I. RECOMMENDATION:
Staff is recommending that the City Council adopt resolution No. 4147 repealing both Resolution No. 4108 ending the water emergency and all water shortage regulations and Resolution No. 4112 which established the pool moratorium.
II. BACKGROUND:
On July 1, 2022 the City of Coalinga adopted a Resolution proclaiming a water conservation emergency and instituted extreme water shortage restrictions due to the drought related water shortages from the Unities States Bureau of Reclamation. Further on August 4, 2022, the City of Coalinga continued the water conservation emergency due to ongoing dry conditions and updated its water shortage regulations. In addition, the Council adopted Resolution No. 4112 establishing a moratorium on the construction of new swimming pools.
III. DISCUSSION:
The 22/23 winter has been very wet and recently the USBR put out a press release that federal municipal and industrial contractors south of the San Luis Reservoir would be expected to receive 75% of its historical usage. To Coalinga, staff anticipate this would represent approximately 37% more water than what the City would use in a typical wet water year. With this information the City Council has requested that the City end the water emergency and return the City back to standard conservation (stage 1) allowance.
Although the City is expecting 75% of its historical use from USBR, as of writing this report (3/7/2023) staff has not received the City's official allocation letter. Staff will update the City Council at the meeting so that a formal decision may be made at that time to adopt said resolution to end the water emergency or to continue this action until a formal letter is received from USBR.
As the water emergency ends by the repealing of Resolution No. 4108, the City will return to Stage I, Standard Conservation:
The following restrictions shall be applicable throughout the year unless the City Council determines that an increased conservation effort shall be implemented (stage 2 or 3):
- There shall be no hose washing of sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, patios, porches or verandas.
- No water shall be used to clean, fill, operate or maintain levels in decorative fountains unless such water is part of a recirculation system.
- No water customer shall permit water to leak on his or her premises. Such leak shall be repaired in a timely manner after written notification by the City, but in no case in excess of seventy-two (72) hours after notification.
Designated times and days of irrigation:
- No water customer shall sprinkle, water, or irrigate any shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, groundcovers, plants, vines, gardens, vegetables, flowers, or any other landscaped or vegetated areas between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. This provision shall not apply to equestrian and livestock businesses, dairies, nurseries, athletic fields, golf courses, or other water dependent industries.
- The use of a hand held hose with a shut-off valve shall be permitted at any time.
- The use of water from fire hydrants shall be limited to fire fighting and related activities necessary to maintain the public health, safety, and welfare. An exception may be made for construction use through a proper city-designated meter where recycled water is not available.
All penalties will revert back to Section 6-4C.09 for penalties that were in effect before the proclamation of water emergency was made.
In addition, Resolution No. 4147, will repeal Resolution No. 4112, which created a moratorium on the construction of new swimming pools in the City.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
- Do not adopt Resolution No. 4147 and continue to the water conservation emergency and water shortage restrictions.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
The City will have the ability to sell more water with less restrictions thus providing additional revenue to the water fund. | | |