporate new regional water allocation policies consistent with MWDOC's Water Allocation Plan scheduled to be approved by their Board of Directors in November. Environmental Review: This action requires no environmental review, as it is not a project pursuant to CEQA Submitted by: Steve Myrter, P.E., Ut" ies Director Attachments: Resolution Resolution Encouraging Voluntary Water Conservation October 14, 2008 Page 4 RESOLUTION NO. 08- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH ENCOURAGING CITYWIDE TEN PERCENT VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION WHEREAS, Orange County depends on imported water from northern California and the Colorado River to meet approximately half of its overall water demand; with the balance of the county's demand being met by local groundwater via a large basin under north and central Orange County, smaller basins in south Orange County, through local water recycling and conservation efforts; and WHEREAS, California is in the second year of a drought, with below- average rainfall, very low snowmelt runoff, and the largest court- ordered water transfer restrictions in the state history; and WHEREAS, on June 4, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a statewide drought and issued an Executive Order calling upon water providers to take immediate action to reduce water consumption for the remainder of 2008 and to prepare for water conditions that could worsen in 2009; and WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ("MET") Board of Directors has declared a Water Supply Alert to help sustain reserves and to urge all water agencies in the region to encourage extraordinary conservation measures; and WHEREAS, the Water Supply Alert is the level immediately preceding the Water Supply Allocation level upon which MET will allocate imported water supplies to its member agencies including Municipal Water Districts of Orange County, imported water wholesaler to the City of Newport Beach; and WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach has had an on -going conservation program in place since the early 1990's and as a reflection of the City's success while the City's population within the water service area has increased by three percent the overall Citywide annual water demand has decreased 12 percent over the last 20 years; and WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach water customers are to be commended for doing their part over the past decade to voluntarily reduce water usage by participating in locally sponsored conservation and water efficiency programs; and WHEREAS, there are numerous resources and programs to assist City of Newport Beach water customers in their water conservation efforts, including rebates for water- saving devices and information on water - saving strategies at City's website: WaterSmartNewport.om. Resolution Encouraging Voluntary Water Conservation October 14, 2008 Page 5 NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Newport Beach City Council hereby encourages all City of Newport Beach water customers to assist the City in reaching its goal to reduce citywide water usage on a voluntary basis by ten percent through implementing the following types of water conservation measures: a. Refrain from hosing or washing sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas or other paved surfaces, except where necessary to protect public health and safety; b. Promptly repair all leaks from indoor and outdoor plumbing fixtures, including but not limited to sprinkler systems; c. Refrain from allowing water to run off landscaped areas onto adjoining streets, sidewalks, parking lots, or alleys; d. Refrain from allowing water to run off onto adjoining streets, sidewalks, parking lots or alleys while washing vehicles; e. Adjust landscape watering according to weather conditions to avoid excess usage; preferably limit watering to no more than once every three to four days; f. Limit landscape watering between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.; and IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. ADOPTED, this 14th day of October, 2008. EDWARD D. SELICH Mayor of Newport Beach ATTEST: LAVONNE HARKLESS City Clerk CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item No. 21 (September 23, 2008) TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: Utilities Department Steve Myrter, Utilities Director (949) 718 -3400, smyrter @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 08 -_ W OURAGIN.G 10 PERCENT VOLUNTARY WATRR CONGW, V/ATION BY ALL CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH WATIR COST RS Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution Number 08-_ encouraging 10 percent voluntary water conservation by all City. of Newport Beach water customers. Bag Wround: The City raties on a combination of local groundwater and imported water to meet over8 pale war needs. The City's current water supply plan for fiscal year 2009 reqVkas that at leash 31% of the City's annual pile water demand be met "through irripiil d water supplies purch ecl €rom MetroMetro ,pelltan Water District (MET) through their Orange County member agency wholesaler,. Municipal Water Districts of Orange County. However, imported water supply and reliability issues continue in both the Colorado River basin and northern Carifomia, MET's primary sources of supply, due to a combination of events including: • Two years of below - average rainfall and snow pack within the state, with 2007 one of the driest years on record in southern California. This dry weather increased overall regional demands for the period, further taxing regional storage. The spring of 2008 has been the driest spring on record with snow runoff for the Sierra Nevada mountain range estimated at only 55% of normal. Rainfall and snow pack projections for 2009 remain uncertain. Resolution Encouraging Voluntary Water Conservation September 23, 2008 Page 2 Continued restrictions on imported water deliveries from northern California of up to 30% due to a federal court ruling issued in late 2007 to protect the endangered Delta Smelt in the Sacramento -San Joaquin Delta. • The Colorado River basin has experienced eight out of nine years of drought resulting in dramatic reduction in flow. These events indicate a continuing reduction in overall imported water supply reliability. As a result, MET recently implemented a 'Water Supply Alert" calling all municipalities to implement voluntary extraordinary conservation measures with the goal of preserving water in regional storage, thus avoiding the need to implement mandatory water restriction in 2009. Staff has been actively monitoring these events as they relate to a looming drought and further projected tightening of regional imported water supply going into calendar year 2009. Accordingly, staff believes it is the appropriate time to formally request customers to voluntarily practice conservation measures to reduce potable water use by 10 percent. Adoption of this resolution will further heighten public awareness of the drought and potential regional imported water supply allocations in the coming year. In order to assist our customers in achieving a reduction in potable water usage, staff is currently developing additional public outreach materials including a website dedicated to water conservation (www.watersmartnewport.orcj , outreach to HOA's and interest groups, Municipal Service statement inserts, newsletters, and NBTV Television programming. This will further assist and educate our residents and customers in their efforts to conserve water. It is anticipated that through adoption of the attached resolution, potable water consumption by our customers will be reduced. It is generally accepted that up to 60% of household water consumption is related to outdoor use, and this outdoor usage offers the greatest opportunity for conservation. Accordingly, in addition to saving water for future years, these water conservation efforts will save energy and reduce harmful urban runoff. Submitted by: Steve WrterF5. E., Utilities Director Attachments: Resolution Resolution Encouraging Voluntary Water Conservation September 23, 2008 Page 3 RESOLUTION NO. 2008- A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH ENCOURAGING 10 PERCENT VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION BY ALL CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH WATER CUSTOMERS WHEREAS, Orange County depends on imported water from Northern California and the Colorado River to meet approximately half of its overall water demand; with the balance of the county's demand being met by local groundwater via a large basin under north and central Orange County, smaller basins in south Orange County, through local water recycling and conservation efforts; and WHEREAS, California is in the second year of a drought, with below - average rainfall, very low snowmelt runoff, and the largest court- ordered water transfer restrictions in the state history; and WHEREAS, on June 4, 2008, Govemor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a statewide drought and issued an Executive Order calling upon water providers to take immediate action to reduce water consumption for the remainder of 2008 and to prepare for water conditions that could worsen in 2009; and WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ( "MET ") Board of Directors has declared a Water Supply Alert to help sustain reserves and to urge all water agencies in the region to encourage extraordinary conservation measures; and WHEREAS, the Water Supply Alert is the level immediately preceding the Water Supply Allocation level upon which MET will allocate imported water supplies to its member agencies including Municipal Water Districts of Orange County, imported water wholesaler to the City of Newport Beach; and WHEREAS, there are numerous resources and programs to assist City of Newport Beach customers in their water conservation efforts, including rebates for water - saving devices and information on water - saving strategies at City's website: WaterSma rtNewoort. org. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Newport Beach City Council encourages all of its water customers to voluntarily reduce their water usage 10 percent through proactive water conservation, which will help the region get through this very dry time and regulatory reduction in State Water Project supply, extend available water reserves, and help reduce the severity of potential water shortages in the future; and Resolution Encouraging Voluntary Water Conservation September 23, 2008 Page 4 IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all City of Newport Beach water customers are encourage to reduce both indoor water usage and outdoor water usage on a voluntary basis by taking water conservation measures detailed in the City's water conservation website at WaterSmartNewport.org. ADOPTED, this 23rd day of September, 2008. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk