HomeMy WebLinkAbout0254.093<~ .. 0 ~
April 22~ 1993
THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alto J Californja
~990 -1"3 water Management p~ Up4ate
M.Mrt tit. Briat
17
This is the final report in the series of periodic updates to
Council on Palo Alto's current 1992-93 water use status and overall
.1990-93 drought program management.. In late March, the San
Francisco water Department (SFWD) declared ita intent to
discontinue water rationing. The Utilities Advisory commission
discussed the SFWO decision and the apparent improved water
situation in Northern California at its April 7, 1993 1 meeting.
The CO:mJ!l.issicn recolnltended that Council declare that a 'Water
shortage condition no longer exists and consider discontinuing the
emergency water use prohibitions (Section 12.32. 01!:> -Ordinance
No. 4038), and the maximum monthly water ~se caps (Section
12~32.0l0 -ordinance No. 4041 §2). Staff recommends that Co~ncil
maintain the long-term water use prohibitions (Section
12.32.010 Ordinance No. 3884) and enfor'cement procedurEs (Section
12.~2.C20 Ordinance No. 3884).
city af Palo Alto Water Consumption
Palo Alto's ",'ater supplier, the San Francisco Water Departm2nt
(SFWDJ, has required mandatory reductions in water ·..lse .from July
1990 to February 1953. During this period; Palo Al't_o .... ater
customers dramatically curtailed. their water usage from pre-drought
(1987) levels. For F¥s 1990-91 and 1991-92, citywide consumptions
were 30 and 35 percent, respec-.:ively, belo ... 1987 usage. In FY
1992-93 J for the period beginning July 1992 through the end of
restrictions in February 1993, consumption was 29 percent below
1987 usage. Palo Alto residents and businesses are to be commended
for exceeding reduction goals every year and, thereby, avoiding
SFWD's stiff penalty rates for usage over allocation. The
following chart ..:::o:mpares Palo Alto's consumption to the SFWD
allocation since rationing Degan in July 1990.
CHIt: 25' J 93
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~Owt[.) -""" End ...... ~ I,JncW H --y-o. -~f5!!O!'I. ~red' ~i ~
1991).31 Ju~' 21 .,I1,j",20 !:,t5E),46Q 4,743,691 -'" '" 4 1.c,595
199>-&:;! J\,I~ 21 JU!>CI 19 5,m,237 5.0E;7.224 -12S% 723,C1J
"''''''' ",,,ntI :!O Feb 18 3.rn 38e .a:,5t.2,56B -O'5~""It 21[).72'0 ... , ., Q<;1 .. On.t H(H'.d~ C'J,c.;~ ~Hl" 7~ Galf.or1lf: t ur1it
Attachment 1\ shows a comparison of the 1992-93 allocation to
consumption in FYs 1992-93 and 1.991-9.2. Consumption in the base
year 198i is sho~~ for reference.
Based on heavy local rains and Sierra snow pack, SFWO ended drought
provisions for the 1993 year in late Har-ch. The penal ty pl."ovisions
have been removed and the banking program has been terminated,
retroactive to February. Subllrban customers are being allowed
their full contract allocations of ~ater; ho~ever, SFWD is
encouraging 15 percent voluntary rationing_ New, non-drought SFWD
rates should be announced to suburban agsncies by the end of April.
Staf!' \alill return to Council with .. ater rate recommendations as
Boon as feasible.
W.t.r utility Impacts
Water sales and purchases are monitored monthly. DespitE a
24 percent retail 'Water rate increase effective July 1992, wat.er
sales have risen since July 1992. From a utility financial
perspective, this is good news. However, despite the rising sales
and corresponding additional revenue being collected during FY
1992-93, the water Fund's overall financi~l picture is expected to
remain unfavorable I but impZ"oved. In sho:r:·t, the additional net
sales revenue, ~hich may increase reserve levels, is net expected
to raise such levels above their ~inimum reserve level.
Water Rates
In response to the mitigated restrictions imposed by SFWD and in
recognition that the ~ater supply situation has improved
substantial I}' ~ staff plans to recommend the introduction of neW'
water rate schedules during the c~rrcnt bUdget process and
elimina.tion of the existing drought rate schedules. Because
promotinq conservation ~ill continue to be a ratemaking objective,
the staff plans to retain an inverted residential [""ate Schedule
which will not be as steeply inverted as the current drought rate
schedule. For non-residential customers, the staff is evaluating
the application of one of two rates, namely, a flat commodity rate
1:1111: 2 54,93 Paqe 2
-,
for a.ll custol!lers, or a tier of several different rate sr:hedules to
apply to various sized customers.
Th~ transition from drought rate schedules to normal water prici~g
will necessarily result in reversing th~ process used to achieve
steeply inverted rates. Sin~e t.be onset o! dr-ought conditions in
1987. small '.rater userS have received rate deer-eases or rela;tively
small rate increases~ while large water users have received so~e
very larqe rate increases. Because of the r.ecessary application of
rate increases in this manner, a transition t·,) normal water s~rvice
schedules may result in small users experiencing no change in their
bill, while large users ~ay experience psrcentage bill decreases.
Finally, it should be ncted that. the F'i 1992-94 budget adopted last
y£ar provided tor a 24 percent 'Water revenue increase, effer::tive
July 1, 1993 1 in order to finance t~.e infrastruct'<Jre project~
Ho'Wever, because 'Water sales have risen, staff proposes c~nceling
~~i$ water revenue inc~ease for FY 1993-94.
Drought Program rmpl .. ectation
Since the lato.t report to Council ir. February 1993 'CMR~ 150: 9J},
there have been ,a total of 43 adjustments made in resporlse to
customers requesting exemptions from the standard drought rate
schedules. The overall adjustments fall into the following
categories:
Family of six or more
Medical needs
Cap
Baseline Consumption Allo~ance
Adjusted (Commercial Accounts)
Totals:
rr 1"2-')
37
11
0
75
123
'1'O'I'J.L Frs 1 9 90-"3
148
265 •
~ ___ ?_65
478
A total of 478 adjustments have been made since the drought rates
'Went into effect in July 1991. This number is very small in
comparison to the 29,000 plus water utility accounts. staff has
found the d:--o'U.ght rate system tc be appropriate for the vast
majority of customers~
water Ua. Ordinances
In the last eight months, only four first warning notices have been
issued for violations of the emergency and long-term ..... ater use
rE'strictions. Since July 1991, 250 first warnings and 33 second
warning notices have been issued. Only one flow restrictor was
installed for repeated ordinance violation.
Because the current dro'Ught has ended, the more stringent -water use
restrictions noW' seem unnecessary. It is recommended that
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custo~e~s who use higher amounts of ~ater each month should not be
subject to ~ater waste ~arnings and flow restricto~ installation
u~less they violate the long-term water waste restric~icns (Chapter
12.32 -ordir.ance No. 3S84) ~ ROlolevE'.r. wat.e.r co!".servation s.n':)l.lld be
encouratjed and still is held under existing City ordin.ances.
MaximUE monthly caps in 'Water use ..... ere set at 50+ units for
residential customers and five times Basic Con5urnption Al1o~ance
(SCA) for commercial customers.
~t its April J, 1993, meeting. the utilities ~dvisory commission
proposed that statf go directly to council for action on the
recom:m.endation that r-ellloval of the emergency water ..... aste
restrictions be effected. St.-aft recommends that the emergency
'Water wast€) restrictions should not remain in effect and the
monthly water use caps snould be eliminated or suspended. In the
interest of long-term water use efficiency, ~taff reco~ends
keepinq the lO!'lg-tern 'Water waste r.estrictions and enforcement
procedures.
City and rub1io Pacilities
All park and City facility irrigation systems will be maintained at
the conservation levels established. The project to install
reclaimed water lines to serve the Golf Course and Municipal
Services Center is in the final design phase, and construction is
expected to begin in late summer.
customer OUtroach Aa8i~tanee
Palo Alto residents and businesses are continuing to effectively
conserve wate:!:" resou;:-ces, and relatively little awareness
advertising has been needed. The following list summarizes staff's
onqcit'l.(l water .:;onservation activity since the February 1993 report
to Council (CMR:150:93)~
Y&&r-to-4&te totals (FY 1992-93):
• performed 33 residential and 11 commercial on-site Yater audits;
provided 225 telephone consultations; handled 375 requests for
conservation factsheet$ and home 'Water kits.
t Issue.d an update newsletter to ::major account customers and a
targeted Eoiling to small comm~rcial customers.
• Provided one water conservation presentation to sch001 childr-en.
t Produced three water update flyers for the utilities bills.
t Reviewed 35 commer-cial landscape plans for conformance wit."'l city
Water Efficient Landscape standards.
CMR:254:t3 page ..
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overall proqraa totale (~YS 1~'O~tJ)
• Parfonaet1 -4 S, on-site water audits; handled 4.033 tel ephone
inquiries: handled 1,101 r-equests for cons~rvation factsheets
and home water conservation kits~
• Provided 17 water conservatio:1 classroo!l'l p:-esentations to school
children.
• Provided 15 elementary school-".dde asse:m.bl ies 011 water
conservation.
• Provid~d 4 scholarship~ to ele~entary school teachers to attend
~ater conservation training workshops.
• Issued 8 update newsletters to commercial customers.
t Issued 10 targeted mailing5 consisting of conservation guides,
drought updates and speci~l ~ervices offered.
• Proauced 26 water update flyers for utilities bill.
• Produced 53 newspaper ads.
• Ran 6 conservation messages pre-printed on the utility bill.
• Produced 8 scrolling conserv~tion messages on the local cable TV
channel.
• Hela 8 water conservation ~orkshops.
• Ran 18 special events.
• Developed 4 water conservation ordinances.
• Reviewed 117 commercial landscape plans for conio:t"l!lance with the
City Water Efficient Landscape guidelines and/or Qctual
standards courlcil adopte.d ih September 1992.
• Developed and produced a variety of water conservation
which were utilized by other cities, utilities.
organizations and the State of California.
materials
industry
o Continued involvement with local and regional agencies (includes
the Santa Clara Valley Water District, Bay Area Water Users
Association and the State Department of Water Resources
Conservation Advisory Committee) to coordinate outreach efforts.
The City of Palo Alto continues to remain belo~ its allocation from
the San Francisco water Department (SFWD) end the continued
eXlu 2 S' : 93 page 5
conservation eftort ot residents and bUsinesses al ike is to be
applauded. The recent winter sto~s have eased the drought crisis
lJ.?ld SYWD has zecently ended the drought p"Co'.lisiQns for 1'993.
Because the wa.t".er s;hortage emergency no longer ~xists. the
emergency 'Water '..:ase. rest.riction ordinances n-eed to be modi fied.
Staff recomaends that Council adapt an crdin~nce fin~ing,
~etermininq and declaring that the water shortage no long~r exists
and suspending t.he emergency water use restrictions (Section
12.32.015 -Ordinance No. 4039), 3.-:;d the maxi::'l:lum monthly water use
caps (Sec~ion 12.3~.030 -O~dinance No. 4041 ~2).
Respectfully submitted,
(XL~ .£ a::J(, )
tinda Clerkson ~
Acting Manaqer, Resource cvnservation
Acting Chair, City Water Management committee
~d£/;~I
Interim Director of Utilities
l~" . ~UFlem~ ~~~ Manager
cc: Utilities Advisory commission
Attachments: City of Palo Alto water
Proposed Ordinance
Ordinance No. 3884
Ordinance No. 4033
ordinance No. 4041 §~
consumption
t to be retained)
(to be suspended)
(to rs suspended)
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ORDINA.J.~CE NO.
ORDINANCE CF THE COtmCIL OF T'HECln-OF PALO ALTO
SUSPENDING T"rlE SUPPLE'MEN'!'AL M~ AMENDED WA.TER
SHORTAGE EMERGENCY REGt .... LA"I'IONS AND MAXIMl'JM MON'rHLY
WATER USE CAP PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN C'HAPTER
12.32 OF TITLE 12 OF THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, in Ordinance No. 3960 the City Council duly
declared a wat-er shortage emergency pursuant to the notice and
hearing procedures set fcrth in Water Code section 350 tl. ~.,
because the~e was a significant shortage of water reserves and the
City of Palo Alto's wholesale B~pplier of water cut arh~ual
deliveries by 2G.7t; and
WHEREAS, in Ordinance No. 4038 the City Council enacted
supplemental and amended vater shortage emergency regulations~
cecause the water shortage remained an ongoing emergency, the City
of Palo Alto's wholesale supplier iruposed ~andatory 25' water use
reduction requireme~t8 on its customers, and the City of Palo Alto
was required to achieve a 28\" water cse reduction to meet the
mandatory requirements; and
WHEREAS~ i::. Ordinance No. 4D42.. sectio::l 2. a customer r:lf
the water utility of the City of Palo Alto is prohibited from using
or taking delivery of more potable water than a monthly max.L'"m.lm use
cap; and
WHEREAS. under Water Code section 355, water sbortage
emergency regulations are to remain in effect during the period of
emergency and until the supply of water available for distribution
has been replenished or augmentEd; and
WHEREAS. on March 23 J 1993. the City of Palo Alto's
wholesale supplier of wateI-" teI"T!1inated the mandatory 'Water USE
reduction reauirements for its cu:s<.tomers, because substantial rains
in the state have replenished and au~~nted the supply of water
available for discributioo by the City of Palo Alto's wholesale
supplier to its custo.mers;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo ~to does
ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. The Council of the City of Palo Alto finds,
determines, and declares that;
1. Due to significant precipitation during the fall
and winter months of 1992 and 1993, the wholesale supplier of water
to the City of Palo Alto has declared that there exists an
abundance of water rese~es, and has terminated the current
mandatory water rationing program for its customers.
2. While water conservation shall continue to be
emphasized and water use restrictions under Chapter 12.32 of Palo
~to MUnicipal Code shall continue in effect, there now exists an
1
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-.-;":
abundance of water available: for hurnan consumption, sanitation,
fire protection, and commErcial, industrial, and residential uses.
3~ Water shortage em~rgency conditions do not exis~
at the present time. anc, consistent with Wate~ Code section 355,
there is no need to continue El effect the supplel!tental and amended
water shortage em~rgency regulations ~dopted by Ordinance No. 4038
and codified in Section 12.32.015 of Chapter 12.32 of Title 12 of
the Pale ~to Muni~ipal Code.
SECTION 2. 0rciinance No. 40.3 S a~d Ordinance No. 4041,
section 21 are herety suspended until such time as water shortage
emergency conditions shall be subsequently found, dete~ined, and
declared by the Council to exist.
SECTION 3. The Council finds tha~
ordinance do not constitute a pr~ject
Environll'.encal Quality Act.
the provisions of this
under the California
SECTION
commencement of
adoptio~.
n.TRODUCBD :
PASSED:
AYES;
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
City Clerk
5. This ordinance shall be
the thirty-first day after
APPROVED:
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
effective
the date
City folanager
Senior Asst. City Attorney
on
of
Dir~ctor of Utilities
2
the
its
EXISTING
OlU'l IllJUlCl JlO.
O!UlIJIlUICE or 'I'D COtIJIClL or n<z ern or P7WO ALTO
UZ1Il)rIIG ClD.nJ:R U. U or TI!P PALO lUoTO IP»fZCIPAL COD!!
'1'0 .. rIAL A oaCLARATroN or WATSR BBORTAOZ SXBRGI»C!
AND EXACTING WATER USE "GULATro ••
WHEREA.S~ there is a continucus possibility of recu:l:"ring
drouqht in the Bay Area; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto's primary water &upplier,
the San Francisco Water Oepartment~ will be re5ching its peak capa
city li~its within the next two decades: and
WHtREAS, the City of Palo Alto recognizes the co~tinuing
ne8~ to man6ge its water resources wisely:
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto do~s
ORDAIN as follaw.:
SECTION 1. Ordinance No. ll.li. an Ordinance of the
CoYneil of the City or Palo Alto Restrictin~ Certain Water Us~s a~d
Deelarinq an Emergency is hereby repealed.
SECTION 2. Chapter 12.32 and Sections 12.32.010 al"l.d
12.32.02:0 of 6e,id Chapter of the Palo Alto Hu..'1ic::ipal Code a::--e
hereby enacted to read as fOllovs:
Cbapt.", .12 a 32
nHR OS!: IIEGULArIO!lS
12.32.010 W.ter 0' •• .aegul,atlou8. No purchaser of 'Water
from the City of Palo Alto, nor any customers of the water utility
of the city of Palo Alto, shall use water ~r allow any other persc~
to use water under the c~ntrol of such custocer or purchaser in the
followinq 'Ways:
'--. 1. Potable
~ be allowed to flood
sidewalks, streets or
wat~r for outdoor irrigation shall not
or run off into ;;utters, drivevays.
other unlandsc~ped areas.
'perceded 2. By means of a hose to wash ell-rs, :boats, trai.l-
• } ers, buses or other vehicles or to 'Wash siaewalk&, building
by structures, other harc1 surfaced arees or parts thereof without
nergency an operatin.g-.\Jtom~tic shut-oft valve. Use of a hose tor such
'rdinanre: purpo.e. should be avoided 'Whene\ler pcssible.
)visicn .2
3. Potable water for consolidation of backfill ~nd
" other non-domestic u.&s in construction shall not be used if
other methods of water sources lil.lch as reclaimed 'Water are
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available, as determined by the Director of Utilities O~ his
designee. ApplicAnts for hydrant pen-itc. from the city of
Palo Alto ahall be deemed to have consented to re~trictions
on water use 'IIP"hich may.be ilZlpo::iled by the Oirector of Ut.il ities
or his designee.
4~ Any broken or defective pl'.llll.hing, sprinklers,
l,;l!!Iterinq or irrigi!ltion systeaa ",hieh pel"1llit the escape or
leakage of water shall be repaired or replaced as soon as
possible, and not less than the time period established by t~e
Director of Utilities, O~ his designee, a& reasonable after
observation of the broken or defective system.
12.32.c120 _ntore ... li.t. In addition to enforcing ob
served violations of this Chapter by any person as a misdemeancr
or an infraction, the Oirector of utilities and his desiqnat.ed
employees are authorized to enforce the provisions of this Ordi
na.nce aqainst customers and water purchasers of the u'C.ility as
folloW's:
l~ Reports of violations shall :be called to the
attention of the p~rty responsible tor the 6ervi~e connection
used in the violation and shall be investiqated by the Utili
ties Department personnel to the extent possible.
2. Violations established to the satisfaction of
the Utiliti~s Depart~ent personnel shall result in the issu
ance of a. .... ri tten warning to the violator and the party
responsible for the service connection used in the violation.
3. A record Sholll be kept by the Oepartmer,t of
Ctilities of the City of Palo Alto of all violations.
4. If a second violation is estalliished to the
satisfaction of the Utilities Department personnel, the vi~
lator or party ~esponsible fer the service connection used in
the violation, or either of them, shall receive a mere severe
'Written warnfng, ad.visinq theD of the possibility that their
water flo~ will be restricted.
5. For a.ny third or subsequent violation hy the
same violator, customer, or 'Water purchaser, .or tor any ..-ill
ful violation, the Director of Utilities: or his designee rna}'
elect to install a flow restrictor upon the service connection
of the purchaser or customer at the purchaser's ~r ~stomer's
expense. Prior to installation of the vater restrictor, the
Director of Utilities shall give written notice to the person
responsible for the service connection, which is to be
restricted, of his intention to install a restrictor. The
person or persons to whom notice ia; to be qiven &ha.ll have
five (5} business days from the date of service of the notice
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to request a h~arinq before th~ Director of vtilities or hi~
designee in order tc pr •• e.nt any and. all evidence tbey Jr,!.y
have a5 to why a restrict~r should not be inatalle~ or u~d~r
what conditions it Diqht b. in5talled.
It a hful:!'inq is requested, the Oirector-of Utilities
5hall achedule a date and tim. for .aid hearing as &oon as
possible after the request is tiled, but not later than five
(5) busina&s days after the filing e! such request for hear
inq.
At the hearing, the perlon ~ho&e .~rvice connection
is to be restricted mey cfter evidence as to why the res~ric
tor .hcul~ not be installed O~ under what conditions it might
be installed.
utilities personnal shall also be allowed to offer
whatever evidence they may have ILB to why the reatrictor
should be allowed ~nd under what conditions. The Director of
utilities or his desiqnes shall make IS determination as to
whether the restrictor ahall or ahall n~t be installed end
what conditions~ it any, ahau11 pertain.
6~ Upon IS determination to install a restr1ctor
after hearinq, or the failure of the effected party to request
IS hearing', the director, under whatever conditions~ if ar.y,
he may deem advisable under the circumstances, may install a
flow restrictor on the service connection of the cus~omer or
purchaser of water whose service connection was used in the
violations observed or established and bill the coata of such
installation to said customer or purchaser in accordance with
the following conditions:
Ca) The first installation shall ~ for a
period of three (3) days.
(1:» Subsequent inatallaU.,ns shall be tor a
~riod to b2 determined by the Director ot utilities, in an
amount SUfficient to accompli5h the purposes ot this Or
dinance..
Flow restrictors sball be installed in accordance
",1 th Water Utility rules and requl.tiona and at the following
rates which ahall be borne by the uaer:
Meter Size
5/8-to 1-
1-1/2-to 2-
3· , larqer
,
1luttallaticD Cost
$25.00
50.00
Actual Coat
-]-
BempVAl Cost
$25.00
SO~Ota
Actual Cost
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Actual cost will include all Jlaterial. labor, equip
ment and ov~rhead charges.
SECTION 3. The Council finds tha~ the provisions of tt-.i:5
ordinance do not constitute a project un~~r the California Environ
•• n~al Quality Act and, therefore, no ~viron=en~al impact assess
aent 15 necessary.
SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall beCQme effective upon
the commence.~nt of the thirty-first ~.Y after ~~e day of its pas~
• .age.
1 Nl'RODUCEll:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ASSTOI'XIONS:
ABO;:Er.rI':
A'M'EST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Sr. Assistant City Attorney
APPROVED:
City Manager
Director of Utilities
ACS: jm
~/6/89
APPROVED:
Mayor
-4-
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ORDINANCE NO~ _.4035-_
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF '7dE CI';Y OF P>~LO
AL'~O A.lo!EN.DING CHAPTER .1.2 ~ 32 oF' T'rlE FALO ALTO
ML"NICr?AL CODE TO EN}'~CT SL,'PPLEMEN'TAL A."'D
AMENDED WATEP. SHORTAGE E.-v.:ERGENCY REG'C.!LATIONS
~'1IT.RE..~S, in Ordi:!'1.ance },'-o. 35-60 the City Council d1.!ly
declared a \,rat-e: shortage e:!llergency pursuant to the ;]ctice and
hearing procedures set forth iil ';;.ate~ Code se,::t.ion :~5a, e-:' sea.;
and
wHZ.R.EAS, 't:.."-e .... ·a-:.er shcrtage so de::lared remai:1.s an
ongoing eme::'gency; and
WHEP..EAS, the San Fra.ncisc':') 'h'ater Depa::-t:men-t: r"3F·~C".1 has
':':mpcsec man-:latD-:"}· 25% ·\,.,.-ater t.;.se reduction rec:ru..i::-e.men'ts c:-: its
cus-:.omers; and
WF...EREAS I Palo Alto :::J'Jst achieve. a 22% ~,.;ater use rea":..l,::'t.l0!·~
in oreer to meet the SFlm requireme:rt because P2.10 Al~o'5 clima.-:'e
and pat't.ern of d~velopment results in a higher outdoo~ irrigation
reg'..!ireJIient. tha~. tr.a"t. of the City of San :'ranciscc; and
h":"'1~.REAS: in order to achieve ti"le necessa::-y ·'.'ate:-us~
reductions it is necessary to ena-::t s'..:ppl€~e:"ltal and a.'llendea · .. ·a-=e=
shortage emergency regulations.
NOW, TrlEREEORE, the Council of th.e City of Palo .t_lt:::: c.oss
ORDAIN as follows:
SEC'!'!O~. Section 12.32.C1S c·~ Ch~pte= ~2 . .3.2 c-: the
Palo Alto Municipal Cods is here:;-y a::.e:1de::! to re.ad as f,::::ll:;\o,'s:
12~324015 Water
e~.ergency regulations of the
of Palo Alto:
Ose Regula'tions~
use of v<'ite= are effe.cti ve
to::.:l~.,;irlg
in the City
(a) Except for drip irrigaticn systems J soaker hose
irri9"-tion syste:::.s, and hand-.... atering, landscape irrigation -"'ith
potable water shall not be allo ... ·ed bet~ .... een ~O: DC 3.lI:.. and 6:0-8 p.m~
Irrigation at all ti:tles :must confo~ ..... itt. section 12.~2.010.
(b) Potable ""'ater otber than wr.en used from contair.e.!:'s
of five (5) gallons or less, shall not be 1.:sed to clear. side· ... ·alks,
walkw·ays, driveways, patios, parking lots, ana othe!' hard surfaced
areas or b1lilding structures.
{C) Potable .. a.ter shall not be used to operate, clean,
fill or maintain levels in decorative fountains or ponds. unless
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J". ~.; < '
_.fr";,'<>~' ~
"" .... -.
the fountain cr pond supports water f:: .... 1 cr aquatic life. Pctat:le:
""ater may be used in reasonable quanti ties for th~ purpose of
priming and exercising internal mechanisms. If reclaimed ",'ater is
in use in the fountain or pond, a sigr. so stating must be posted.
service
request.
(0) Restaurants~ banquet facilities l or
operations shall serve ,,'ater tc cusccmers
other
onj,y
food
UpO::l
(e) Newly constructed pools, spas and hot tubs tlay not
be filled ~ith water supplied by the Palo Alto wat~r utility or
other water utilities 'Which have water shortage emergencies in
effect,.
(f) Signs pr'!:lviding reasonable notice of the ar ought
conditions and ~ater shortage e~ergency shall be displayed in all
public rest rOOIllS and restaurants/ an·j in quest rooms in buildings
defineo as hote.ls b:y Section 2.3J.010(b).
SECTro~. 'l'he Council tinds that the provisions of this
crdinance oe not c("~5titute a project under the California Environ
mental Quality Act .':lecause it can be seen with certainty "t.hat no
significant e.nvironme.ntal impact ",rill occur as a result of the
ordinar.ce. Moreover, the council finds that enact.ment of this
ordinance is exempt from provi!lions of t!"le California Envirorment
Quality Act because it is immediate action neceS$ary to rLitigate e;
water SLortage emergency.
SECTION 3. The council finds and declares that, based
upo~ the findings and declarations set forth above., the mate~ial
furrdshed to the city Council by the City staff, and oral and
documentary testimony at the Cour.cil meeting at .... hich ti:is l!la:te::.
yas considered., the enact!!l.ent of this ordinance is necessar) as an
emergency -measure to pr2;serve public health an,j safety.
This ordinance "Was introduced at .a regular meeting c! t.l;.e
co~~cil of the city of Palo Alto en Monday, the third day of June/
1991, and wa.s passed by a four-fifths vote: of all Council members
present at the meeting as follows:
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: June 3. 1991
AYES: A.,der:;e::.. Cobb, Kniss. Lt. ... Y, ~cCo ... 'tl~ Re:uF..l. Sutorius
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT: Wool1,ey, Fazzino
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ATTEST:
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ORDINANCE NO. 404 L
ORDINANCE 0:: THE COUNCIL OF THE -CITY OF PALO ~LTO
AMENDING CHAPTER 12.32 OF THE PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL
CODE RELATING TO WATER USE REGULATIONS A.ND ESTAB
LISHING PENALTIES FOR VIOLA?IONS THEREOF
IfflEREAS, the California Constitution prohibits the
unreasonable or ~asteful use of 'Water ar.d encQurages the maximum
beneficial use of 'Wate_r; and
WHEREAS, the city of Palo Alto recognizes the continuing
need to manage water resources under its jurisdiction and control
in a mar~er consistent with the Constitution; and
k1iERFAS, the regulations hereby enacted, in conjunction
~ith Palo Alto's existing .ater use rules, regulatjons, and
ordinances implement the constitutional wato;'!r pcliey of California.
NOW, THEREFORE, the council of the City of Palo Alto does
ORDAIN as follo~s:
~]~;.QTION 1. Section 12.32.010 ·,:.f Chapter 12.32 of the Palo
Al to MuniCipal Code is hl!reb~{ amended to read as follo .... 's:
12~32.010 Wat_r Use Regulations. No purchaser of water
from the City of Palo Alto, nor any customers of the water utility
of the City of Palo Alto, shall use ~ater or allo~ any other person
to use water under the control of such customer or purchaser in the
following ways:
Ca) Potable water shall not be allc'\.'ea to flood or run
off into gutters, drivewaysl sice""alks 1 streets or other u!"lland-
6caped areas.
(b) By means of a hose to wasn cars, boats, trailers,
buses or other vehicles 0:-to 'Wash side""alks, building structures,
other hard-surfaced areas or parts thereof without an operating
automatic shut-off valve. Use of a hose for such puc-poses should
be avoided ~henever possible.
(Cj Potable water for consolidation of backfill and
other non-domestic uses in construction shall not be u~ed if other
~ate~ sources such as reclai~ed water are available, as determined
by the director of utilities or his or her designee. Applicants
for hydrant permits from the City of Palo Alto shall be deemed to
have consented to restrictions O~ water use which may be imposed by
the director of utilities or his or her designee
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{d) Any broken or defective plu.nbir,g, sprinklers,
watering or irrigation systems !,o,'hich permit the escape or le.3.kage
of 'Water shall be repaired or replaced as soon as possible, but no
later th3n the date established by the director of utilities, or
his or her designee, as reasonable after obse:t."vdtion of the broY.en
or defective system.
SECTrON~. section 12.32.030 is hereby added to Chapter
12.32 of the Palo .!..lto Municipal Code to read as follc,ws:
section 12432.030 .Maxim.um Monthly water U~e. No purchaser
of water from the City of Palo Alto, nor any customers of the water
utility cf the City of Palo Alto, shall use, permit the use of, or
take delivery of more potable water from the City or ~ater ~tility
than the monthl:.' maxin-.wn use cap. For the purposes of this
section, the nmonthly maximum use cap~ shall be as follows:
Re.sidential CUstomers: Fifty (50) Units
All Other Customf;rs: Five (5) th:es the Baseline
Consumption Allowance
A "unit-of water shall be equal to one hUndred cubic feet (1 ccfj
of ~ater measured at the customer's meter. The Baseline Ccnsump
tion Allowance shall be established for all other customers i~
accordance with the Palo Alto Utilities Rules and Regulations
adopted by resolution of the Council pursuant to Section 12.20.010.
SECTION J. Section 1:2.32.040 is hereby added to Chapter
~2.32 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to read as follows!
Section 12432.030 ~neving provision of False Information.
It shall be unlawful for a purch,iser of ",rater from thE: city of Palo
Alto, or any customel"S of the water utilit::,' of the. City of 1=-a10
Alto, or any person receiving or using such 'Water, to Knowingly
provide incorrect I inaccurate, false, or misleading information of
any kind to the City in connection 'With th.e application for or
receipt of water, or in connection 'Wi th any request for information
made by the City in accordance with the Palo Alto Utilitip.5 Rules
and R~gulations adopted by resolution of the COl.lncil pursuant to
Section 12.20.010.
SECTIQ_~~. The Council finds that the provisions of this
ordinance do not constitute a project under the California Environ
mental Quality Act because it can be seen 'With certainty that no
significant environmental i!Tlpact ....... 111 occur as a result of the
ordinan:::e.
SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall become effective upon the
commencement of the thirty-first day after the day of its pas-sage.
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IN'l'RODUCEO: June 3. 199i
PASSED,
AYES, Ancerse:n.. Cab~. Kr.iss. l.e\'y. ~kCc·.rn. ;,~l1z~l. 5u::::::-ius
NOES; Ncne
ABSTENTIONS: rlon~
ABSENT: Fa'Z'2-ino. r.lool1cy
~iy orney
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