REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF BOARD GOVERNED COUNTY SERVICE AREAS
AND RECORD OF ACTION
May 23, 2023
FROM
BRENDON BIGGS, Director, Department of Public Works - Special Districts
SUBJECT
Title
Rescind Stage 2 - Drought Alert and Declare Stage 1 - Drought Watch for County Service Areas
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the Board Governed County Service Areas and their Zones providing water service:
1. Rescind Resolution No. 2022-146 declaring Stage 2 - Drought Alert for County Service Areas.
2. Adopt Resolution declaring a Stage 1 - Drought Watch for County Service Areas according to the Water Conservation Program Ordinance No. SD 15-04.
3. Authorize the Director or Assistant Director of the Department of Public Works - Special Districts to take any or all actions authorized for any or all actions authorized for Conservation Stage 1 - Drought Watch.
(Presenter: Brendon Biggs, Director, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Department of Public Works (Department) - Special Districts, Water and Sanitation Division will track revenues and expenditures related to this declaration. Any needed budget adjustments resulting from this action will be submitted separately for approval by the Board of Supervisors (Board).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On June 23, 2015 (Item No. 106), the Board approved Ordinance No. SD 15-04 that established a new water conservation program and drought stage levels for the Board Governed County Service Areas and their Zones (CSAs) providing water service. This action was necessary and appropriate for compliance with the statewide drought regulations.
On April 12, 2021, May 10, 2021, July 8, 2021, and October 19, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom (Governor) proclaimed states of emergency across all the counties of California due to extreme and expanding drought conditions. On March 28, 2022, the Governor issued Executive Order N-7-22 proclaiming that the state of emergency continues to exist. In response, the Board adopted Resolution No. 2022-146 (State 2 - Drought Alert) on June 28, 2022 (Item No. 102) to declare Water Conservation Stage 2 - Drought Alert in all CSAs. The Governor signed Executive Order N-5-23 on March 24, 2023, proclaiming the end of Stage 2 water restrictions and reverting back to Stage 1 water restrictions. The Governor also ended voluntary actions from Californians to reduce their water use up to 15% from 2022 water use levels as stated in Stage 2, while continuing to encourage Californians to make conservation a way of life.
Approval of this item would rescind Stage 2 - Drought Alert and adopt a new resolution declaring a less restrictive Stage 1 - Drought Watch for the CSAs in accordance with Water Conservation Program Ordinance No. SD 15-04 and the Governor’s Executive Order N-5-23. Returning to Stage 1 - Drought Watch will require all customers of the impacted CSAs to adhere with the following orders, except where necessary to address an immediate health and safety need or to comply with a term or condition in a permit issued by a state or federal agency:
1. The Director of the Department shall conduct outreach and provide public information to educate customers on drought conditions and water conservation measures. Water customers shall be requested to reduce their consumption by no more than 15% from a comparative year selected by the Director.
2. Customers shall be encouraged to install and use water saving devices such as rain sensors, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and sprinkler and irrigation water valves; low-flow or waterless toilets; high-efficiency, low water use washing machines and dishwashers; and automated irrigation timers and/or controllers as well as other available water retrofit kits.
3. Outdoor irrigation is limited to four days per week.
The Department will be including a message on all water bills and will publish a notice on the Department website declaring a Conservation Stage 1 “Drought Watch” along with requirements of the conservation stage. The Department will utilize staff to monitor the above-stated requirements. Education and outreach will be the primary and first-line enforcement mechanism. In accordance with the Board approved Ordinance No. SD 15-04, violation notices that include first, second, third, fourth, and fifth violations may be issued, and fines may be charged for violations of the ordinance.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Aaron Gest, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on May 1, 2023; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on May 4, 2023; and County Finance and Administration (Paloma Hernandez-Barker, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on May 6, 2023.