SR 09-13-2011 3B~~~
~;,Ya~ City Council Report
Saida ~Ionica§
City Council Meeting: September 13, 2011
Agenda Item: '!J
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Martin Pastucha, Director of Public Works
Subject: Continuation of Advisory-Level Water Supply Shortage
Recommended. Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached. resolution to continue the
declaration of an advisory-level water supply shortage in the City effective immediately.
Executive Summary
The City Council declared an advisory-level water supply shortage effective July 1,
2009, as a result of the Governor's declaration of a statewide drought. Although the
Governor has declared the end of the statewide drought, staff recommends extending
the declaration of shortage locally because the City is unable to fulfill its customers'
water. needs with locally produced water. Therefore, staff recommends modifying and
continuing the advisory-level water supply shortage with a voluntary 10 percent
reduction. This will assist in reachirig the City's goal of water self-sufficiency by 2020
and- to comport with the State's requirement to reduce per capita consumption 20
percent by 2020. The proposed resolution would effectuate this recommendation by
continuing the declaration of shortage but amending the findings to reflect the local
shortage, rather than statewide drought.
Background
On February 26, 1991, Council adopted an emergency ordinance to establish Santa
Monica Municipal Code Chapter 7.16 implementing mandatory water conservation
measures due to drought. On June 10, 2008, Council adopted modifications to
Ordinance 7.16.020 to update and amend water conservation requirements. On June
9, 2009, Council adopted the Water Shortage Response Plan and declared an advisory-
level water supply shortage in response to statewide drought conditions in mid-2008.
1
Discussion
On June 4, 2008, Governor Schwarzenegger declared a statewide drought. On
February 27, 2009, the Governor declared a state of emergency due to drought.
Subsequently, the City Council declared a water shortage based on drought conditions
and adopted the City's Water Shortage Response Plan by resolution on June 9, 2009.
Following successive wet winters, Governor Brown declared an end to the drought on
March 30, 2011, but urged Californians to continue to conserve water.
The City currently imports 27 percent of its water from the Metropolitan Water District of
Southern California (MWD) and produces 73 percent from groundwater aquifers. These
combined sources meet the current citywide water demand of approximately 11 million
gallons per day. Water demand has decreased by 16 percent as a result of diligent
community conservation efforts between 2006 and March 2011. However, water use
increased in April, May, and June of 2011 compared to earlier in 2011 in response to
the State's declaration of the end of the drought.
On January 25, 2011, Council adopted a goal for the City to be 100 percent water self-
sufficient by 2020; however, the City's currenf water demand exceeds its capacity to
produce local water. In order for the City to achieve water self-sufficiency, water
customers must continue their conservation efforts. In addition, Council adopted the
2010 Urban Water Management Plan on July 12 2011 which requires a 20 percent
reduction in per capita water use by 2020. Consequently, staff recommends continuing
but amending the advisory-level water supply shortage to maintain a voluntary 10
percent reduction from findings based upon drought to findings based upon local water
availability.
Staff is preparing a Water Master Plan to address Council's adopted goal of achieving
water self-sufficiency for the City by the year 2020. The plan will explore opportunities
to augment local water supplies, in concert with demand, management strategies to
reduce the City's water demand. The Water Master Plan is anticipated to be completed
2
in FY11-12. Future water and wastewater rates will be developed to support the
demand management strategies and capital projects identified in the Water Master Plan
needed to reach the City's self-sufficiency goal by 2020.
Public Outreach
The Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE) currently implements a variety
of programs to assist residents and businesses in water conservation. OSE will
continue to market these programs and emphasize the need to further reduce water
demand to meet the City's water self-sufficiency goal.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no financial impact to this policy decision.
Prepared by: Gil Borboa, Water Resources Manager
Approved:
``~
Martin Pastucha
Director of Public Works
Forwarded to Council:
~_
Rod Gould
City Manager
Attachment: 1 -Resolution
3
Reference Resolution No.
10604 (CCS)