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Planning and Building Department recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 139-2019 adopting the California Department of Water Resources 2015 Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance pursuant to Governor’s Executive Order B-29-15 and the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act and it's implementing regulations. (Est. Time: 10 Min.)
FUNDING: Development Fees
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In April 2015, the Governor issued Executive Order No. B-29-15 (Executive Order) which tasked the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) with revising the 2010 Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance to increase water efficiency standards for residential and non-residential projects with new and/or retrofitted landscapes. DWR updated its implementing regulations with the new standards in accordance with the Executive Order which resulted in what is now referred to as the 2015 Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
Pursuant to the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (Government Code §§ 65591-65599) (the Act), Executive Order No. B-29-15 (Executive Order), and the Act’s 2015 implementing regulations (California Code of Regulations Title 23, §490 et seq.) (“Regulations”), a local agency was required to either adopt the California Department of Water Resources’ 2015 Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) or a local Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) that is at least as effective in conserving water as the 2015 MWELO by December 1, 2015. If the local agency did not adopt the MWELO or a qualifying WELO on or before that date, the MWELO automatically applies within the jurisdiction after December 1, 2015 and has the same force and effect as if adopted by the local agency.
The County recently learned that its adopted landscape and irrigation standards were not in full compliance with the Act, the Regulations, and the Executive Order because the County had not adopted the 2015 updated MWELO or a qualifying WEL...
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