2006/01/10 City Council Resolution (27)RESOLUTION NO. 2006-27
A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park
Endorsing
AHWAHNEE WATER PRINCIPLES FOR RESOURCE- EFFICIENT LAND USE
WHEREAS, cities are facing major challenges with water contamination, storm water runoff, flood damage
liability, and concerns about whether there will be enough reliable water for current residents
as well as for new development, issues that impact city budgets and taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, land use decisions made at the local level have major impacts on local, regional, and state
water resources in terms of quality, quantity, and availability; and
WHEREAS, the Local Government Commission, in partnership with the League of California Cities and
the California State Association of Counties, sought funding from the State Water Resources
Control Board to develop principles related to water - efficiency and land use; and
WHEREAS, the Local Government Commission developed a set of principles known as the Ahwahnee
Water Principles for Resource - Efficient Land Use which provide the opportunity to reduce
costs and improve the reliability and quality of our water resources, and which complement
the earlier Ahwahnee Principles for Resource - Efficient Communities.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Rohnert Park supports the
attached Ahwahnee Water Principles for Resource-Efficient Land Use and encourages
implementation of the Principles in future Rohnert Park land use decisions.
DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 10th day of January, 2006,
ATTEST:
" &M46'4' a"
City Clerk
City of Rohnert Park
Mayor Tim Smith
BREEZE: AYE FLORES: AYE MACKENZIE: AYE VIDAK- MARTINEZ: AYE SMITH: AYE
. AYES: (5) NOES: (0) ABSENT: (0) ABSTAIN: (0)
The Ahwahnee Water Principles for Resource - Efficient Land Use
Preamble
Cities and counties are facing major challenges with water contamination, storm water runoff, flood damage liability,
and concerns about whether there will be enough reliable water for current residents as well as for new
development. These issues impact city and county budgets and taxpayers. Fortunately there are a number of
stewardship actions that cities and counties can take that reduce costs and improve the reliability and quality of our
water resources.
The Water Principles below complement the Ahwahnee Principles for Resource - Efficient Communities that were
developed in 1991. Many cities and counties are already using them to improve the vitality and prosperity of their
communities.
Community Principles
1. Community design should be compact, mixed use, walkable, and transit - oriented so that automobile -
generated urban runoff pollutants are minimized and the open lands that absorb water are preserved to the
maximum extent possible.
2. Natural resources such as wetlands, flood plains, recharge zones, riparian areas, open space, and native
habitats should be identified, preserved and restored as valued assets for flood protection, water quality
improvement, groundwater recharge, habitat, and overall long -term water resource sustainability.
3. Water holding areas such as creek beds, recessed athletic fields, ponds, cisterns, and other features that
serve to recharge groundwater, reduce runoff, improve water quality and decrease flooding should be
incorporated into the urban landscape.
4. All aspects of landscaping from the selection of plants to soil preparation and the installation of irrigation
systems should be designed to reduce water demand, retain runoff, decrease flooding, and recharge
groundwater.
5. Permeable surfaces should be used for hardscape. Impervious surfaces such as driveways, streets, and
parking lots should be minimized so that land is available to absorb storm water, reduce polluted urban
runoff, recharge groundwater and reduce flooding.
6. Dual plumbing that allows grey water from showers, sinks and washers to be reused for landscape irrigation
should be included in the infrastructure of new development.
7. Community design should maximize the use of recycled water for appropriate applications including
outdoor irrigation, toilet flushing, and commercial and industrial processes. Purple pipe should be installed
in all new construction and remodeled buildings in anticipation of the future availability of recycled water.
8. Urban water conservation technologies such as low -flow toilets, efficient clothes washers, and more
efficient water -using industrial equipment should be incorporated in all new construction and retrofitted in
remodeled buildings.
9. Ground water treatment and brackish water desalination should be pursued when necessary to maximize
locally available, drought -proof water supplies.
Implementation Principles
1. Water supply agencies should be consulted early in the land use decision - making process regarding
technology, demographics and growth projections.
2. City and county officials, the watershed council, LAFCO, special districts and other stakeholders
sharing watersheds should collaborate to take advantage of the benefits and synergies of water
resource planning at a watershed level.
3. The best, multi - benefit and integrated strategies and projects should be identified and implemented
before less integrated proposals, unless urgency demands otherwise.
4. From start to finish, projects and programs should involve the public, build relationships, and increase
the sharing of and access to information.
5. Plans, programs, projects and policies should be monitored and evaluated to determine if the expected
results are achieved and to improve future practices.
Authors: Jake Mackenzie
Judy Corbett
Celeste Cantu
Susan Lien Longville
Mary Nichols
Robert Wilkinson
Martha Davis
Virginia Porter
Kevin Wolf
Jennifer Hosterman
Jonas Minton
Al Wanger
For more information, contact the LGC Center for Livable Communities: 916- 448 -1198, Ext. 321
Editor: