City Council
MEETING DATE: 2/8/2017
TITLE:
Title
Second Reading of an Ordinance Requiring Landscape-Related Businesses to Complete a Course on Water Efficiency
End
FROM:
Patrick Milos Community Development Director
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council provide second reading and approve an amendment to the existing ordinance for a Required Landscaper Course on Overseeding Alternative to include a course on Water Efficiency for issuance of a Business License to landscape-related businesses in the City.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) is requesting that each member city and the County adopt consistent valleywide regulations that require completion of a course about water efficient landscaping as a prerequisite for the issuance of a business license to landscape-related businesses. Last fall, CVAG staff began working with Coachella Valley Water District staff to create a program modeled after CVAG’s existing Landscaper Overseeding Certification Ordinance and the online “smart scalping” course. The new course focuses on water use efficiency for professional landscapers, to increase their knowledge and use of best practices in water conservation. Since that time, CVWD staff has worked with CVAG, College of the Desert (COD), and other local water agencies to create a new course in water efficiency to offer with the existing Landscaper Overseeding Certification Program. By doing so, landscape professionals could be certified in best practices to meet regional goals to improve our air quality and increase water efficiency in a “one-stop shop” approach.
The original model ordinance for a landscapers’ course on the overseeding alternative, known as smart scalping, was developed and approved by the CVAG Executive Committee in July 2007 and subsequently adopted by CVAG member agencies. The smart scalping course has been offered since 2007 and continues to be a very effective part of our regional air quality program. The course is offered free of charge to landscape professionals and there is no cost to member agencies. In the first 18 months of the course approximately 630 overseeding certificates were issued. The smart scalping course is now offered online by College of the Desert, providing easy access for landscape professionals.
DISCUSSION:
An amendment to the existing Landscaper Overseeding Certification Ordinance to add the requirements for water efficiency certification is attached for your review. This amendment has been reviewed by CVAG general counsel and CVWD staff. It was approved by the CVAG Executive Committee on June 6, 2016. The ordinance was introduced for first reading on January 25, 2017. The water efficiency course is offered through College of the Desert’s Partnership and Community Education program along with the air quality course and is free to participants. It is available in English and Spanish.
CVWD staff has developed the water conservation curriculum with their professional staff and the course is now available online. The course is available in English and Spanish on the College of the Desert website at:
<http://www.collegeofthedesert.edu/community/pace/Pages/clc.aspx>.
COD manages the course along with CVAG’s existing online Overseeding Certification course. Landscape professionals can take the course online and print a certificate of completion to present to the city business license department. Computers and printers are available to those who need them at College of the Desert’s facility at Westfield Mall. Educational outreach in coordination with CVWD, COD, CVAG member agencies, and other local water agencies is available, including a flyer to be distributed to landscape professionals.
This amendment to the existing “smart scalping” model landscaper certification ordinance was reviewed by the CVAG Energy and Environmental Resources Committee at their meeting of May 12, 2016. They recommended approval of the proposed amendment. The online water efficiency course and proposed amendment were also discussed with the CVAG Technical Planning Subcommittee of planning directors and community development directors at their May 17 meeting. They were supportive of the approach. CVWD and Desert Water Agency also participated in that meeting. Following the approval of the CVAG Executive Committee, the model ordinance amendment is now being circulated for consideration by all CVAG member agencies. All CVAG member cities have approved or will consider approval of the ordinance by February 2017.
CVWD has also been working with the State Water Resources Control Board on a settlement related to an alleged violation by CVWD of the Emergency Regulation for Statewide Urban Water Conservation. At their April 2016 meeting, the CVAG Executive Committee authorized a letter of support for this settlement which was sent to the State Water Resources Control Board. Under the proposed settlement agreement, CVWD has agreed to implement a Landscaper Certification Program that will focus on water use efficiency. CVWD and the SWRCB have also agreed that the $61,000 fine paid by CVWD will be suspended pending completion of the water conservation project. The settlement is described in the notice from the SWRCB:
<http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/public_notices/comments/docs/notice_cvwd_settlement.pdf>.
By combining course material on overseeding and water efficiency, participants could be certified in one simple process. Thus, implementation of this program should require little to no staff time on the part of the local jurisdictions. At this time, staff is requesting the approval of the attached amendment to the Model Landscaper Overseeding Certification Ordinance to include a course on Water Efficiency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with developing the program with College of the Desert are being funded by the Coachella Valley Water District.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Model Landscaper Certification Ordinance Amendment