REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
November 19, 2015
FROM: Jennifer K. Clark, Director
Development and Resource Management
BY: Brian T. Leong, Building and Safety Services Manager
Building and Safety Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
***BILL NO. B-41 - (Intro. 11/5/15) (For adoption) - Adding Section 11-112 to Article 1, Chapter 11 of the Fresno Municipal Code, entitled "Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance."
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council (1) adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Article 19, Section 15307/Class7 (Actions by regulatory agencies for protection of natural resources) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, (2) adopt the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance ("MWELO"), as may be amended, in conformance with the requirements of State Assembly Bill 1881 and the Governor's Executive Order (EO B-29-15), and (3) add Section 11-112 to Article 1, Chapter 11 of the Fresno Municipal Code, entitled "Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance."
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In response to the ongoing drought in California, Governor Brown's Executive Order of April 1, 2015, directed the State's Department of Water Resources ("DWR") to update the State's MWELO to increase conservation efforts in irrigation and plant design. DWR update the MWELO and the California Water Commission adopted the updated MWELO on July 15, 2015. The updated MWELO is applicable to new development projects including landscape areas of 500 sq. ft. or more. The state requires the City adopt the MWELO or a more stringent local ordinance by December 1, 2015, and begin reporting on its implementation of the updated MWELO by December 31, 2015. The Building and Safety Services Division of the City of Fresno currently has in place, policies and procedures which meet the parameters set forth in the 2010 version of the MWELO. Beginning December 1, 2015, it will incorporate the provisions of the updated M...
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