HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 AUTHORIZATION TO CONTINUE PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING TO THE MWDOC TURF REMOVAL PROGRAM1'tY OAGENDA REPORT
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MEETING DATE: AUGUST 4, 2015
TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER
Agenda Item
Reviewed.
City Manager
Finance Director
5
FROM: DOUGLAS S. STACK, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT OF ORANGE
COUNTY'S (MWDOC) TURF REMOVAL PROGRAM AND THE
SUPPLEMENTAL PAYMENT PROGRAM
SUMMARY
In an effort to increase participation in the Municipal Water District of Orange County's
(MWDOC) turf removal program, on June 2, 2015 the City Council authorized amending
the agreement to provide supplemental funding in the amount of one dollar per square
foot of turf removed. The supplement has proven to be an extremely effective incentive
for Tustin Water Service customers to make the decision to replace their turf with drought
tolerant vegetation or artificial turf. As a result, 120 customers are eligible to receive the
additional $1 per square feet incentive and are proposing to remove over 250,000 square
feet of turf.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council appropriate $200,000 from Water Enterprise
Reserve Fund Balance for additional customer rebate incentive activity to provide the one
dollar supplemental incentive per square foot for all residential turf removal applications
received prior to July 9, 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City budgeted $100,000 for fiscal year 2015/2016 in the Water Operating budget to
provide supplemental incentives. An additional $200,000 will be required to provide the
incentive to eligible residential Tustin Water customers who submitted their application
prior to July 9, 2015.
CORRELATION TO STRATEGIC PLAN
The participation in the turf removal program contributes to the fulfillment of the City's
Strategic Plan Goal G: Strong Community and Regional Relationships. Specifically, this
project implements Strategy #2, which encourages working collaboratively with agencies
outside Tustin on issues of mutual interest and concern to the parties.
BACKGROUND
The City of Tustin signed an agreement with MWDOC to participate in the turf removal
program on May 14, 2014. Since that date the City has received over 240 applications
Update on the Turf Removal Program
August 4, 2015
Page 2
from customers of Tustin Water Services, who proposed to remove over 400,000 square
feet of turf from their property.
On April 1, 2015 Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-29-15, which called for a
statewide initiative for local agencies to remove 50 million square feet of lawns and
ornamental turf with drought tolerant landscapes. In an effort to meet this challenge by
the State and continue the strong participation from Tustin Water Service customers, the
City Council authorized providing a one dollar supplement for its customers. The
response was overwhelmingly positive from our customers and a significant number of
applications were received shortly afterwards by staff.
On July 9, 2015 MWDOC announced to participating water agencies that current funding
for the program had been exhausted and that the turf removal program would be placed
on hold until additional funding could be provided. Reviewing the applications that have
been received by the City since June 2, over 250,000 square feet of turf has been
proposed to be removed. However, this amount may change once the initial inspection
has been conducted. In addition the City will continue to receive a limited number of
applicants who have been placed on a waiting list by MWDOC.
It is therefore recommended that City Council appropriate an additional $200,000 to
provide the one dollar supplemental incentive per square foot for all residential turf
removal applications received prior to July 9, 2015.
Stack, P.E.
Public Works/City Engineer