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HomeMy WebLinkAboutNS-2204 - Adding Article XVI to Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code to Provide Water Efficient Landscape Standrads for City...ORDINANCE NO. NS-2204 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA ADDING ARTICLE XVI TO CHAPTER 41 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE, TO PROVIDE WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE STANDARDS FOR THE CITY OF SANTA ANA THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1: That Chapter 41 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding an article, to be numbered XVI, which article consists of sections numbered 41-1500 through 41-1512 and reads as follows: ARTICLE XVI. WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE STANDARDS. Seo. 41-1500. Purpose. The intent of this article is to promote attractive, useful and environmentally sound landscapes that can adapt to the Santa Aha climate. All landscaped areas are designed to be water efficient due to proper installation and good maintenance practic- es. The purpose of this article is to maintain a high quality of life in Santa Ana while conserving one of its most precious but limited natural resources, water. This article is enacted as a water efficient landscape ordinance in accordance with the "The Water Conservation in Landscaping Act" (Government Code sections 65591 et seq.), and shall apply in the city of Santa Aha in lieu of the model ordinance adopted by the California Department of Water Resources pursuant to that Act. Sec. 41-1501. Applicability. (a) This article shall apply to sites which have a lot size of more than 15,000 square feet and which are any of the following: (1) New construction projects except single-family and two- family dwellings. (2) Redevelopment rebate program-assisted projects. (3) Sites which are the subject of an application for a 1 ORDINANCE NS-2204 ., ~ PAGE 2 discretionary approval, as defined in section 41-668 of this chapter. (4) City public works construction, as defined in section 421 of the charter. (b) This article shall also apply to any landscaped area installed as part of a single-family or two-family home development project if the landscaped area is to be maintained by the associat- ed home owners and exceeds 2,500 square feet in area. (c) Existing traditional landscapes are encouraged to be phased out and be replaced with water efficient (dry climate) landscapes. Standards as provided in the following sections of this article should be followed for the transition to a water conserving landscape. Sec. 41-1502. Plant selection. Plant materials shall meet the following requirements: (1) A minimum of 90% of plant materials in non-turf areas shall be capable of adaptation toSunset Zones 22 and 23. (2) The most suitable plant materials are plants native to California or similar Mediterranean-type plants. (3) The remaining 10% of non-turf areas may be non-drought tolerant plants provided the design is such that their watering requirements have a minimal impact on the dry landscape plantings. Sec. 41-1503. Turf Selection. (a) Ail turf selections shall be drought tolerant varieties with minimal water requirements. Recycled or reclaimed water is encouraged for irrigation where available. (b) Portions of landscaped areas in public and private projects where turf provides a playing surface or serves other recreational purposes are considered recreational areas and may require water in addition to the annual Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA). Any landscape plan for such projects submitted to the Planning Division pursuant to section 41-1507 shall designate the areas to be used for such purposes and shall be accompanied by a statement specifying any needed amount of additional water above the annual Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA). Irrigation efficient systems shall be designed and installed to keep water usage at a minimum. Recycled water or reclaimed water shall be used where available. PAGE 3 '~ Sec. 41-1504. Groundcovers. Drought tolerant ground covers shall be planted to reduce surface evaporation. Mulches with a two inch minimum depth shall be added to groundcover areas after planting to conserve soil moisture. Sec. 41-1505. Soil preparation and mulching. Soil amendments shall be added per industry standards and called out on the landscape plans as determined from soil texture. An organic mulch of two inches minimum depth shall be added in non- turf areas to the soil surface after planting. This mulch shall be provided in addition to the soil amendments. Non-porous material shall not be placed under the mulch. Sac. 41-1506. Irrigation. (a) An irrigation system shall be installed in accordance with the standards set forth in subsection (b) of this section and the instructions and notes provided on the landscape design plan by the landscape architect who prepared the plan. These instructions shall be clearly stated, but it is the responsibility of the installer to consult with the landscape architect regarding any questions on design and installation. The irrigation system shall be reviewed by the city as part of the landscape design plan in accordance with section 41-1507. (b) Irrigation systems shall comply with the following standards: (1) Emitter and bubbler type systems that shall not exceed 1.5 gallons per minute per device. Sprinklers and sprays shall not be used in areas less than eight feet wide. (2) Sprinkler heads with an application rate of 0.85 inch per hour or less shall be used on slopes exceeding 15% to minimize runoff. The same rate shall apply to slopes exceeding 10% within 10 feet of hardscape. (3) Valves and circuits shall be separated based on water use for each hydrozone. Main lines and lateral lines shall be shown. (4) Deep watering pipes and emitter or bubbler irrigation systems are required for trees. Emitters or bubblers are the most efficient method for watering shrubs. (5) Serviceable anti-drain or check valves are required where 3 ORDINANCE NS-2204 PAGE 4 ; ia06 (6) (7) (8) elevation differential may cause low head drainage. Sprinkler head spacing shall be designed for head-to-head coverage. The system should be designed with pressure compensating heads to minimize runoff and overspray onto non-irrigation areas. Ail irrigation systems shall be equipped~with a control- ler capable of dual or multiple station programming. A moisture sensor or rain sensing device shall be installed into the system to keep watering cycles at a minimum. The infiltration rate shall be determined by the soil texture and irrigation efficiency. Controllers must have multiple cycle start capacity and a flexible calendar program. A rain sensor override device shall be required for all irrigation systems. (9) A separate landscape meter and backflow prevention device shall be installed for the irrigation system, except for single-family and two-family dwellings. Sec. 41-1507. 'Landscape design plan. (a) A landscape design plan that conforms to the requirements of this article shall be prepared by a registered landscape architect of the State of California on behalf of the project applicant. The landscape design plan shall be submitted to and approved by the Planning Division in accordance with procedures established by the Executive Director of the Planning and Building Agency. The landscape design plan shall demonstrate that estimated applied water use will not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance. (b) The landscape design plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following items: (1) General site information, including property lines, street names, project name and address, proposed building structure, and existing natural features. (2) (3) Landscape palette including trees, shrubs, groundcovers, turf, etc. Planting symbols and plant labeling, includ- ing botanical and common name, container size, spacing, and quantity of each plant group shall be part of the legend. Ail hardscape and water features, fences, retaining walls, grading of slopes, and soils tests. ORDINANCE NS-2204 308 PAGE 5 (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) A grading plan for the site prepared by the civil engineer for the project as conditioned in site plan review. Details such as tree staking, vine preparation, planting instructions and installation. Calculation of the landscape area plus all areas of hardscape and the building pad. Designated hydrozones and calculation of estimated total water use for the landscape by hydrozone. The hydrozones shall be grouped by plant factor into high, medium and low water use with each zone served by one or more sets of valves with the same settings. An irrigation plan showing irrigation design in compli- ance with section 41-1506. items shall be submitted with the landscape design plan: (1) 41-1508. Landscape documentation package. A landscape documentation package consisting of the following (2) (3) (4) A water conservation concept statement providing the following information: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Irrigation schedules. A maintenance schedule. The area to be irrigated (in square feet). A calculation of the maximum applied water allow- aRCS. A calculation of the estimated applied water use. A calculation of the estimated amount of water expected from effective precipitation. The flow rate for each valve circuit in the irriga- tion system. A grading design plan and soil analysis, if required by the city in the site plan review process. 41-1509. Plant material An established landscape establishment. conforming to the 5 landscape design ORDINANCE NS-2204 8~ PAGE 6 plan as approved by the Planning Division shall be in place within the establishment period, i.e., plant material shall be able to establish itself to minimal water requirements within a one year period. Sec. 41-1510. Statement of compliance. Upon substantial completion of the installation of landscaping in compliance with the approved landscape design plan, the landscape architect who prepared the plan shall prepare and sign a certificate to such effect. If a portion of the precipitation is dependent upon natural rainfall the landscape architect shall also prepare and sign a statement certifying his or her disclosure of such fact to the project owner and developer. In no case shall the estimated amount of water exceed 25 percent of the local annual mean precipitation (average rainfall). The certifications from the landscape architect required by this section shall be made on forms provided for such purpose by the Planning Division. The certificate, along with a record drawing or "as-builts," shall be completed and copies sent to the Planning Division and Water Engineering Division of the Public Works Agency prior to final field inspection of the project by the city's Landscape Development Associate. Sec. 41-1511. Landscape irrigation audits. (a) A landscape irrigation audit may be required by the Water Resources Division of the Public Works Agency if the applied water used for a landscaped area subject to this article, in any year after the establishment period, exceeds the Maximum Applied Water Allowance approved for that landscaped area. The landscape irrigation audit shall be conducted and signed by a registered landscape architect and submitted to the Water Resources Division of the Public Works Agency. (b) When a landscape irrigation audit has been required pursuant to this section, repairs or alterations to the irrigation system and/or changes in plant material shall be made as shown to necessary by that audit to reduce applied water usage to not more than the Maximum Applied Water Allowance and to maintain the landscaped area in accordance with the standard established by section 41-609 of this chapter. Repair of irrigation equipment or replacement of plant material shall be done with the originally specified materials or their equivalent. (c) In the event a landscape irrigation audit has been required for a landscaped area pursuant to this section and the owner or occupant of the parcel on which the landscaped area is located fails to have the landscape irrigation audit performed or otherwise fails to comply with this section, the Executive Director of the Public Works Agency may have water service to such parcel discontinued until compliance is obtained; provided, however, that 6 O NA CE NS-2204 !$iI PAGE 7 no such discontinuance of water service shall be ordered until the said Executive Director has given such owner or occupant notice of the pending discontinuance and an opportunity to be heard on the matter. Seo. 41-1512. Definitions. As used in this article, the following terms have the following respective meanings: Anti-drain valve means a valve installed in the sprinkler head to hold water in the system to prevent water from leaking out of the lower elevation heads Application rate means the amount of water applied to an area in one hour measured in inches per hour Applied water means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape. Backflow prevention device means a safety device used to prevent pollution or contamination of the water supply due to the reverse flow of water from the irrigation system. Controller (station) means a device which controls or operates a specific number of sprinklers or watering devices operating at the same time Conversion factor (0.62) means a number that converts the maximum applied water allowance from acre-inches per acre per year to gallons per square foot per year. The conversion factor is calculated as follows: (325,851 gallons/ 43,560 square feet)/12 inches = (0.62) 325,851 gallons = one acre foot 43,560 square feet = one acre 12 inches = one foot To convert gallons per year to 100-cubic-feet per year, another common billing unit for water, divide gallons per year by 748. (748 gallons = 100 cubic feet.) Effective precipitation or usable rainfall means the portion of total precipitation that is used by the plants. Precipitation is not a reliable source of water, but can contribute to some degree toward the water needs of the landscape. Emitter means a device that fits on the irrigation system and allows water to slowly flow through small openings from the irrigation line to the root zones of the plants ORDINANCE NS-2204 ~~4~ PAGE 8 Established landscape means the point at landscape have developed roots into the soil ball. which plants in the adjacent to the root Establishment period means the first year after installing the plants in the landscape. Estimated Applied Water Use means the portion of the Estimated Total Water Use that is derived from applied water. This amount cannot exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance. Estimated Total Water Use means the annual total amount of water estimated to be needed to keep the plants in the landscaped area healthy. It is based upon such factor as the local evapotranspira- tion rate, the size of the landscaped area, the types of plants, and the efficiency of the irrigation system. ET adjustment factor means a factor of 0.8, that, when applied to reference evapotranspiration, adjusts for plant factors and irrigation efficiency, two major influences upon the amount of water that needs to be applied to the landscape. A combined plant mix with a site-wide average of 0.5 is the basis of the plant factor portion of this calculation. The irrigation efficiency for purposes of the ET Adjustment Factor is 0.625; therefore the ET Adjustment Factor (0.8) = (0.5/0.625). Evapotranspiration means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil surfaces and transpired by plants during a specific time. F10w rate means the rate at which water flows through pipes and valves (gallons per minute or cubic feet per second). Hydrozone subarea of landscaping that contains plant materials with similar water uses that can be served by one valve or sets of valves with the same setting. Infiltration rate means the rate of water entry into the soil expressed as a depth of water per unit of time (inches per hour). Irrigation efficiency means the measurement of the amount of water beneficially used divided by the amount of water applied. Irrigation efficiency is derived from measurements and estimates of irrigation system characteristics and management practices. The minimum irrigation efficiency for the purposes of this ordinance is 0.625. Greater irrigation efficiency can be expected from well designed and maintained systems. Landscape irrigation inspections, evaluate irrigation schedules. audit means a process to perform site irrigation systems, and develop efficient 8 PAGE 9 Landscaped area means the entire parcel less the building foot- print, driveways, non-irrigated portions of parking lots, hard- scapes such as decks and patios, and other non-porous areas. Water features are included in the calculation of the landscaped area. Areas used for edible plants, such as orchards or vegetable gardens, primarily on residential sites, are exempt. Lateral line means the water delivery pipeline that supplies water to the emitters or sprinklers from the valve. Main line means the pressurized pipeline that delivers water from the water source to the valve or outlet. Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) means the maximum amount of water allocated to a project based on the following formula: MAWA=(ETo) (0.8) (L~) (0.62), where MAWA=Maximum Applied Water Allowance (gallons per year) ETo=Reference Evapotranspiration (inches per year) 0.8=ET Adjustment Factor LA=Landscaped Area (square feet) 0.62=Conversion Factor (to gallons per square foot) "Mediterranean-type" plants means plant materials native to other regions of the world with similar climate conditions to those found in Santa Aha. The majority of these plants are able to readily adapt to Santa Ana growing conditions. Moisture sensor means a device that can measure the condition of the moisture in the soil and over ride the control device for watering purposes. Mulches mean organic materials that serve as an insulation layer on the soil surface to moderate soil temperature and reduce the rate of water loss (evaporation) into the air. Native plants means California plant materials that have adapted or evolved in plant communities or ecosystems under the climatic conditions found in Santa Ana. Non-turf areas mean areas using other that grass such as trees, shrubs, or ground covers but limited to living plant material Operating pressure means the pressure at which a system of sprinklers is designed to operate, usually indicated at the base of the sprinkler. 9 ORDINANCE NS-2204 PAGE 10 overspray means sprinklers projecting water beyond the boundaries of the plant material which wastes water by wetting hardscape and non-landscaped surfaces Plant factor means a factor that when multiplied by reference evapotranspiration, estimates the amount of water used by plants. This article rates the average plant factor of low water using plants from 0 to 0.3, for average water using plants from 0.4 to 0.6, and for high water using plants from 0.7-1.0. Rain sensing device means a system which automatically shuts off the irrigation system when it rains. Record drawing or ,as-builts" means a set of reproducible drawings which show significant changes in the work made during construction and which are usually based on drawings marked up in the field and other data furnished by the contractor. Recycled water or reclaimed water means treated or recycled water suitable for nonpotable uses such as watering plant material but not for human consumption. The irrigation system is normally marked in a way so as to keep treated water separate from drinking water lines. Reference evapotranspiration or ETo means a standard measurement of environmental parameters which affect the water use of plants. ETo is given in inches per day, month, or year as is an estimate of the evapotranspiration of a large field of four to seven-inch tall, cool season grass that is well watered. Reference evapotranspira- tion is used as the basis of determining the Maximum Applied Water Allowance(MAWA) so that regional differences in climate can be accommodated. The ETo that has been determined for Santa Ana is provided below by month and by yearly rate: Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Ann Eto 2.2 2.7 3.7 4.5 4.6 5.4 6.2 6.1 4.7 3.7 2.5 2.0 48.2 Run-off means excessive amount of water that cannot be absorbed into the soil either due to the volume of the water or a landscape slope difference. Soil texture means the classification of soil based on the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in the soil. Sprinkler head means a device that dispenses water through a nozzle to water a designated area. Static water pressure means the pipeline or municipal water supply pressure when water is not flowing. Station means an area served by one valve or by a set of valves 0 0 0 10 ORDINANCE NS-2204 3~0 PAGE 11 that operate simultaneously. Sunset Zones 22 and 23 means plant climate zones established by the University of California Agricultural Extension Service and further refined by experts for Sunset Western Garden Book. Turf means grass used as a groundcover; this code specifies that only warm-season and drought resistant Fescue type grasses be used. Valve means a device that controls the flow of water in an irrigation system Water conservation concept statement means a one page checklist and a narrative summary of the project. SECTION 2: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The City Council of the city of Santa Ana hereby declares that it would have adopted this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or unconstitutional. SECTION 3: Neither the adoption of this ordinance nor the repeal hereby of any ordinance shall in any manner affect the prosecution for violation of ordinances, which violations were committed prior to the effective date hereof, nor be construed as affecting any of the provisions of such ordinance relating to the collection of any such license or penalty or the penal provision applicable to any violation thereof, nor to affect the validity of any bond or cash deposit in lieu thereof, required to be posted, filed or deposited pursuant to any ordinance and all rights and obligations thereunder appertaining shall continue in full force and effect. 11 ORDINANCE NS-2204 PAGE 12 ADOPTED this ATTEST: 4th Counci~ / COUNCILMEMBERS: Young Aye Pulido Aye Lutz Aye Mills Absent Moreno Aye Norton Aye Richardson Aye day of OCTOBER , 1993. Da~ H~ Young~ / Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: city Attorney CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY & PUBLICATION State of California County of Orange of Santa Aha on with the Charter of the City of Santa Aha. l, JANICE C. GUY, Clerk of the Council, do hereby certify the attached Ordinance to be the original ordinance adopted by the City Council of the City /O - ,9/- ~._.q ; and that said ordinance was published in accordance 3.2 Date: /o /~'/q'.~ Clerk of the Co/~n~il//~/-' City of Santa Aha t~/ I