Laserfiche WebLink
REQUEST FOR <br />COUNCIL ACTION <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />JUNE 2, 2015 <br />Iitd4z <br />MEDIAN LANDSCAPE ALTERNATIVES TO <br />COMPLY WITH STATE OF CALIFORNIA <br />EMERGENCY EXECUTIVE ORDER DUE <br />TO DROUGHT CONDITIONS <br />(STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 5, 2) <br />t <br />CITY MA AGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on 1" Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2 n Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Direct staff to comply with the State of California Executive Order B -29 -15 due to drought <br />conditions and stop irrigation of landscaped medians by June 1, 2015. <br />2. Direct staff to pursue a replacement landscaping alternative at high - priority locations Citywide, <br />using a combination of drought - tolerant planting and decomposed granite, and evaluate <br />options to finance the project via an interfund loan. <br />DISCUSSION <br />On April 1, 2015, the Governor of California signed Executive Order B- 29 -15, proclaiming a state <br />of emergency throughout the State of California due to severe drought conditions, effective June <br />1, 2015, through February 28, 2016. One of its mandates prohibits irrigation of public street <br />median ornamental turf (grass) with potable water. Under California Water Code Section <br />1845(b)(1)(A), noncompliance with conservation measures during a period in which the Governor <br />has proclaimed a state of emergency is subject to fines of $10,000 for each day in which the <br />violation occurs <br />The City's 32 miles of landscaped medians (2.8 million square feet), much of it covered with <br />grass, are irrigated with potable water and, therefore, such irrigation would be banned during the <br />9 -month emergency period. Upon City Council direction, staff is prepared to discontinue all <br />irrigation of these medians to comply with the Governor's mandate. <br />ALTERNATIVES <br />The current drought has provided an opportunity to reevaluate and explore different long -term <br />landscape design concepts that will contribute to ongoing water conservation goals. In <br />anticipation of continued drought conditions, staff has monitored efforts by other cities and <br />researched alternatives that may be viable in Santa Ana. Some alternative ground coverings, <br />65C -1 <br />