WATER DEMAND COMMITTEE
ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
2.	CONSIDER FUNDING FOR COMMUNNITY WATER CONSERVATION DEMONSTRATION PROJECT AT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, 1713 BROADWAY AVE., SEASIDE
Meeting Date:			July 31, 2017	Budgeted: Yes
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	4-2-2-F, 4-2-2-H
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			Stephanie Kister	Cost Estimate:	$30,000
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15378.

SUMMARY: MPWMD wishes to partner with the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (MPUSD) and others to remove a highly visible sloped section of turf and juniper along Broadway Avenue in Seaside at Martin Luther King Jr. School (MLK) and replace it with a Community Demonstration Garden (Exhibits 2-A and 2-C). The garden will consist of drought tolerant plantings, storm water infiltration features, a rain watering system, drip irrigation and interpretive educational signage (Exhibit 2-B). The proposed MPWMD budget for this project is $30,000.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: MPUSD will provide the staff and equipment to remove most of the existing landscaping (some juniper will remain) and grade the hillside. Storm water infiltration basins will be installed along the bottom of the hillside, and a rainwater harvesting system will be installed along the front of the building to irrigate the area by gravity feed. Drought tolerant plants will be selected and sourced with the help of Return of the Natives (RON). RON will also organize, promote, and lead two garden parties where community members are invited to help install plants and help maintain them in the future. Additional plants and volunteer teams are available through MEarth and the Master Gardeners. MLK students will be invited to assist with the project by adding artwork and helping with planting. An efficient irrigation system may be installed to augment rainwater supplies during the establishment period.

MPWMD is collaborating with Monterey Regional Waste Management District to obtain compost and wood chips. California State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) has offered to supply upper level science students at no charge to design the interpretive signage as part of their Service Learning requirements. Production and installation of the signage will be paid for out of this budget. Donations will be requested for all materials where possible. Further support may come from MPUSD’s State Water Resources Control Board DROPS grant and Monterey One Water. When the project is complete, the landscape will be maintained by MPUSD staff, with support from periodic volunteer work groups from Shoreline Church, RON, and school staff/students.

Community Partners: MPUSD, Return of the Natives, CSU Monterey Bay, MEarth, Monterey One Water, Monterey Regional Waste Management District, California Landscape Contractors Association, and Save the Whales.

The total requested from MPWMD for this Community Demonstration Garden is $30,000 which is available in the Fiscal Year 2017-18 budgets for School Retrofits (26-05-781184) and Graywater/Rainwater Demo Project (26-05-781185).

RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Committee support this Community Demonstration Garden and recommend that the Board approve funding not to exceed $30,000 for the Broadway Community Demonstration Garden project.

EXHIBITS

2-A Community Demonstration Garden Proposal

2-B Proposed CDG Plan

2-C Site Photos

U:\staff\Board_Committees\WaterDemand\2017\20170731\02\Item-2.docx