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CC - Item 4F - City's Water Use Plan at Facilities, Parks and Infrastructure to Achieve Mandatory Conservation RequirementsROSEMEAD CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: JEFF ALLRED, CITY MANAGER ZO DATE: MAY 26, 2015 SUBJECT: CITY'S WATER USE PLAN AT FACILITIES, PARKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO ACHIEVE MANDATORY CONSERVATION REQUIREMENTS SUMMARY April 1, 2015 Governor Brown issued an executive order mandating additional water conservation of 25% statewide compared to 2013 consumption figures. Based upon the new mandates, the City needs to take action to reduce overall consumption by 25 %, which equates to at least 10 million gallons of water. Staff has developed a plan that is explained in detail as part of the Discussion section of this report in an effort to meet the 25% water conservation target established by the Governor. The plan will make every attempt to achieve these conservation goals while maintaining, to the greatest extent possible, the City's valuable parks and open spaces. Staff Recommendation It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report. DISCUSSION The Governor has mandated a water conservation target of 25% in comparison to 2013 consumption figures. In order to achieve this goal, the State has implemented target savings rates for each water purveyor in the State. Since the City of Rosemead is serviced by four different companies, our conservation target ranges from 12 % -28% depending on the purveyor. Due to the complexity of the City's water use and location of facilities, it has been recommended that the City target the Governor's goal of 25% city -wide. Therefore, the City must develop a plan to meet the 25% conservation target and the majority of the City's water usage is related to landscape irrigation. City staff has been developing a plan to maintain the turf at critical City locations while letting turf at other non - essential parks or facilities go dormant. The four water companies are restricting the use of outdoor watering to two or three days per week during the late evening, night and early morning hours. Included in the City's plan is adherence to the proposed two days per week schedule on a City -wide basis for conformity and public perception. This schedule will be referred throughout the report. ITEM NUMBER: - City Council Meeting May 26,2015 Page 2 of 4 Landscape Maintenance Plan for City Facilities Civic Center Staff has reviewed the entire civic center complex as one facility. The County Library has agreed to fund landscape improvements around their site and the City is coordinating the effort. Immediate changes will include the removal of all the turf along Valley Blvd. in front of the County Library and City Hall. This turf and spray irrigation will be replaced with drip irrigation and drought tolerant landscaping similar to the plant palette currently surrounding the turf in front of City Hall. The turf in the Public Plaza, corridor, and parking lot area will be maintained as it is irrigated with Netafim drip irrigation below the surface. Lastly, the turf surrounding RCRC will be maintained as possible with the irrigation standards of two days per week. It's possible that the turf surrounding RCRC may turn yellow or go dormant due to the minimal amount of water. Garvey Center Almost all of the turf at Garvey Center has been removed as part of the recent landscape improvements at this facility. A very small amount of turf still exists in the rear parking lot and is used by the residents of the senior housing complex. This turf will be maintained per the water regulations of two days per week. All of the remaining irrigation at the Garvey Center has been converted to drip irrigation. Dinsmoor House The irrigation system has been set to the requirements of two days per week and staff will evaluate how the turf responds. As the Council is aware, there is a tremendous amount of turf surrounding the Dinsmoor House and it requires a great amount of water. It's possible that the turf will turn yellow or go dormant due to the minimal amount of water. If additional conservation measures are required, staff recommends turning off all irrigation to the front yard and try to maintain the backyard for special events and rentals. Landscape Maintenance Plan for City Parks Rosemead Park The focus for Rosemead Park is to maintain the athletic fields and heavily used picnic areas as best as possible. In trade for this, staff will begin eliminating some turf all together in the lesser used areas to achieve the water reductions necessary. Per the attached overhead photos, staff will eliminate the turf on the northern most section of the park outside of the outfield area of the baseball field along with eliminating the turf in the triangle area just south of the preschool building between the two concrete paths. If additional reductions are necessary, staff recommends further reduction along the southern side between the jogging trail and the aquatics center parking lot and the area immediately to the west between the parking lot and the service road. Garvey Park Similarly to Rosemead Park, the focus is to maintain the turf on the athletic fields and heavily used picnic areas. Staff will begin eliminating the small patches of turf in and around the tennis court parking lot and the Public Works building, the small area of turf behind the softball field backstop, and the several small turf areas near some of the picnic City Council Meeting May 26,2015 Page 3 of 4 shelters. Overhead photos are included for reference. If additional reduction is necessary, staff recommends eliminating the turf to the South of the gym and surrounding the Splash Zone. Sports Complex This park utilizes recycled water for irrigation. While the new restrictions do not apply to recycled water, staff will utilize discretion and make every attempt to mirror the two days per week guidelines while keeping the turf in good shape for athletic use. Triangle Park (San Gabriel Blvd. and 60 Freeway) The irrigation to this small park has already been reduced. Staff is applying for water district rebate money to make changes to this site. If the rebate is granted, the funds will be used to do an in-house synthetic turf project or plant with drought tolerant landscaping. The existing trees and shrub landscape will remain. The main reason for using the resources to re-landscape this park is the high visibility due to the freeway. Otherwise, this park does not get recreational use. Klingerman Park Transition to the two days per week water schedule for the interim. Due to the antiquated irrigation system at this park, staff plans to eliminate several small sections of turf and landscaping along the eastern side adjacent to the service road and the small portion of turf behind the playground area. Staff will also evaluate removing the turf on the back of the park, but will maintain the turf on the front area where the play equipment and majority of park use is located. Guess Park Transition to the two days per week restrictions and see how the turf fares. Due to the limited use staff believes that while the turf may yellow a bit, it should survive. Staff also plans to enlarge the barked tree wells surrounding the 6 large trees to improve water retention for the trees while reducing some of the turf area. If necessary to reach the 25% target, the second phase of reduction for this site will be to cut irrigation on the northern portion behind the picnic shelter and the small pocket of turf on the southwest end of the park. Eliminating turf in these two areas would eliminate approximately 1,750 sq. ft. of turf. Sally Tanner Park Transition to the two days per week restrictions and see how the turf fares. Due to the limited use staff believes that while the turf may yellow a bit, it should survive. Olney Street Park Currently on manual watering, which is less than the two days per week restrictions. Staff plans to cut the irrigation at this park completely and let the turf die. Unfortunately, the rebates will not be sufficient to turn this park into a completely drought tolerant park, but staff recommends some drought tolerant planting and the use of mulch to cover the area. City Council Meeting May 26,2015 Page 4 of 4 The slope area on the western end that drops down to Walnut Grove has already been modified by eliminating the ivy and replacing with mulch. Angeles Park The irrigation at this park has already been set to the two days per week standards. If the City is not meeting its 25% reduction target, staff recommends that we cut the irrigation at this park completely and let the turf die. Unfortunately, the rebates will not be sufficient to turn this park into a completely drought tolerant park, but we would proposed to do some drought tolerant planting to the area immediately adjacent to the school. Zapopan Park This park is irrigated with recycled water; however, staff will still try to maintain the turf according to the two days per week requirements. Landscape Maintenance Plan for City Infrastructure Rush Street Medians The irrigation of these medians will be reduced to two days per week standards or manually controlled since the system is still utilizing spray heads. It's important to note that these medians are irrigated with recycled water. There are no regulations prohibiting irrigation with recycled water, but due to the public perception of different standards, staff will utilize discretion when irrigating. Marshall Avenue Medians These medians are on drip irrigation and do not fall under the mandated two days per week regulations. However, the irrigation has been set to two days per week and staff will monitor the health of the landscape. Freeway Slopes Staff is currently working with Caltrans to develop a plan since the water and irrigation system is owned by Caltrans, even though the City maintains the landscape. It is staff's intent to set the irrigation to the two days per week requirements and see how the landscape responds. These areas have typically required extra water due to the poor soil absorption. PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS This item has been noticed through the regular agenda notification process. Prepared By: Submitted By: Sea Sullivan Matthe E. Ha fkesworth Acting Public Works Manager Asst City Manager/Director of Public Works Attachment: Park Maps Angelus Park Area 1 - 2,819 square feet Area 2 - 2,830 square feet _ - 1lLw F p i " ._.._ Area 2 - Phase 2 IF NECESSARY - Can eliminate some turf in this area and i . replace with mulch. ... r L\ Mii A '' { Q - , i Area 1 - Phase 2 IF NECESSARY - ""' I 1' 4` ," \ Propose to removal of all turf in this area.44, . *p .Y. "- Plant/create drought tolerant /C ,,- demonstration garden. f ,F *FI oo i kt IP, 40 t it 40.0 Jw +t. " , �,..` r r' .. ? I w yam. �Sy �� **yy t. �. ,; r ..,,J 7 111? Seri �F 'k f y, t- i or Aa,w.. ,,_: .. « S ^x , 4114._L:U . J t 10:1 _m.. �r :' • i1. lw. .. , Garvey Park Area 1—2,027 square feet Area 2—888 square feet Area 3—1,371 square feet Area 4—3,000 square feet Area 5—805 square feet Area 6-385 square feet ft, " .r • • __j Area 1- Propose to remove all turf and • - - replace with bark or DG Area 2—Phase 2 IF NECESSARY- Propose to "'' = 'a remove all turf and replace with DG �. I '� 1 i • .1.:,' _ Area 3—Phase 2 IF NECESSARY Propose to C ist.4.'" , remove all turf and replace with bark I Area 4—Phase 2 IF NECESSARY- f • L Propose to remove all turf and match existing drought tolerant landscaping Area 5 &6- Propose to remove all turf and ! e- -- . ,.. ; , replace with bark/DG stil i 1,t,4, t 1,t,4, Garvey Park _ Goole n , •t Garvey Park—Southwest Area Area 1-775 square feet Area 2 -554 square feet Area 3-490 square feet Area 4-580 square feet Area 5—325 square feet Area 6-212 square feet Area 7—158 square feet Area 8—1720 square feet m.x _ Area 1—Propose to remove all turf and replace with a '" mulch/DG. a y S d r avow sj Area 2—Propose to remove all turf and replace with •. i... v, C" DG/bark OM r 0 ' Area 3— Propose to remove all turf and replace with . , _,�i ' DG/bark 1 ir , ir . 3 k LOA ' - PI II ne .6 ''" Area 4& 5—Propose to remove all turf and replace with - 0 of mulch/bark f . w �. Area 6 & 7— Propose to remove all turf and replace with Area 8—Propose to remove all turf and replace with drought tolerant demonstration garden and mulch. mulch/DG. Future improvements could include a drought tolerant demonstration garden and mulch I w Garvey Park— Large Playground Area Area 7—772 square area :47- . iii ;,40,04 1 . . 1 __ Nil . :' r. -14 P' 4,, .■ . o Mr ' '' IL* IP J. ate .,6,f"AIN AL Araisia.,:, , ' Area 7- Propose to remove all turf and ' Iti! ,sila replace with bark 4 II ... . ma r " almi ilk. 0 4 r a ' Ir voi : . . , - 111-11 Guess Park Area 1 - 1,438 square feet Area 2 - 315 square feet r mop ' r - 3 - rm,._ Area 1 ' Phase 2 IF NECESSARY - Propose to .. remove all turf from area. Match " landscaping to existing planter r -V , r I' c ' '' L low. • . '' :r Area 2 ' \ NIcJ:hI !�! j _ ix .., �. 1 A ' A '� 4 �' 0 . ' - Propose to enlarge barked tree wells to a i 1',° eliminate more turf and increase water / ,_ "%lift& -....4'..,„: i , . retention at base of tree. Tom, NM 4:1 , illiki-,, __. ,iL :t _II_ \ p, , Klingerman Park Area 1 - 423 square feet Area 2 - 1,175 square feet Area 3 - 997 square feet Area 4 - 2,534 square feet Area 1 - Propose to eliminate turf area and add mulch. -4111p �' ' ' . . .1 Area 2 - Propose to eliminate station #1 by adding mulch/DG Ito area jjJJj rrrrr Li . j ' be ,., ,0 i ''• 1! r ( ,. . i , ,, E. Area 3 -Propose to eliminate turf ' and add mulch/DG to area } '` e around park benches II 4 J -I � _ : ,�w j j Area 4 - Propose to eliminate �����'' turf and add DG/mulch to + area. 0 Ce 4 ■ ` [ [ [ [ IffraaiiiN i'`O!' S L . . PAag i-dilaI c2U1 uwl* Martini !t!-rr.iCy hi.,it 61 plu:lrael bull Olney Park 5300 square feet My L , 'I 1 .1. * ' Walnut Grove Slope all ivy has been - N ' ' t It• \ 1 removed. Some trees remain. Area " has been filled with mulch. Alitls.1 • X45 k w 1 le Olney Park Propose to remove all " turf area Plant some drought '° h tolerant plants and mulch majority rt,. -' ,,, ._ �..s :� t „..„..... ,,, , ,r..... ..: . of area. _ . .._, ' — 41 la a 4. ti 9 ire A Rosemead Park - Pool Parking Lot Area L . -.0 ---.....„‹ ,.• • ,,,,, , ,,. ...„--:-..i...„...•-., ill.• . ,,_ . . is ,‘, itivy 1 T _ ., , . I. Phase 2 IF NECESSARY - Propose to 1' , \ 1- , '' remove all turf. Plant/create drought W m r` - tolerant demonstration garden. jai!` IN Phase 2 IF NECESSARY - Propose x .r ` - to remove all turf. Fill area with,..„, 4 s .1 i , mulch/DG. _- ,)Bern 0 are a m:.:''' - .� ..,''` � e I « r.. r -• , - Rosemead Park - Recreation Building Area 3,740 square feet R .. i Propose complete turf removal. Replace with mulch/DG. ,N.L'+' - A T..,.,,iri` , yppp @1, • 1 Rosemead Park - Recreation Building Playground Area Ii Remove turf is this area. Fill with mulch. i' Phase 2 IF NECESSARY - Remove the shrubs along the outfield fence line. Remove/cap irrigation. a '„. - -— 1 -- 0 44 i - 4 4 1.11 ill• G 000 IC -ft UV 4. Triangle Park � : R C i O r 1' . , Propose to remove all turf and match to surrounding drought tolerant landscape. r• ti 41 I. Ks N 0 _ r-. .r 1 r r q L Park. ..... . .e......."'">.- otr-jc 4: I. \ .,,. c