REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: November 6, 2014
TO: FRESNO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, MAYOR, CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY
FROM: COUNCILMEMBER BRAND AND COUNCILMEMBER CAPRIOGLIO
City Council Offices
SUBJECT
Title
***RESOLUTION - Adopt the "Water Conservation Act", which will develop policies and practices that will conserve water usage by all City water customers and provide better overall management of City water resources
Body
Background
For the past six years the "Great Recession of 2008" has taken a toll on City of Fresno services and the maintenance of City properties. This is particularly evident in the condition of City parks. The PARCS Department staff has been decimated by budget cuts and is only starting to rebuild this year.
The City of Fresno is currently in stage two of its Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Both privately owned properties and publicly owned properties are now feeling the stress of limited watering schedules as evidenced by dying trees and browning landscapes.
Both City residents and businesses are being asked to sacrifice by reducing water consumption. The overriding goal of this Act is to incentivize water conservation measures to all City water customers by offering cash rebates. This Act will also implement policies and practices to better manage City water resources. It will evaluate alternative water pricing strategies (i.e. tiered rates) to encourage and promote water conservation. The City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan must also be updated.
Salient policies included in the Act include the following:
Enterprise Water Conservation Rebate Fund: This Act will establish a Water Conservation Rebate Fund of $250,000 per year for two consecutive years for a total appropriation of $500,000. It sets out policies for fund replenishment, eligibility for property owners and renters, procedures, site inspections and fund priority. The funds will be a restricted fund for use only as water conserva...
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