WATER DEMAND COMMITTEE
ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
3.	CONSIDER PROPOSED URGENCY AMENDMENTS TO REGULATION XIV, THE EXPANDED WATER CONSERVATION AND STANDBY RATIONING PLAN
Meeting Date:			February 21, 2014	Budgeted:	N/A
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Stephanie Pintar	Cost Estimate:	N/A
General Counsel Review: To be completed prior to first reading
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: N/S

SUMMARY: Staff is proposing an urgency ordinance to clean up several outdated and areas of the Expanded Water Conservation and Standby Rationing Plan and to make minor changes to increase the effectiveness of the program.

The following points summarize the proposed changes. A draft ordinance will be prepared and presented at the March Board meeting.

1. The main change is in Rule164. The same language appears in Rules 165, 166 and 167, along with similar language that determines when the Stage sunsets. The amendment is shown in bold (added language) and strikeout (deleted language) and would be similarly amended in each rule, including the rules that effect the sunset of the Stage.

Stage 4 shall take effect for any Water Distribution System that relies, in whole or in part, on production or production offsets from the Carmel River System or the Seaside Coastal Subareas, on June 1 or such earlier date as may be set by the Board following the District’s May Board meeting if total usable storage in the Carmel River System and the Seaside Coastal Subareas on May 1 is less than within the Stage 4 Rationing range shown on Table XV-3. 27,807 Acre-Feet and greater than 21,802 Acre-Feet. If total usable storage is equal or greater than 27,807 Acre-Feet on May 1, no water rationing shall be imposed. Table XV-3 shall be periodically updated by Resolution of the Board.

2. Rule 160, General Provisions, should be combined into Rule 161, Stage 1 Water Conservation and that definitions for Water Waste and Non-Essential Water use are added to the rule. In addition, staff proposes adding Rule 171, Water Waste and Non-Essential Water Use Enforcement information to Rule 160 so the reader does not have to look to Rule 171 for information.

3. Rule 161-A, Stage 1 Water Conservation, should be amended for consistency with Rule 161-B. The current language is outdated. The amendment is shown in bold (added language) and strikeout (deleted language).

California American Water shall maintain its Water Year (October 1 through September 30) production from the Carmel River System in compliance with regulatory restrictions imposed on the Carmel River basin below 11,285 Acre-Feet (20 percent below historical production as determined in 1995).

4. Rule 162-D should be amended as shown in bold (added language) and strikeout (deleted language).

During Stage 2, all Water Users shall be required to obtain a Landscape Water Budget under District Rule 172 for the current Water Year Dedicated Irrigation Meters, irrigated areas greater than three acres, Large Residential Water Users, and irrigated public Open Space shall manage outdoor irrigation within the Landscape Water Budget assigned to the property.

5. Rule 172-E, Landscape Irrigation Restrictions, will be updated to reflect the new two-day per week watering schedule of Wednesdays and Saturdays.

RECOMMENDATION: The Water Demand Committee should review the proposed amendments and recommend approval to the Board. The ordinance will be provided to the Technical Advisory Committee, California American Water, and the Office of Ratepayer Advocates at the Public Utilities Commission.

EXHIBITS

None

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