Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/18/1999 Minutes of a Special Meeting June 18, 1999 Town of Los Altos Hills City Council Special Meeting JOINT MEETING WITH THE PURISSIMA HILLS WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Friday, June 18, 1999, 2:00 P.M. Town Hall, 26379 Fremont Road 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Dauber called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 2:05 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Town Hall. Present: Mayor Dauber and Councilmembers Casey, Finn, Johnson and Siegel Purissima Hills Water District Board Members: President Fenwick and Members Alexander, Buss, Johnson and Solomon Absent: None • Staff: Assistant Planner Shaunn O'Connor and City Clerk Pat Dowd; Purissima Hills Water District General Manager Patrick Walter, Engineer Frank Burton,Attorney Joan Cassman and Secretary Lucy Xavier Press: Wendy Marinaccio, Los Altos Town Crier 2. STUDY SESSION ON WATER CONSERVATION AND LANDSCAPING ISSUES Fenwick thanked the City Council for joining them to discuss water conservation and landscaping concerns. She presented an overview of the issues to be discussed which included: the need for a landscape ordinance,the current water supply,the water demand history,potential water sources including best management practices, a proposed landscaping ordinance including model ordinance regulations and new Town guidelines; and the benefits of implementation. Patrick Walter, General Manager, explained the following reasons why there was a need for a landscaping ordinance: the Purissima Hills Water District was consistently exceeding their allocation by as much as 20%; the Hetch Hetchy water system's ability to meet demand was approaching its limit; water conservation was being mandated; options for increasing water supply were limited; and new construction projects were including more landscaping some of which was very water intensive. Mr. Walter further noted that in 1958 the Bay Area Water Users Assocation(BAWUA)was formed to negotiate with 40. June 18, 1999 Special City Council Meeting 1 the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission(SFPUC). BAWUA was comprised of 29 agencies in Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. It served 1.5 million residential customers and over 460 square miles. The current allocation to the Purissima Hills Water District, a member of BAWUA, was established in the 1984 Master Contract and was based on 1981 usage. Mr. Walter stated that it is not a question of if a drought will occur but when it will happen. The SFPUC can impose penalty rates to meet demand in drought years and expensive landscaping can be lost. He noted that the following management practices were in place: residential water survey programs; system water audits, leak detection and repair; metering with commodity rates;public information programs; school education programs; and conservation prices. Another management practice which they hoped to get in place with the Council's assistance was large landscape conservation programs and incentives. Joan Cassman, attorney, stated that the Water District did not have land use regulatory power. They did have facility controls such as use of restrictors or economic controls such as pricing. There also appeared to be two available approaches. Presently they worked with individual owners on their landscaping needs and water usage. The other approach would be for the Town to pass a landscaping ordinance. She referred to the 1990 Landscaping Act(AB 325) which required every city to adopt and enforce the water efficient landscape model ordinance (developed by the Department of Water Resources) by January 1993 unless the city had adopted an alternative water efficient landscape ordinance or the city had adopted findings that a water efficient landscape ordinance was unnecessary (based on geological climatic,topographical or water availability reasons). Ms. Cassman further commented on the model ordinance. She noted that the express purposes of the ordinance were: to promote the values and benefits of landscapes while • recognizing the need to invest water and other resoures as efficiently as possible; to establish a structure of designing, installing and maintaining water efficient landscapes in new projects; and to establish provisions for water management practices and water waste prevention for established landscapes. For existing landscapes the model ordinance required that the city shall establish regulations to prevent water waste; impose penalties for violations of regulations; and provide for a landscape irrigation audit for public areas every 5 years. For new or rehabilitated landscapes the model ordinance would apply to any private development single-family project with a landscaped area of 2,500+ square feet requiring a permit; would exempt'homeowner-provided landscaping'; would require the submittal of a landscape documentation package; and would require the certification of the final landscape installation by a licensed professional. The requirements for the landscape documentation package included the following: maximum applied water allowance; estimated applied water use; landscape design plan for plant selection, grouping and water features; irrigation design plan to meet specified runoff, overspray and efficiency standards; maintenance and irrigation schedules to satisfy specified requirements; and grading design plan with soils analysis. Ms. Cassman noted that the benefits of implementing such an ordinance included the following: protection of landscaping investments, creation of a politically beneficial Town perception; and access to new water sources. Council discussed the proposed landscaping ordinance as presented by the Purissima Hills Water District. They questioned why the Board did not impose such regulations as they too were an elected body. Dauber suggested that projects be sent to the Water District for comment and review such as they were now sent to the Fire Department. Casey and Finn believed that any requirements should be imposed on all residents and not just those going through for example a remodel. Casey also stated that a Town-wide • June 18, 1999 Special City Council Meeting 2 mailing should be sent to all residents if a discussion was going to take place on a possible ordinance change regarding water conservation and landscaping issues. Siegel recommended that the Water District and not the Council develop a landscaping ordinance for discussion purposes. MOTION SECONDED AND CARRIED: Moved by Siegel, seconded by Casey and passed unanimously to recommend that the Purissima Hills Water District draft a set of regulations regarding water conservation and landscaping issues and bring this proposed ordinance back to the Council for review. This issue will be open to discussion by all residents and notices of this meeting will be sent Town-wide. Solomon, Vice President of the Purissima Hills Water District,reiterated the benefits of a water efficient landscaping ordinance and thanked the City Council for meeting with them to discuss this important issue. He looked forward toward working together. 3. PRESENTATIONS FROM THE FLOOR: Sandra Humphries, 26238 Fremont Road, commented that it was important to educate the residents on water conservation and landscaping issues. She further commented that currently there were very few, if any,wholesale places for native plants. Landscape architects therefore were not inclined to recommend these plants and by doing so lose their profit margin. She stressed the importance of keeping the rural environment and native habitats in Town. Ms. Humphries noted that in the near future the Environmental Design and Protection Committee would be putting in a demonstration garden of native plants at Town Hall. 4. ADJOURNMENT • There being no further new or old business to discuss,the City Council Meeting was adjourned at 3:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd City Clerk The minutes of the June 18, 1999 Special City Council Meeting were approved at the July 1, 1999 Regular City Council Meeting. June 18, 1999 Special City Council Meeting 3