CC MIN 02012022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Councilmember Arkin suggested amending her motion to specify March. She advised it is unfair to keep the non-downtown businesses waiting. Councilmember Testa seconded the motion with March as the target date. MOTION: It was m/s by Arkin/Testa to direct staff to return to Council, preferably in March, with an expanded City-wide Parklet Grant Program. Motion passed by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmembers Arkin, Balch, Narum, Testa, Mayor Brown Noes: None Absent: None 11. Overview of City's Water Conservation Program and provide direction on the City's Water Efficient Lawn Conversion Rebate Program Managing Director of Utilities and Water Services Dan Repp reported on the water conservation services and rebates available to customers. He stated the City provides general WC customer assistance, water-efficiency outreach, educational events, a Controller Assistance Program, free indoor water-efficiency devices such as aerators and low-flow showerheads, and free water conservation lavatory signage for commercial customers. He added the City is also working with regional programs including Zone 7 Water Agency's high-efficiency clothes washer rebates, weather-based irrigation controller rebate, and its Water-Efficient Lawn Conversion (WEL) Program rebate. He added all of these rebates are funneled through City staff. He added the City's WEL rebate supplements Zone 7's WEL rebate. He noted the City also has a water-efficient irrigation rebate for commercial irrigation customers. Mr. Repp stated the WEL Program's goals are to improve water efficiency by using drought-tolerant plants in outdoor landscaping, encourage additional environmentally friendly gardening approaches, enhance the Zone 7 WEL rebates for customer motivation, and having converted sidewalk visible gardens act as inspirational demonstration projects for the community. He noted the funds for the program are public grant money so the City needs to see a benefit for these funds. In June 2021, Zone 7 increased the rebate to pay up to 50% of the cost up to a cap of$2,000 for single-family residential customers and $6,000 for commercial, industrial, and multi-family customers. He added the.City's rebate for non-dedicated irrigation metered residential customers is 25 cents per square foot, up to 50% of the total cost with a cap of$250, with 50 cents per square foot and $3,000 cap for dedicated potable irrigation metered customers. Staff is presenting two options for consideration. The first option is to retain the existing WEL rebate. Presently staff promotes, but does not require sustainable practices of lawn conversion, and the City and Zone 7 rebate terms allow customers to select their lawn conversion method. Under the first option WEL rebate amounts would remain unchanged. The staff-recommended second option changes the WEL rebate to require sustainable practices and increases the amount of the rebates. He added this will help the City meet its Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2.0 goals and help with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) storm- water pollution control plan and Urban Water Management Plan. The environmental benefits include protecting groundwater and surface waters through the elimination of herbicides, eliminating additional landfill material from removing the scraped-off method of lawn, preserving the potable water supply, protecting and attracted pollinators and birds, and potentially reducing greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration with compost and mulch applications. Mr. Repp stated the proposed required sustainable practices include using sheet mulching to remove lawn, adding compost, including native plants, cool-season planting, and adding mulch as a top layer. Staff is proposing raising the cap for residential customers up to $500 at 50 cents per square foot and City Council Minutes Page 8 of 16 February 1,2022