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ITEM: |
PUBLIC HEARINGS
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16. |
CONSIDER
SECOND |
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Meeting Date: |
January 25, 2007 |
Budgeted: |
Yes |
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From: |
David C. Laredo, |
Program/ |
4-2-4 |
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General Counsel |
Line Item No.: |
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Reviewed By: |
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Cost Estimate: |
N/A |
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General Counsel Approval: Reviewed by Counsel |
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Committee Recommendation: By a vote of 3-0 on November 16, 2006, the Water Demand Committee supported the proposed rebate program expansion. |
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CEQA Compliance: Categorical
exemption under Class I, §15301 |
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SUMMARY: Ordinance
No. 127 (Exhibit
16-A) adds HET (High Efficiency Toilets) and Zero Water Consumption
Urinals to the list of items that qualify for a $100 rebate from the joint
District/Cal-Am rebate program. HET
toilets are toilets designed to flush
at 20 percent below a 1.6-gallons-per-flush Ultra-Low Flush Toilet or with a
maximum average flush of 1.28 gallons.
Zero Water Consumption Urinals require no water to effectively evacuate
urine. The ordinance also opens the
rebate program to any water user within the District that is supplied by a
water distribution system regulated by the District.
Since
the first reading of this ordinance, staff contacted the Waterless Company, a
company that manufactures one brand of zero water consumption urinals. The company asked the District to refrain
from using the term “waterless” to define what is effectively a zero water
consumption urinal. After reviewing
terms for this type of fixtures on various websites, staff decided to modify
the existing definition for waterless urinal, as well as the proposed language
of this ordinance, to rename this fixture “zero water consumption urinal.” This term is used by the California
Department of General Services, Division of State Architect, as well as other
public agencies.
This ordinance is exempt from CEQA as a categorical exemption under Class I, §15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Class I exemptions are available for replacement of existing facilities. A Notice of Exemption will be filed in compliance with CEQA following adoption of the ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the Board approve the second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 127. The effective date of the ordinance is March 1, 2007.
DISCUSSION: Staff recommends modification of the existing rebate program at this time to add two proven water saving fixtures (HET toilets and waterless urinals). Staff will be proposing a comprehensive revision of the rebate program during spring 2007 that will include adding the program to the District’s Rules and Regulations and adjustment of the rebate dollar amounts. In the interim, staff sees a need to expand the program immediately to encourage water savings resulting from the installation of low consumption appliances and to encourage water savings throughout the District.
The rebate program is jointly
funded with Cal-Am. The District
administers the program and tracks the retrofits and water savings that
occur. Cal-Am supports the addition of
the waterless urinals and HET toilets to the rebate program and these water
fixtures contribute to both entities’ conservation goals. Since January 1, 2006, the rebate program has
increased water estimated water savings in the
The Water Demand Committee reviewed the ordinance and staff report at its November 16, 2006 meeting. The committee unanimously supported staff’s recommendation to expand the rebate program at this time. The committee also supported reviewing the amounts of rebated dollars offered for water savings relative to each appliance’s cost, prior to the next planned expansion of the program.
EXHIBITS
16-A Draft Ordinance No. 127
U:\staff\word\boardpacket\2007\2007boardpackets\20070125\PubHrgs\16\item16.doc