Title
Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Amending Chapter 30 Clarifying Text Amendments to Sections 30-58 through 30-59.3 of the Zoning Ordinance Related to Water Efficient Landscaping. [The Proposed Amendments are Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15305, Minor Alterations to Land Use Limitations]. (Community Development 481005) (15 minutes)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Introduction of Ordinance Amending Chapter 30 of the Alameda Municipal Code (Zoning Ordinance) to comply with new State Laws regarding water efficient landscaping. The proposed amendments are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15305, Minor Alterations to Land Use Limitations
BACKGROUND
An amendment to Article IV of Chapter 30 of the Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) is proposed in order to satisfy new State requirements for water conservation. To better address statewide drought conditions, Governor Brown issued an Executive Order on April 1, 2015, directing the State Department of Water Resources to update the State's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). The revised ordinance (Exhibit 1) was adopted by the State on July 15, 2015. Local agencies (cities and counties) have been instructed to adopt the MWELO or adopt their own ordinance by December 1, 2015. Until the City amends its own Water Conservation Landscaping regulations, the State MWELO is effective by default. Jurisdictions may adopt the MWELO, or create a custom ordinance to reflect local conditions, provided it is as effective as the MWELO in regard to water conservation. See Exhibits 2 and 3 for additional information provided by the California Department of Water Resources.
The City's initial Water Conservation Landscaping regulations were added to the AMC in...
Click here for full text