JOINT MEETING OF THE POLICY ADVISORY (PAC) AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY (TAC) COMMITTEES

 

3.

DEVELOP RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD REGARDING FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE – EXPANSION OF REBATE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE TURF REPLACEMENT/ABANDONMENT AND ADDITIONAL COMMERCIAL WATER USING FIXTURES

 

Meeting Date:
September 3, 2009

Budgeted: 

Yes

 

From:

Darby Fuerst,

Program/

4-2-3

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

 

 

Prepared By:

Stephanie Pintar

Cost Estimate:

$300,000

 

General Counsel Approval:  Counsel will review ordinance prior to first reading

CEQA Compliance:  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 proposed ordinance.

 

SUMMARY:   The District will be considering an ordinance at its September 21, 2009 meeting to expand its water conservation rebate program to include rebates for lawn removal, synthetic turf installation, high efficiency urinals, pint urinals and rotating sprinkler nozzles.  The rebate program amendments also include the addition of rebates for Non-Residential retrofits that are permanent and quantifiable.  Examples of these types of retrofits include replacement of water-cooled refrigeration equipment and ice makers with air-cooled models, installation of conductivity controllers in cooling towers, replacement of food steamers and steam ovens with waterless models, and other retrofits that permanently reduce water use.  Other changes include the deletion of rebates for ultra-low flush (1.6 gallon-per-flush) toilets, increases in rebates for high efficiency toilets, high efficiency washing machines and zero water consumption urinals.

 

The rebate program is jointly funded with California American Water.  The District administers the program and tracks the retrofits and water savings that occur, utilizing its extensive property database to verify eligibility.  California American Water funds the rebate program through a conservation surcharge on its water bills.  California American Water supports the expansion of the rebate program as it contributes to both entities’ conservation goals.  Since the inception of the program in 1997, more than 221 acre-feet of water haVE been saved.

 

The Water Demand Committee reviewed the ordinance and staff report at its June 18, 2009 meeting.  The committee unanimously supported staff’s recommendation to expand the rebate program at this time. 

 

DISCUSSION:  As a standard practice, the District shares information about proposed ordinances with the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).  The draft ordinance will be considered by the Board at its September 21, 2009 meeting.  The TAC would normally discuss the ordinance at its regular meeting and make a recommendation to the Board.  As the regular meeting has been replaced with a joint TAC/Policy Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting, District staff is requesting review by the joint committee along with a recommendation to the Board.

RECOMMENDATION:  The PAC and TAC should discuss the proposed ordinance.  The joint committee should make a recommendation to the Board regarding consideration of first reading of the ordinance at the September Board meeting.

 

IMPACT ON STAFF/RESOURCES:  Impacts from this ordinance result from the increase in rebate program participation. 

 

EXHIBITS

3-A      Draft Ordinance No. XXX, Amending the Rebate Program

 

 

 

 

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