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Home My WebLink About0352.091- ~ • • ' ·i> if ",-' ' July J. 1991 TIll! HOIIORABLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto, California 11 ~Dtion criteria Related to prought Rate Schedules Members of the council: Report in Brie f On June 24, 1991 the Council approved revised drought rate schedules (W-6 and W-7) as part of the cityts FY 1991-92 budget. Durinq the discussions related to how a resident O~ bUsiness would qualify for a hardship exemption under these rate schedules, more specific information was requested as to 'What constitutes the conditions for an exemption. In oraer to make it clear what conditions are a prerequisite$ the attached Resolution (including Exhibit A) has been prepared. Exhibit A sets forth the necessary criteria tor approval under the following exemption categories: (1) medical ; (2) large family (6 + per capita allowance); (3) permission to exceed maximum cap and (4) adjustment to Baseline Consumption Al1owances~ stafL recommends Council approval of the attached resolution which sets forth the specific criteria for evaluating applications for exemption under Drought Rate Schedules w-6 and W-7~ Respectfully submitted, -(~~ i>~-- w. RAN1>Ori" BALDSC!{I!N Assistant Director of utilities Administrative Services ~_JvJ 7';r;.-<4~1f' R,tCHARD L. YOUNG / Y Director . '1ties City Manager CXR: ]52:U L .• • ... __ • ....A_ I I 'J::: ' v'" - RESOLUTION NO. RESOWTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE----crTy OF PAUl ALTO ADOPTING IJ"l'IUT"i RULES A."D REGULATIONS PURSUANT TO PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 12.20.010 II! ORDER TO IKPLEl!ENT DRQUGWl' WATER RATE Sc.:!:DULES W-6 AND W-7 WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Palo Alto declared in Ordinance No~ 35160 thal't a vater shortage emergency exists; and ~, the Council of the City of Falo Alto has adopted a budget tor tiscal year 19511-19$2, incl~ding Utility Rate Sch9dules W-6 and W-7 which establish drought water ratp-s: and WHEREAS, Utility Rate Schedules W-6 and W-7 also establish limitations on the manner and quantity of permissibl~ uses of City supplied potable water during the current drought emergency; and WHEREAS., it is necessary and desirable to implement the above-referenced drought limi tatlons throuqh detailed utility rules and requ1ations. NOW., THEREFORE, the council of the city of Palo Alto does hereby RESOLVE as follows: SECTIQN 1~ Pursuant to Section 12.20.010 of the Palo Alto MUnicipal Code, utility Rate Schedules W-6 and W-7 are hereby implemented and supplemented by the -Drought Rate Schedule Exemption Criteria-, attacher:3 hereto as Exhibit -AQI! and incorporat ed by this referer~e. SECTION 2 ~ The C?llncil finds that enactment of tbis resolution is exempt from provisions of the California Environmen tal ~~ality Act ~ecause it is an action immediately neces~ary to mitigate a water shortage emergency~ IN'l'RODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST: APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Manager City Attorney Director of Finance Director of Utilities 910'701 -t'< CXH0199 " 1 , . I j I I Ezlubit A DROUGHt RAlE SCHEOUlE EXEMl'TION CRITERlA CONDmQNS FOR APPRQYAL -The applicanl must describe tile condition sufficiently to clarify why extra water is needed and the approyjmate quantity. (A doctor's verification of condition may be required al staff's dis<:retion.) -The majority of Iota! water used by the applicant, as reflecled by the usc history. is for indoor PUl"pC.'Ses (ic. t.~ exemption may not be granted if the needed water easily could be acquired through appropriate reductions in outdoor irrigatioll).. -Loss of landscape investments, insufficient income to pay bIlls, and temporary visitors (residents for less than 6 months) do not consthute a hardship for the purpose of exemption from the drought rate schedules" n, lNge Family (6+ rer Capita AI!owanc!;) *f~_~:±;:'1~-;:'> :.' ~~t~~~ -. -All appllcanl; ID.!:lli submit a signed verification form. -If the following criteria are met, the application wIll generally be granted without further staff review: 1) 28% below 1987 use; 2) Good record regarding water use restrictions (no more than a first citation notice F -If c1ther of the above two numbered criteria cannot be met, funher staff review 'Mill be Tequired before an exemption can be granted, including but not limited to an on"site Vw"ater audit to identify that Basic C-OrtServation Measures have been taken and that total monthJy water use does Dot exceed 4 units per perma[]ent resident plus an Outdoor Ir.igation Allo'ment. 1 • II t I; , Basic COruer .... etion MeRSyu:;s: • Toilet tank displacement retrofits • Showerheads with 3 gpm flow or kss · FSlJCCl aeralocs · Any indoor or outdoor leal<s repaired • Muloh in all appropriate areas · Irrigation system in good working order • Irrigation controDed at demonstrably reduced levels. Q\)Ldoor Irril'ation Allotment: Landscaped Square FOOI2ge • 2.5 gallons. Derived from a State Departrll<mt of Water Resource. fornlUla that compute. water required to irrigate traditionally landscaped are .. ; the derived total was then reduced by 50 percent to reflect appropriate irrigation levels during the drought. • Maximum Cap: If an .. emption is granted, the applicant will be placed on drought rate ochedule W·I. The maximum limit of 50 ccf!month will still be enforced; however, a customer may also apply for an exemption to this maximum limit (See criteria below.} rn, P!1tt!lis<jnn F!!f Residential Customer> to F!!'W! !he Mpjmum Cap (SO unjWmoutb) ·If the following criteria are me~ the application will generally be granted without further staff review: I} Mus! be 28% below 1987 use. 2) Must have good record in regard to water use restrictions (no more than a first citation notice). 3) Basic Conservation Measures are listed or reveakd during on~sHe audit. 4) Total appropriate water use (as calculated by fDmlula: 4 units per permanent residetlt plus Outdoor Irrigation Allotment) must be greater than 50 units/month. 2 I j J ,j I I 8&ic Conservation Measures: · Toilet tank displacement retrofits · Showerbearu. v.itn 3 gpm flow Of' Jess · Faucet aerators · Any indoor or outdoor !ef.ks repaired · Mulch in an appropriate areas · Irrigation system in good working order · Inigation controlled at demonstrably reduced levels, Outdoor Irrigation Motrnen!: Landscaped Square Footage x 2.5 gaDan>. Derived from a State Department of Water Resources formula tha~ computes water required to irrigate traclitionaDy landscaped areas; the derived total W"dS then reduced by 50 percent 10 reflect appropriate irrigation levels during the drought. ·u any of the above four numbered criteria cannot be met, an exemption will be granted on.,. if an on·sile water audit determines that the following comprehensive list of conservation measures have been taken. IY. BCA I !ljqstmcnt Comprehensive Conservation ]t.1'easures · AI! the Basic Measures plus: · Ultra·low flush (1.6 gpl) toilets in the majority cf hathrooms • Showerheads with 2.5 gpm fk:.w or less or with shut· off valves · Visually apparent drought damage to lawn areas · Cover for pooVspa/hot tub · Drip irrigation, soaker hoses and rrricro sprayers wherever appropriate • Trees being watered by deep root methods. ·If rile applicant claim., and the usage history supports, that the months used for the Baseline Consumption Allowance (BCA) calculation were inappropriate, an adjustment may be ffiade (e.g. a busines.s. was closed an of February, 1990 or apartment complex had 10 vacancies in January 1990 but now is full). 3 , ; - ·If the applicanr claims a change in business type~ production levels., etc. is the grc-unds for adjustment, an on-site audit may be perfcrmed (un! .... staff is already familiar with customer operation) 10 verify cbiim and idectify that basic conservation measures have been taken. Bask Conservation Meiuures: · Toilet tank displacement retrofits • Showerhead< with a 3 gpm flow or less · Faucet aerators · Any indoor or outdoor :leaks repaired · Mulch L'1 aD appropriate areas • Irrigation system in good working order · Imgaoon controUed at doe monstrably reduced }e'."els. v. Pomtission For Non-Resid!;ntial Cus!omen 10 ~ !be Mmmym Cap -Customers with a BCA will Dot be exempted from the "over 5 times the BeA" cap; however, if the customer can demonstrate that the assigned BCA does not reflect their .essential water nee.ds, the BCA will be adjusted. Note: Granted adjustments or exemptions from the drought rate schedules ""rill become effective with the next hilling period foDowing application approval. No retroactive rate adjustments will be made for prior billing periods. 4