For City Council Meeting March 26, 2024
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: David N. Carmany, City Manager
AUTHOR(S): Stephen Dopudja, P.E., Interim Utilities Manager
Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
...Title
Consideration of a $10,000 Growing Water Smart Technical Assistance grant by the Sonoran Institute for development of a Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Guideline Handbook for public and city utilization
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board:
1. Adopt City Resolution No. 8195 amending the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget;
2. Adopt RUA Resolution No. 08-29 amending the 2023-2024 fiscal year budget;
3. Accept the Growing Water Smart Technical Assistance Grant funds in the amount of $10,000; and
4. Authorize the City Manager or designee to execute all documents.
...Body
BACKGROUND:
From June 12th through 14th, 2023, the Sonoran Institute, Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, Civic Well, and Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL) conducted a California Growing Water Smart Workshop. The City of Rialto applied for and received grant funding for ten people to participate in the 3-day workshop. There was no funding match required to participate in the workshop. Staff and elected officials from the City of Rialto (Rialto) and the cities of Baldwin Park, Indio, and El Monte attended.
Rialto Workgroup Attendees Included:
1. Mayor Deborah Robertson
2. Councilmember Rafael Trujillo
3. Cynthia Alvarado, Director of Parks, Recreation & Community Services
4. Mike Orona, Deputy Director of Maintenance and Facilities
5. Vince Giron, Engineering Manager
6. Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
7. Siri Champion, Senior Planner
8. Micaiah Harris, Mayor’s Intern
9. Owen Knapper, Mayor’s Intern
10. Genesis Ibrahim-Balogun, Mayor’s Intern
On August 28, 2023, staff received news that the Growing Water Smart Technical Assistance Grant application was open to all communities that participated in the June 2023 workshop. Since then, the Rialto workgroup has met seven times and developed a project centered on crafting guidelines for compliance with the State’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) - a state regulation created in 1993 from the 1990 Water Conservation and Landscaping Act and updated in 2015 by Executive Order (EO B-29-15), which directed the California Department of Water Resources to update the State’s MWELO to be part of the building code related to landscape design and installation.
On February 22, 2022, the City Council added section 12.50.065 to Chapter 12.5 (Water Efficient Landscape Requirements) to the Rialto Municipal Code to comply with the State’s MWELO building code requirements.
On October 10, 2023, the City Council and Rialto Utility Authority Board authorized staff to apply for the Sonoran Institute and the Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy’s California Growing Water Smart Technical Assistance Grant for the project: Developing a Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) Guideline Handbook for Public and City Use.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
On November 17, 2023, staff was notified of the approval of a $10,000 grant by the Sonoran Institute for a project aimed at developing a MWELO Guideline Handbook for public and city utilization (ATTACHMENT 1). However, following ongoing discussions within the Rialto Workgroup, a more tailored project has been developed to better serve the interests of the city and its residents. Specifically, the grant funds will now be allocated towards hiring a consultant who will collaborate with Mayor Interns to establish internal policies regarding city facilities for medians, ensuring compliance with the state’s MWELO requirements while enhancing aesthetic appeal. This process will involve gathering input from key stakeholders such as the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, and Council Members to inform decisions regarding landscape median plant selections.
On February 28, 2024, the Water Subcommittee reviewed the revised project scope and the feedback provided was to move this action to the City Council for approval. In addition, the revised project scope has been approved by the Sonoran Institute, as outlined in the Grant Agreement (ATTACHMENT 2).
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act, the proposed request is not a project. A ‘Project’ means the whole of an action, which has the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. A project does not include the creation of government funding mechanisms or other government fiscal activities that do not involve any commitment to any specific project, which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment or organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3 in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the resolution and approved it as to form.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget: No impact. Grant funds should cover the proposed landscape architect hire for median design.
Capital Improvement Budget: No impact.