I. RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approving the Lawn to Garden Rebate Pilot Program with input from both City Council and the public.
II. BACKGROUND:
On April 7th, the council discussed the potential implementation of a Lawn to Garden program. Staff recommended that modifications be made to what was proposed.
III. DISCUSSION:
The goal of the program is to reduce a landscape area’s water needs by approximately 50%. This number may vary based on what is being replaced. The general idea is to remove grass and replace those areas with zone appropriate plants. The applicant is free to design however they wish within the given parameters. They can either seek professional help or pursue the installation themselves.
This will be a pilot program with 10 maximum applicants. Any additional applicants will be placed on a waiting list.
General Requirements
- Must replace living turf or outdoor water surface.
- Single Family Residential.
- Must utilize a smart water meter and have an account for “Eye on Water”
- Applicants will be reimbursed after final inspection, and expected to pay all costs up front
- Applications must be completed electronically to ensure fairness with “first come first serve”
- Any applicants that exceed the maximum funded amount will be responsible for the additional costs.
Automated Irrigation System
- Automated Irrigation timer *special circumstances may trigger exemption
- Micro-drip irrigation system
- Pressure regulated
Plant Requirements
*Gardenia.net is a great resource
- Drought Tolerant
- ≥ Heat Zone 7
- ≥ Hardiness Zone 7
- ≥ 50%
Hardscape/Rock/Mulch
- ≤ 50%
- No Water Features
- Permeable
Rebate Amounts
The rates are based on Fresno’s rate setup. The original $1.00 amount brought forward previously did not recognize other rebates offered by the City of Fresno that applicants could utilize simultaneously. All together there are 14 rebates available in Fresno related to water conservation, 6 of which are roughly related to outdoor water use. The ones listed below identify those that closely match Coalinga’s goal.
Applicable Rebates
*Maximum Total Benefit – $2100
- Turf Replacement – $1.00/sqft ($1500 max)
- Micro-drip Irrigation Retrofit (Valve + Pressure Red.+ System)-- $50.00 + $0.50/ft ($500 max)
- Smart Irrigation Controller -- $100
Program Staffing/Application/Forms
With the use of clever forms and simple inputs, the program can be run efficiently by two people. The process is relatively simple. An initial application is submitted electronically to indicate interest. This doubly serves as a time stamp to ensure fairness in regard to “first come first serve” and order of waiting list. The outline of events can be found below.
Initial Application
- Application that consists of Location/Contact Information and consent to program guidelines
- Dispense information
Pre-inspection
- Measure turf area
- Verify it meets “General Requirements”
- Verify that they are aware of requirements
Planning Phase
- Simple drawing
- Plant Coverage Worksheet
- Hardscape Worksheet
Work Phase
- Begins once planning documents are accepted, and notification is sent via email & phone call.
- 120 days given to complete project
Post Inspection
- Pass/Fail
- Given 30 days for compliance if failed
- Disperse funds
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
- Don’t approve Lawn to Garden Pilot Program
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
The maximum benefit any single applicant can receive is $2,100. Not all applicants will be given that amount, as it is based on variables such as square footage, inclusion of a “Smart” irrigation timer, and micro-drip irrigation retrofit.
With 10 applicants, the budget for this program will be $21,000. This is an unbudgeted item, and will be pulled from the water enterprise budget. |