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SR-6-I (67) 6 .. , -I EPD SM Santa Monlca, Callfornla AUG 11 1992 Councll Meetlng: August 1L 1992 TO: Mayor and Clty Councll FROM: Clty Staff SUBJECT: Request for Councll Approval of an Annual Dues Contrlbutlon to the Callfornla urban Water Conservatlon CounCll and Fundlng Support for the Second Annual Callfornla Water polley Conference INTRODUCTION ThlS report requests that Clty Counell approve the Clty'S annual dues contrlbutlon to the Callfornla Urban Water Conservatlon Courrcll as well as a one-tlme contrlbutlon to support the Callfornla Water POllCY Conference to be held ln Los Angeles on November 20-2L 1992. BACKGPOUND On September 24, 1991, the Clty of Santa Monlca, along wlth over 100 other cltles, countles, and water dlstrlcts, and over 25 envlronmental groups, became a Slgnatory to a statewlde Memorandum of Understandlng On Urban Water Conservatlon WhlCh was a product of the ongoing San Francisco Bay/San JOaquln Delta Estuary (IBayiDelta" ) hearlng8. By becoffilng a slgnatory to the MOU, the City became a member of the newly-created Callfornla Urban Water Conservatlon Councll WhlCh 18 responslble for revlewlng and maklng recommendatlons on the Best Management Practlces ~~lch slgnatory water agenCles are requlred to lffiplement. 6-/. 1 AUG 11 lqO? ~uL. . Last year, the Clty co-sponsored a conference on ~Callfornla Water Policy: Toward a New Consensus." Other co-sponsors lncluded the Local Government Commlsslon, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the Envlronmental Water Leadershlp Councll. ThlS groundbreaklng conference helped deflne controverSlal water POllCY lssues WhlCh led to several maJor water POllCY leglslatlve actlons taken this year. A follow-up conference on resolvlng crltlcal water POllCY lssues lS scheduled for thlS November. DISCUSSION After the flrst meetings of the Californla Urban Water Conservatlon Councll, lt was determlned by slgnatorles that addltlonal fundlng would be requlred to lnltlate maJor studles needed to carry out the MOU. Such studles lnclude: 1. A cost-effectlveness analysls of conservatlon measures requlred by the MOD Best Management Practlces. 2. A rate structure and flnancial lncentlves study to evaluate ways to encourage water conservatlon. 3. An analysls of the Potentlal Best Management Practlces and monltorlng of water savlngs achleved by Best Management Practlces already In place 4. Evaluat~on of ultra low flow to~let replacement programs for the commerc~al and lndustrlal sectors. The draft budget WhlCh was presented to the Councll WhlCh also proposed relmbursement for tlrne and expenses lncurred by the 2 Convenor, who represents the envlronmental organlzatlons slgnatorles. The Convenor chalrs all cryacc plenary seSSlons and VarlQUS subcommlttees, coordlnates external fundralslng efforts for the CffivCC, and represents the Clf~CC to other organlzatlons. The plenary seSSlon voted to approve the proposed annual voluntary dues schedule for slgnatorles WhlCh lS based on the number of utlllty customers served by the slgnatory agency Santa Monlca's annual dues contrlbutlon lS $2000. The flrst Callfornla Water POllCY conference held last year at the Blltmore Hotel tackled numerous controverslal ~7ater POllCY issues includlng long-standlng d1fferences between the Vlews of northern versus southern Callfornla water suppllers, envlronmental groups versus water agencles. and urban versus agrlcultural lnterests. ThlS year's proposed conference wlll focus on developlng speclflc Solut1ons to the numerous water supply. allocatlon, and envlronmental lssues WhlCh remaln unresolved. Co-sponsors wlll lnclude the Los Angeles Depar~ment of Water and Power and the Local Government CommlsS1on. Santa Monlca's contrlbutlon lS proposed to be $1000. BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT The annual dues contrlbutlon for the CUwcc and the water POllCY conference co-sponsorshlp total $3000. ThlS amount lS avallable from eXlstlng EnVlronmental Programs account number 31-110-662- 00000-2254-00000. 3 . , RECOMMENDATIONS It lS recommended that Councll approve the proposed $2000 annual dues contrlbutlon to the Callfornla Urban Water Conservatlon Councll and a $1000 one-tlme contrlbutlon for co-sponsorshlp of the second annual Callfornla Water POllCY Conference. Prepared by: Cralg Perklns, Envlronmental Programs Manager Susan Munves, Conservatlon Coordlnator . 4