HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 92-424 - Setting forth findings that exempt the COR from the necessity of adopting a Landscape Water Conservation Ordinance, including the State's "Model Water Effiecent Landscape Ordinance" I
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RESOLUTION NO. 2�—
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF REDDING
SETTING FORTH FINDINGS THAT =21PT THE CITY OF REDDING
FROM THE NECESSITY OF ADOPTING A LANDSCAPE WATER
CONSERVATION ORDINANCE, INCLUDING THE STATE'S "MODEL
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE."
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WHEREAS, California' s Model Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance, as required by Assembly Bill 325, was officially
adopted by the State Department of Water Resources and filed with
the Secretary of State on July 31, 1992; and
WHEREAS, the State Model Ordinance will automatically go
into effect January 1, 1993, in all California cities and
counties that do not adopt their own local water efficient
landscape ordinance, having considered the provisions of the
State Model Ordinance; or issue findings that no ordinance is
necessary; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Redding formed a
Task Force to consider the matter;
NOW, THEREFORE, having considered the recommendations of the
Task Force, the City Council of the City of Redding hereby makes
the following findings that exempt the City of Redding from the
necessity of adopting a Landscape Water Conservation Ordinance,
including the State' s "Model Water Efficient Landscape N
Ordinance" : N
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1 . Availability of Water: Unlike many other communities in the
State, Redding has an ample long-term water supply from
three sources, including the Central Valley Water Project,
pumped ground water , and pumped water from the Sacramento
River. The City has a 1992 potential water supply totalling
24,650 acre feet. Actual 1991 water consumption was
18,830 acre feet. In addition, the City' s appropriative
water rights to the Sacramento River (dating back to the
late 18001s) permit the diversion of water. Also, many
privately-owned properties in the City (bordering the River)
have the legal riparian right to divert river water for
irrigation needs.
2. Evapotranspiration Rates: Evapotranspiration rates decrease
with increasing humidity; thus, the rate of water use is
higher at low levels of humidity. The benefits of landscape
irrigation are greater when the humidity is high, and
decrease with low humidity. The State' s Model Ordinance is
largely based on monthly evapotranspiration rates. For
Redding, the rate varies from 1. 2 in January to 8 . 5 in July.
In reality, Redding' s evapotranspiration rate for any given
' month in the summer will vary significantly ( 100 to 400
percent) by area; this fact is supported by Findings 3 . and
4. noted below. Also, it is impossible to calculate
accurate evapotranspiration rates outside of laboratory
conditions. It is our understanding that only one
evapotranspiration "Cimis" station was used in determining
the rate for Redding. Redding' s climate variations would
;i require several stations in order to make the Model
Ordinance equitable and enforceable.
3 . Climatic Conditions: On a given summer day, the climate of
Redding can vary from humid (adjacent to the River or one of
its 13 creeks) to dry, desert-like air on the outer edges
and higher elevations of the City' s 58-square-mile area.
Topographic conditions vary by 500 feet, with a high of 900
feet above sea level. There are numerous hills with
north/south-facing slopes and gullies formed by creeks that
are tributary to the Sacramento River. These conditions
produce updrafts and downdrafts that dry out vegetation at
varying rates. Added to these cooling differences is the
City' s tree canopy which ranges from none to a dense oak
canopy along the river and many creeks. On some days,
i humidity can vary by 5 to 40 percent by area according to
the National Weather Service in Redding. Thus, the
evapotranspiration rate can vary significantly from one area
to another. The City' s average annual rainfall is 38. 6
inches. The temperature can vary from 17 degrees in the
winter to 118 degrees in the summer. All of the climate
1 differences and evapotranspiration variations for Redding
cannot be accommodated by a landscape water conservation
ordinance. It should also be noted that the abundance of
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surface and ground water supply by area produces a
evapotranspiration rate that varies daily for different
areas. This difference is ignored by the standard rate of
the State' s Model Ordinance.
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4. Geological Conditions: The geology, soils, and water table
conditions of the Redding area vary significantly. The
depth of the water table within the City' s 58-square-mile
area varies from 100 to 200 feet to just a few feet near
City creeks and the Sacramento River. Also, many
subdivisions border aquifer recharge areas. Soil conditions
and percolation rates vary significantly by location. Some
areas may have clay soils or bedrock conditions, while
another may have loamy soils to a depth of 10 to 15 feet
with the water table near the surface. All of these factors
produce different evapotranspiration rates. Also, the soils
and water table differences make it impossible to determine
(by ordinance) the irrigation needs using a - standard
Citywide evapotranspiration factor.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was
introduced and read at a regular meeting of the City Council of
+ the City of Redding on the 6th day of October 1992, and was
duly adopted at said meeting by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Anderson, Arness, Kehoe & Moss
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Dahl
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None
CHARLIE MOSS, Ma or
City of Redding
A ST: O PROVED:
CONNIE STROHMAYER, ity Clerk RA6ALL A. HAYS, lity Attorney
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