HomeMy WebLinkAboutTermination of Level One of the Water Management Program and s
Council/Agency Meeting Held: 1
Deferred/Continued to:
Approved ❑ Conditionally Approved ❑ Denied C CI s Si ature
Council Meeting Date: June 20, 2011 Department ID Number: PW 11-033
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Fred A. Wilson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Travis K. Hopkins, PE, Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Adopt Resolution No. 2011-39 authorizing termination of Level One of
the Water Management Program and a return to normal operations
Statement of Issue: Chapter 14.18 of the Municipal Code establishes a Water
Management Program for the City based upon the need to conserve water supplies and to
avoid or minimize the effects of future water shortages. The City Manager and Director of
Public Works implemented Level One of the Water Management Program on March 23,
2009, and this action was confirmed by Council per the Municipal Code on April 6, 2009. The
regional water supply situation has improved dramatically over the last several months and
staff is recommending termination of the Level One and a return to normal operations.
Financial Impact: Not applicable.
Recommended Action: Motion to:
Adopt Resolution No. 2011-39,,"A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington
Beach Terminating Level One of the Water Management Program and Return to Normal
Operations."
Alternative Action(s):
Do not adopt the resolution and remain at Level One of the Water Management Program.
I1B -115- Item 7. - I
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
MEETING DATE: 6/20/2011 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: PW 11-033
Analysis:
Water Supply in Huntington Beach
The City provides water service to over 52,000 connections in the City and in unincorporated
Sunset Beach. Water supply is a mixture of groundwater, provided by 10 wells located
throughout the City, and "imported" water, provided by the Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California (MWD). Imported water is a mixture of Colorado River and State Water
Project deliveries. The groundwater basin is managed by the Orange County Water District
(OCWD). The City is a member agency of the Municipal Water District of Orange County
(MWDOC), which in turn is a member agency of MWD. MWDOC manages the imported
water supply for the majority of Orange County.
Water Supply Situation in Southern California, Orange County and Huntington Beach
Water year 2007 was a dry year statewide, and especially in Central and Southern California.
Much of Southern California had one of the driest precipitation years on record, surpassing
the prior records set in 2001-2002. In Northern and Central California, unimpaired runoff from
Sierra Nevada watersheds was below average. The Colorado River Basin, an important
source of water supply for Southern California, continued in drought conditions, experienced
below average runoff in seven years of the eight year span of 2000 to 2008. In addition,
water supplies for customers of the State Water Project and Federal Central Valley Project,
which includes Huntington Beach and most of Southern California, were affected by court-
imposed restrictions on diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to protect
the Delta smelt. Impacts of the record dry spring months of 2008, combined with the water
projects' export restrictions from the Delta, led the Governor to issue Executive Order S-06-
08, proclaiming a statewide drought and directing state actions to be taken to address
drought conditions and water delivery restrictions. On February 27, 2009, the Governor
declared a state of emergency due to the drought and ordered immediate action to deal with
the crisis.
In reaction to the water supply situation, MWD prepared a drought allocation plan, which
essentially limited the amount of water available to its customers. Substantial penalties were
put in place for any agencies going over their allocation. MWDOC in turn, created a plan,
modeled after the MWD plan, to manage its allocation among its member agencies. Under
this plan, a base year demand was determined using the average water use over calendar
years 2004, 2005 and 2006 adjusted to reflect population growth and other factors.
Water Management Program
On November 5, 2007, the City Council adopted resolution 2007-72 recognizing the State's
drought condition and establishing policies and procedure in support of water conservation.
Huntington Beach was the first Orange County City to adopt such a resolution. On August 4,
2008, Council adopted the current Water Management Program. The program is presented
in stages; however, the nature of the water supply shortage determines the appropriate stage
to be implemented. If the severity of the water emergency increases, stages which reduce
demand more than the previous stage will be implemented. Unanticipated emergency water
shortages may require immediate restrictive actions, without progressive stages.
Based on the water supply situation at the time, the City Manager and Director of Public
Works implemented Stagel of the program effective March 23, 2009, and this action was
confirmed by Council per the Municipal Code on April 6, 2009. This stage is for shortages of
Item 7. - 2 11B -l 16-
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL. ACTION
MEETING DATE: 6/20/2011 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: PW 11-033
up to 10% and involves implementing voluntary conservation measures; specific water use
restrictions; regulated irrigation times; review of City facilities water use; and a coordinated
public information program. In all stages, water waste is prohibited. Penalties may be
assessed for noncompliance.
Since the implementation of Level One of the Water Management Program, our residents
have responded and the City has realized record low water demand. The City's total water
use for water year 2009-2010 (July to June)was nearly 7% less than the previous year and
18.5% less than ten years ago. In fact, the yearly total of 29,463 acre-feet was the lowest
annual total demand dating back to the 1970's.
It should be noted that the improved short-term water supply conditions do not signal an end
to the region's long-term water supply challenges. Conservation and efficient water use must
continue to be a permanent way of life in Southern California. Water Conservation staff is
preparing public outreach materials to stress this point and to remind residents that the City's
Water Management Program includes permanent water use restrictions such as:
Irrigation is prohibited between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm and limited to no more than
15 minutes per day, per station;
Washing of vehicles requires the use of a hand-held bucket or hose equipped with a
shut-off nozzle;
Washing down hard or paved surfaces is prohibited;
Leaks, breaks and malfunctions must be corrected within seven (7) days of notification;
Water fountains or decorative water features are required to use recirculation systems;
Installation of single pass cooling systems to domestic water supplies is prohibited;
Excessive water flow runoff is prohibited;
Restaurants are required to use water conserving dish wash spray valves;
Restaurants are to serve drinking water only upon request;
Installation of non-recirculating water systems is prohibited in new commercial tar
wash and commercial laundry systems.
Public Works Commission Action Not applicable.
Environmental Status: Actions taken pursuant to the Water Management Program are
exempt from CEQA and are considered necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency
pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080 (b)(4) and the CEQA Guidelines Section
15269(c).
Strategic Plan Goal: Maintain financial viability and our reserves. Improve internal and
external communication.
11 B -l l 7- Item 7. - 3
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
MEETING DATE: 6/20/2011 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER: PW 11-033
Attachment(s):
sesqrlp qn
. Resolution No. 2011-39, "A Resolution of the City Council of the
City of Huntington Beach Terminating Level One of the Water
Management Program and Return to Normal Operations."
Item 7. - 4 11 B _i j Is-
ATTACHMENT # 1
RESOLUTION NO. 2011-39
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH TERMINATING LEVEL ONE
OF THE WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND
RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATIONS
WHEREAS,the California Water Code allows public entities supplying water to adopt
and enforce a Water Management Program; and
Chapter 14.18 of the Municipal Code sets forth the water conservation and water supply
shortage program for the City; and
The City's Water Management Program is implemented in stages depending on the
severity of the water supply situation at the time;and
On March 23, 2009, the City Manager and Director of Public Works implemented Level I
of the program and their action was confirmed by the City Council on April 6, 2009; and
The State of California has proclaimed an end to the drought due to unproved water
supply conditions, increased regional storage and low water demand.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does hereby
resolve as follows:
That the existing Level 1 of the Water Management Program is terminated and the City
Manager and Director of Public Works are directed to return to normal operations.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a
regular meeting thereof held on the 20th day of June , 201 1.
s
a
REVIE ND APPROVED: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City er 4ity�A�ttomeyy D,cio t ��
INITIATED AND APP OVED:
Director of Public W rks
11-2919/64815
Res. No. 2011-39
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss:
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH )
I, JOAN L. FLYNN the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of the City of
Huntington Beach, and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of said City, do hereby
certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of the City of
Huntington Beach is seven; that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted
by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the members of said City Council
at a regular meeting thereof held on June 20, 2011 by the following vote:
AYES: Shaw, Harper, Hansen, Carchio, Bohr, Dwyer, Boardman
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
C11 Clerk and ex-offici Jerk of the
City Council of the City of
Huntington Beach, California