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RESOLUTION NO. 2016-220 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA ADOPTING THE WATER STEWARDSHIP PLAN AS A POLICY FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT TO ASSIST IN WATER CONSERVATION, REUSE AND CLIMATE ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution
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SUMMARY
The attached draft Water Stewardship Plan (plan) was a recommended action item of the City’s Climate Change Working Group that was adopted by City Council in 2014. The plan is a policy guidance document to assist in water conservation, water reuse and meeting the City’s climate action plan goals.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Environmental Notice
Environmental Notice
The Project qualifies for a Class 8 Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines. Thus, no further environmental review is required.
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Environmental Determination
The Director of Development Services has reviewed the proposed project for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the project qualifies for a Class 8 Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment) of the State CEQA Guidelines because the proposal involves adoption of the water stewardship plan as a policy framework document to assist in water conservation resulting in further protection of the environment. Thus, no further environmental review is required.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
On October 10, 2016 both the Resource Conservation Commission and the Healthy Community Advisory Commission, at their special joint meeting at High Tech High School, voted to recommend that City Council adopt the Water Stewardship Plan.
DISCUSSION
The attached draft Water Stewardship Plan had its beginning as a recommended action item of the City’s Climate Change Working Group which was adopted by City Council in 2014, Resolution #2014-224.
Water Conservation and Reuse-
#3.A Develop a Water Reuse Master Plan to maximize the use of storm water, recycled water (such as indoor commercial use), and onsite water reclamation.
In 2015, Chula Vista was awarded a grant from the San Diego Foundation and the Bloomberg Award for Local Sustainability Matching Fund - a project of the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, supported this development project so that Chula Vista’s Water Stewardship Plan might be shared with other jurisdictions. Staff is requesting the City Council to adopt the resolution adopting the Water Stewardship Plan as a guidance document for water conservation and reuse in the City of Chula Vista.
The consulting team of Haley & Aldrich and JBC Groups started the development process by first conducting a discovery workshop to identify the water conservation and reuse activities that were currently in place in city operations and within the community. From there, the current activities were classified into the following categories:
• Administration & Funding
• Water Supply & Infrastructure
• Built Environment
• Landscaping & Irrigation
The consulting team created large brainstorming boards which displayed existing program/activity information, new ideas and best practices, and areas for receiving other ideas and stakeholders comments. Additionally, attendees were given heart stickers to place on any already identified activities that they supported. The subsequent public workshops asked all stakeholders to help develop the vision for the plan and the goals.
This was a very collaborative process which took place from January through July, 2016. Stakeholders included residents, businesses, business associations, city staff, and water agencies. The water agencies were very active participants in the process and attended all the workshops, providing meaningful comments and suggestions. In addition to the community workshops, there was an online opportunity where the brainstorming boards and information were put into a Survey Monkey allowing those who could not attend the public workshops to provide comments. One of the brainstorming boards are included below as a sample.
Plan Framework
The consulting team then synthesized the 400 pieces of information received down to five overarching actions/goals which make up the framework of the Water Stewardship Plan.
Each of the actions or goals is comprised of strategies for implementation within City operations and in partnership with the residents and businesses of Chula Vista. Each of the strategies delineates how the City will work to implement the overall plan. City staff has assigned responsibility and a timeline for achieving each of the strategies, and describes what resources will be required to achieve them as well as which stakeholders will be included. Each strategy relates to activities that are with the purview of City Operations, Open Spaces and Park facilities, residents or businesses. Many strategies apply to all or some of these and are denoted by the following icons.
Lastly, Staff has assigned timeframes for implementation for each strategy, which are categorized as
• Short-term = 0-2 years
• Medium-term = 3-5 years
• Long-term = 6-10 years
Additionally, through this civic engagement process stakeholders suggested that the name of the document should change to the Water Stewardship Plan as it was a better representation of the content than Master Plan. The vision for the plan, as created by input from stakeholders, provides the tone and direction for the plan:
The City of Chula Vista is a proven steward of water resources, where local residents, businesses, utility providers and municipal staff are proactive, accountable and engaged in eliminating water waste, and embracing the region’s natural landscape.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site-specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in California Code of Regulations Title 2, section 18702.2(a)(11), is not applicable to this decision for purposes of determining a disqualifying real property-related financial conflict of interest under the Political Reform Act (Cal. Gov't Code § 87100, et seq.).
Staff is not independently aware, and has not been informed by any Council member, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City’s Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. The Water Stewardship Plan, as a component of the Climate Action Plan directly contributes to the Healthy Community goal as we look to implement strategies to reduce climate change impacts and prepare for resiliency.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
Because the Water Stewardship Plan is a framework document to guide and inform future decisions on water conservation and reuse, the adoption of the Plan does not have a direct fiscal impact. When individual implementation strategies or related projects are further developed and presented to City Council for consideration, any specific positive or negative fiscal impacts will be identified.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
As sited above, the policy level Water Stewardship Plan does not have an ongoing fiscal impact. Impacts from any specific implementation strategies will be evaluated as they are further developed and considered.
ATTACHMENTS
Draft Water Stewardship Plan
Staff Contact: Lynn France, Environmental Services Manager, Economic Development Department - Office of Sustainability