Implementing the New Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance in Orange County

Cities, Residents & Applicants Working Together

PRESENTED BY

A Few Webinar Items (Fiona)

Presentation 45 minutes followed by questions 2 ways to ask questions

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Audio

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Fiona SanchezConservation Manager

Irvine Ranch Water District

Today’s Speakers

Lacy KellyExecutive Director

Orange County League of Cities

Joe BergWater Use Efficiency Programs Mgr.

Municipal Water District of Orange County

What We’ll Talk About What is the water efficient landscape

ordinance? Why are cities required to implement it? What does it mean for cities? What does it mean for applicants?

Property managers/HOAs Homeowners Landscape industry

Resources & tools

What Drove the Ordinance State Issues

Natural Drought

2006 2008

Regulatory Drought

Colorado River Over-Allocation

What Drove the Ordinance State Issues

1990 Today1992 2004 2006

AB325 AB2717 AB1881 Local Ordinance

2008

Governor orders drought actionTIMELINE

Identified opportunities for landscape water efficiency

Enacted regulations

Original model landscape ordinance requirement

Protect local control and mitigate creating increased layers of government and oversight.

Ensure as much simplicity, efficiency and flexibility as possible.

Provide for as much consistency among OC cities as possible

Minimize complexity and cost of compliance

Policy Issues That Drove Orange County Ordinance

Stakeholder Input on Ordinance Development

3 large stakeholder groups 5 technical drafting committees Participation process open to

the public

Participants• OC Division League of Cities Members• City Council Members • City and County Planners• Water Agency Directors and Staff

• Building Industry Association• City Attorneys• OC Fire Authority & City Fire Departments• Parks & Recreation• Green Industry

Ordinance GoalsImplementation Meets AB 1881 requirements Succinct ordinance with separate

technical guideline documents Design & Construction certification

Benefits Promotes water use efficiency on

existing & future landscapes Enhances future water supply

reliability Eliminates duplicative tasks Promotes regional consistency

Ordinance & Guidelines

The What Establishes legal criteria and Maximum Applied Water

Allowance (MAWA)

The How Technical document explains how to achieve standards Separate guideline document provides flexibility to

incorporate future irrigation technical innovations

Ordinance Components Applicability Projects that require a building or landscape permit, plan check or design

review

New homeowner-installed or hired landscape contractor and greater than or equal to 5,000 sq. ft.

New and rehabilitated public agency, private development and developer installed single and multi-family landscape projects greater than or equal to 2,500 sq. ft.

MAWA Calculation ET Adjustment FactorLandscape installation or rehabilitation 0.7Existing landscape 0.8Special landscape areas/recycled water 1.0

Exemptions/ConsiderationsExemptions Landscapes less than 2,500 sq. ft Homeowner installed or hired projects

less than 5,000 sq. ft Projects that do not require a building or

landscape permit, plan check or design review

Registered historic sites Ecological restoration projects Public botanic gardens & arboretums

GuidelinesSubmittal Requirements Landscape Documentation Package

Project Information Sheet Maximum Applied Water Allowance & Estimated Applied Water Use Calculations Soil Management Plan Landscape Design Plan Irrigation Design Plan Grading Design Plan (if applicable)

Certificate of Design – signed by licensed professional

Permit Awarded/Construction Authorized

Certificate of Completion Legal language template for self-certification process Certificate of Use or a Permit Final

Certifies installation is consistent with landscape documentation package

Appendices Reference ETo Table for Orange County’s 3 zones Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet Template Definitions

How Does This Benefit All of Us

Good for economy Saves money Encourages jobs Sustainability benefits

Water is a huge economic resource

Water Agency Resources for Landscape Industry

Irrigation Management Training California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) Irrigation Association (IA)

Landscape Certification Program Waterbudgets.com

SmartTimer Rebates

Sprinkler Nozzle Rebates

Information Resources

OCCITIES.ORGLeague of California Cities• Library of all Orange County ordinances

MWDOC.COMMunicipal Water District of Orange County• Counter-top brochure• Library of all Orange County ordinances• Rebate information

ALWAYSWATERSMART.COMIrvine Ranch Water District• Rebate information

WATER.CA.GOVCalifornia Department of Water Resources

Summary California grappling with significant

water resource issues Legislation required water efficient

landscape ordinance adoption Orange County version provides

simplicity, efficiencies & saves costs Requires self-certification Opportunities for water reuse

landscape efficiencies identified Ordinance effective January 2010

Fiona SanchezConservation Manager

Irvine Ranch Water District

Thanks for attending!

Lacy KellyExecutive Director

Orange County League of Cities

Joe BergWater Use Efficiency Programs Mgr.

Municipal Water District of Orange County

Questions? Questions?

Audio

Audio Mode: O Use Telephone

O Use Mic & Speakers

IF USING PHONESelect to see “Audio PIN”

IF USING COMPUTERPlug in headset

Information Resources

OCCITIES.ORGLeague of California Cities• Library of all Orange County ordinances

MWDOC.COMMunicipal Water District of Orange County• Counter-top brochure• Library of all Orange County ordinances• Rebate information

ALWAYSWATERSMART.COMIrvine Ranch Water District• Rebate information

WATER.CA.GOVCalifornia Department of Water Resources