I. RECOMMENDATION:
This was a Future Agenda Item request by Councilman Adkisson. Staff is providing the information provided by Councilman Adkisson with some additional suggestions for developing this program.
II. BACKGROUND:
The plan proposes a Lawn to Garden Pilot Program that is described as follows:
Through the Lawn to Garden Rebate Program, the City will pay $1 per square foot, up to 1,500 square feet per property, for homeowners to remove lawns and replace them with water-efficient landscapes.
Rules:
- You cannot pave your yard with concrete.
- No more than 35% of the project can consist of rocks.
- There is a timeline to follow, which includes an application, a consultation with a City staff member, and about 120 days to complete the project, subject to approval.
- One of three methods must be used to remove lawn: (1) Solarization, which entails laying a cover of black plastic over the grass and waiting a month or more for vegetation to die, (2) placing cardboard over the lawn and covering it with mulch, or (3) using a herbicide such as Round-Up. Anyone using the third option is advised to be careful and use gloves, boots and other protective equipment.
- Permitted plants include jasmine, sage, thyme and juniper.
- Permitted mulch includes shredded bark, compost or aged sawdust.
For this pilot program, 10 homeowners would be selected capping the total program cost at $15,000. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis with the first 10 applicants with an approved project after consulting with a City staff member considered approved for funding.
III. DISCUSSION:
“Cash for Grass” or turf replacement programs are becoming more and more prevalent in this state as well as others. While their effectiveness varies from program to program, it is generally accepted that they net approximately a 20% water savings. While this may seem low, please understand that this is an aggregate value produced by a study in Nevada with a very high sample size. Individual homes may see a much higher savings.
For example, in Coalinga (utilizing 2020 data), there were 1,064 homes with a median use of 10-20 kgals/month during the summer months. These homes tend to have relatively simple landscaping. Conversely, there were 133 homes with a median use of 40-50 kgals/month. These homes have a much denser landscaping and would see a higher return.
This makes it difficult to produce a total water savings figure on an individual basis, but utilizing the aforementioned figure of 20%, we can produce a useful value vetted by well-educated data scientists.
Again, utilizing the calendar year of 2020 dataset, residential homes consumed approximately 490 million gallons of water. Applying the 20% reduction, assuming every resident willing to utilize the program has done so, there is a potential savings of 98 million gallons.
Please be aware that this is derived from a highly successful and well-funded turf replacement program.
Staff has been researching such a program modeled after agencies such as Fresno City and the Southern Nevada Water Authority. Admittedly, the progress on the program fell off due to focus on other items. However, much of the work to build a foundational idea has been completed. As such, staff would like the opportunity to bring a preliminary plan back to city council during the next meeting on April 21 for consideration.
The program would be somewhat similar to what is being offered to Fresno residents, but molded to fit Coalinga residents, staff ability, and our own uniqueness.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
- Adopt the program as proposed in “Background”
- Allow staff to produce a preliminary program to bring back to council for discussion to build upon what has been provided.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
For the described pilot program, 10 homeowners will be selected capping the total program cost at $15,000. Applications are processed on a first come, first served basis with the first 10 applicants with an approved project after consulting with a City staff member considered approved for funding. This would be an unbudgeted item coming from the water fund. | | |