HomeMy WebLinkAbout17 PROPOSED WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS THE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN - ORD. NO. 1060Agenda Item 17
-- . � AGENDA REPORT Reviewed.
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City Manager JCP
Finance Director N/A
MEETING DATE: APRIL 21, 2015
TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER
FROM: DOUGLAS S. STACK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS /CITY ENGINEER
SUBJECT: PROPOSED WORKSHOP TO DISCUSS THE WATER MANAGEMENT
PLAN — ORDINANCE NO. 1060
SUMMARY
On April 1, 2015, Governor Brown directed the State Water Resources Control Board (Water
Board) to impose restrictions to achieve an aggregate statewide 25% reduction in potable urban
water use through February 2016. The Executive Order stipulates the 25% reduction in water
use as compared to 2013, but proposes flexibility in how to achieve this reduction in recognition
of the level of conservation already achieved by different communities around the state. The
Water Board has reviewed previous conservation amounts for each Water Supplier in the state
and has determined that Tustin Water Services must reduce potable water consumption by 25%
through February 2016.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommending the City Council hold a workshop on May 5, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00
p.m. to discuss the new regulations and various methods to achieve compliance by amending
the Water Management Plan — Ordinance No. 1060.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact.
CORRELATION TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN
This item contributes to the fulfillment of the City's Strategic Plan Goal D: Strong Community
and Regional Relationships. Specifically, by implementing Strategy 2, which is to work
collaboratively with agencies within and outside of Tustin on issues of mutual interest and
concern.
DISCUSSION AND BACKGROUND
Per the Governor's April 1, 2015 Executive Order, the Water Board has adopted new
conservation regulations that water suppliers must adhere to. These include:
1. Implementing mandatory irrigation days for consumers;
2. Monthly reporting for the Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional (CII) sectors;
3. Eliminating use of potable water to irrigate ornamental turf on public street medians; and
4. Prohibiting use of irrigation outside of newly constructed homes and buildings that is not
delivered by drip or micro -spray systems.
The Executive Order also announced initiatives to replace turf with drought tolerant landscape
options, support rebate programs for water efficient devices, and ensure water suppliers
develop rate structures and pricing mechanisms to maximize water conservation. As a Water
Proposed City Council Workshop — Updating Water Management Plan
April 21, 2015
Page 2
Supplier, Tustin Water Services must implement the items listed above, as well as any others to
achieve the 25% reduction in total water use as determined by the Water Board.
A related, but separate issue exists with recent decisions made by the Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California (Metropolitan) and the Municipal Water District of Orange County
( MWDOC). After evaluating water storage levels, Metropolitan's Board of Directors voted to
reduce allocations to its member agencies by 15 %. Metropolitan uses an established formula to
determine where allocations should be set. Storage levels will continue to be monitored and
if /when deemed necessary. Metropolitan will consider further reductions.
MWDOC serves as the Metropolitan member agency that represents 28 cities and water
agencies in Orange County, including Tustin Water Services. Staff has been advised that the
MWDOC Board of Directors voted to activate its Water Supply Allocation Plan (Plan) at Level 3.
At this level, MWDOC seeks to achieve a 15% reduction in imported water use. The Plan will
go into effect July 1, 2015 and continue through June 30, 2016.
Per the Plan, each of MWDOC's 28 member agencies will be evaluated and provided an
individual water use reduction target that contributes to the 15% region -wide reduction needed
within MWDOC's service area. Some local water agencies may need to reduce water use by
more or less than 15% depending on their reliance upon imported water supplies and their
access to groundwater. As of the publication of this report, staff has not been provided with the
MWDOC target for Tustin Water Services.
While it will be important to meet the target set by MWDOC, the mandatory reduction in
imported water will only result in an approximate 3% reduction of Tustin Water Services' total
production. Tustin Water Services imports approximately 20% of the water needed to meet
demand. The other 80% is ground water pumped through the 13 wells and 2 treatment facilities
operated by the City.
Given the impact the actions of the Water Board, Metropolitan, and MWDOC will have on Tustin
Water Services customers, staff recommends the City Council schedule a workshop to discuss
the various issues at hand and develop a strategy to update Ordinance No. 1060 to ensure
Tustin Water Services is in compliance with new Water Board regulations. Staff is proposing
the workshop be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
/MG�
Stack, P.E.
Public Works /City Engineer
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