HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 14 WTR CONSV PROG 03-18-91E a REPORTS NO. 14
3-18-91y
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DATE: MARCH 14, 1991
TO: WILLIAM HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION
SUBJECT: PROPOSED ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH ,A WATER CONSERVATION AND
RATIONING PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive and File.
BACKGROUND:
The City Council at their meeting of March 4, 1991 directed staff
to prepare a Water Rationing Ordinance based upon a mandatory 15%
consumer reduction for their meeting of March 18, 1991.
It has been determined that the preparation of this Water Rationing
Ordinance and the required public notification procedures for the
public hearing process could not be accomplished
by the
previously
the
designated March 18, 1991 date. The rescheduled
required public hearing and introduction of the Water Rationing
Ordinance is April 1, 1991.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed Ordinance is currently under preparation
aid Ordinance will
the City Attorney's office and a draft copy of s
be forwarded to the City Council prior to the disbursement of the
April 11 1991 City Council Agenda packages.
The proposed Ordinance will contain, but will not be limited to,
the following components:
1. Designated percentage of. required reduction as referenced to
a base year.
ructure, which establishes an allowable usage
2. A tiered rate st
and penalties for excessive usage.
3. An appeal procedure for extenuating circumstances.
4. Provision for a termination clause, when a water rationing
program is no longer required.
The designated 15% reduction will not be applied on an individual
meter/consumer basis, but will be applied through approximately
five or more specialized classifications as an average use, as
follows:
Single family meters
Condominium meters
Multiple family meters
Industrial use meters
Commercial use meters
Irrigation use meters
For example, if the average single family bi-monthly usage was 46
units for the base year, a 15% reduction would result in a 39 unit
bi-monthly allowance.
Another example, based upon the 39 unit bi-monthly allowance, would
result in a tiered rate structure for a single family consumer as
follows:
1 - 6 units - $0.33/unit (current life line rate) -
7 -39 units - $0.71/unit (current commodity rate)
*40 units and over —.penalty rate
*40 units is only an example, the actual number of units is
currently under analysis.
One unit is equal to 100 cu. ft. or 748 gallons
Allowable usage of 39 units is approximately 480 gallons per
day
There are a variety of ways to implement a rationing program. In
developing a rationing program, it is important to take into
account the amount of reduction required, data processing systems
used for water billing, and required staff support. Given the
limitations on staffing and the capabilities of the City's data
processing systems, it is felt rationing on an average use basis is
more cost-effective. Regardless of the system used (reduction on
actual use vs. average use), there will be persons who feel their
allocation is not fair. Experience of other agencies shows there
will be appeals at the beginning of the program, but the number
will fall off after the first few months. The appeal procedure
would initially commence at staff level, with the City Council or
their designee being the final body of appeal.
The proposed Ordinance will contain language to provide for the
termination of the water rationing program procedures once it has
been determined the State of California is no longer impacted by a
drought condition.
With the public hearing date set for April 1, 1991, the following
is the anticipated schedule of events:
3-21-91 - Publish notice of public hearing in Tustin News
(notice delivered to Tustin News on 3-15-91).
4-01-91 - City Council holds public hearing and introduces
Ordinance with first reading by title only.
4-15-91 - City Council adopts Ordinance with second reading
by title only.
4-18-91 - City Clerk publishes Ordinance in Tustin News
5-15-91 Effective date of ordinance.
6-01-91 - Implementation of penalties as required through
routine billing procedures.
A staff report which goes into greater detail about the proposed
rationing program will be submitted to the City Council before the
April 1, 1991 public hearing.
Iw'iP Bob Leden cker
Director of Pub is Works/City Engineer
BL:lmh:blration