The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About55C - RESO WATER CONSERVATIONREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 4, 2008 TITLE: RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION BY RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES ~' .'`.c r ~ CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED ACTION CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: APPROVED ^ As Recommended ^ As Amended ^ Ordinance on 151 Reading ^ Ordinance on 2"d Reading ^ Implementing Resolution ^ Set Public Hearing For_ CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER Adopt a resolution encouraging voluntary water conservation by residents and businesses. DISCUSSION The City of Santa Ana depends on imported water from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) for approximately one fourth of its water supply. The balance of the City's water demands is met by local groundwater production from City wells. Imported water supplies from Northern California have been severely impacted by recent developments, including a lower than normal Sierra snow pack and court decisions that will restrict pumping from the Sacramento River Delta by 30~. Supplies from the Colorado River have also been impacted by a drought that is now entering its eighth year. The Orange County groundwater basin is being impacted by a record low rainfall season in the Santa Ana River watershed last year. The Orange County Water District (OCWD) is allowing agencies (including the City of Santa Ana) to continue producing ground water from wells at a higher rate to help lessen the impacts on the MWD imported water system. This level of groundwater pumping cannot be sustained indefinitely. The near and long term forecasts suggest that water supply conditions will probably not improve significantly and could remain at critical levels for some time. If the drought and imported supply restrictions continue, mandatory water conservation measures may become necessary. It is therefore imperative that voluntary water conservation efforts be encouraged to help preserve the remaining stored water reserves. The proposed resolution is intended to encourage on-going voluntary water conservation by City residents and businesses. 55C-1 Resolution February 4, Page 2 Encouraging Voluntary Water Conservation 2008 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act, the recommended action is not considered a CEQA project. Therefore, no environmental documentation is required. FISCAL IMPACT Any reduction in water sales will impact the water sales revenue received by the City. This impact will be partially offset by reduced costs for wholesale water purchases from MWD and OCWD. Since the level of voluntary conservation cannot be determined, the total overall revenue impact is unknown at this time. APPROVED AS TO FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS: Ja G. Ross Francisco Gutierrez ~0/' Ex tive Director Executive Director Public Works, Agency Finance & Management Services Agency 55C-2 Iss01/16/08 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA CALLING FOR THE ADOPTION OF MORE AGGRESSIVE VOLUNTARY WATER CONSERVATION BY THE CITY'S RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines and declares as follows: A. Orange County depends on imported water from Northern California and the Colorado River to meet approximately half of its supply demand, with the balance of the county's demand being met by local groundwater via a large basin under north and central Orange County, smaller basins in south Orange County, and through local water recycling and conservation; and B. Water supplies from Northern California have been severely impacted by dry conditions, lower-than-normal snow pack, and environmental constraints in the Sacramento San Joaquin Bay-Delta region (Bay- Delta); and C. A recent federal court ruling has restricted pumping by at least 30% from the Bay-Delta, source of water to 25 million Californians, to protect the endangered Delta Smelt and has further compounded the difficulties of providing water to the most populous regions of the state; and D. The impact of the Delta Smelt ruling will require even greater withdrawals from water storage reserves to offset water lost as a result of the ruling; and E. Water supply solutions to the current regulatory pumping restrictions in the Bay-Delta may take many years to approve and complete; and F. Significant study by the Public Policy Institute of California and the Governor's Blue Ribbon Delta Vision Task Force has pointed to the conclusion that the current Delta water delivery system is not sustainable due to seismic and flood risks, subsidence and sea level rise, ecosystem conflicts, and numerous other factors; and Resolution No. 55C-3 G. The Colorado River system is now in its eighth year of drought and southern California has experienced significant reductions in available Colorado River supply since 2003; and H. Throughout the State water reserves are being drawn out of storage from reservoirs and from underground basins to meet consumer demand for water; and Orange County's large north and central groundwater basin is being drawn down both to lessen the demand on diminished imported supplies and due to the local drought conditions, which have reduced the amount of Santa Ana River flow and rain water available to refill the basin; and J. The cities and water agencies serving Orange County's population of more than 3.1 million have done an outstanding job working together to develop water-management strategies and implement comprehensive conservation programs to help ensure a reliable supply of high-quality water to meet countywide demand; and K. Many cities and water agencies serving Orange County have also invested and continue to invest in research and technology to develop new sources of water such as water recycling to meet demands; and L. Orange County residents and businesses are to be commended for doing their part over the past decade to voluntarily reduce their water usage by participating in locally sponsored conservation and water efficiency programs; and M. As prolonged drought conditions continue along the Colorado River, pumping of water through the Bay-Delta is significantly curtailed, and local drought conditions prevail, mandatory water conservation measures may become necessary; and N. Adopting more aggressive voluntary water conservation habits today is the responsible thing to do and will help ensure Orange County has enough water to maintain our quality of life and thriving economy; and O. There are numerous resources and programs to assist us in our countywide water conservation efforts, including rebates for water saving devices and information on water-saving strategies at www.bewaterwise.com, www.mwdoc.com, www.ocwd.com and www. o cwa to rh a ro . co m ; Section 2. City of Santa Ana hereby encourages our residents and businesses to immediately take steps to reduce their water usage through more Resolution No. 55C-4 aggressive water conservation, which will help the region get through this very dry time and regulatory reduction in State Water Project supply, extend available water reserves, help reduce the severity of potential water shortages in the future and minimize water rate increases. Section 3. If voluntary measures do not achieve the goal of conservative water use, this Council shall consider the implementation of our existing mandatory water conservation program. Section 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution. ADOPTED this day of 2008. Miguel A. Pulido Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: Joseph W. Fletcher, City Attorney By: Laura Sheedy Assistant City Attorney AYES: Councilmembers NOES: Councilmembers ABSTAIN: Councilmembers NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers Resolution No. 55C-5 CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY I, PATRICIA E. HEALY, Clerk of the Council, do hereby attest to and certify the attached Resolution No. 2008-XXX to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on . Date: Clerk of the Council City of Santa Ana Resolution No. 55C-6