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1991/09/10 City Council Resolution (2)RESOLUTION NO. 91 - 191 RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROHNERT PARK ADOPTING CITY OF ROHNERT PARK WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES WHEREAS, Article 10, Section 2 of the California Constitution mandates a water conservation ethic for the State and prohibits waste and unreasonable use of water; and WHEREAS, responsible stewardship of the City's limited water resources must be encouraged to prevent future water shortages, to provide a long -term sustained water supply, and to ensure that water is available for all beneficial uses; and WHEREAS, exterior landscape watering requires a significant portion of the total water used by residential, commercial and industrial projects; and WHEREAS, landscaping currently being installed throughout the City will have a long -term impact on future water requirements and amount of water available to meet beneficial uses, and WHEREAS, a significant amount of water may be saved through the proper design and management of landscaping and irrigation systems; and WHEREAS, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein, City of Rohnert Park Water Efficient Landscape Guidelines which contain detailed design and management recommendations regarding water efficient landscape design; and WHEREAS, these Guidelines have been reviewed by staff and are recommended for adoption as official policy of the City of Rohnert Park, NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the City of Rohnert Park Water Efficient Landscape Guidelines attached hereto as Exhibit "All are adopted as official policy of the City of Rohnert Park with respect to all matters within the proprietary interests of the City; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the various departments of the City which have discretionary approval authority are hereby directed to consider these Guidelines when reviewing all discretionary land use permits or other approvals, to the greatest extent permitted by existing ordinances, policies, rules and regulations; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that these Guidelines shall be reviewed from time to time for consideration of changes in ordinances, policies, rules and regulations which may be necessary to complete implementation of these Guidelines in a manner which is consistent with the resolution, City policy, and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that these Guidelines shall be made available to the general public and applicants as a handout to assist with the design, implementation and management of projects consistent with the City of Rohnert Park Water Efficient Landscape Guidelines. DULY AND REGULARLY ADOPTED this 10th day of September, 1991. CITY OF ROHNERT PARK CITY as�PARK yor ATTEST: fi Deputy City Clerk �r HOLLINGSWORTH AYE QEKINS AYE REILLY AYE SPIRO ABSDtf( AYE AYES: ___L NOES: ___� ABSENT ' ABSTAIN 0 EXHIBIT "A1l CITY OF ROHNERT PARK WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE GUIDELINES Purpose The purpose of these water efficient landscape guidelines is to effect efficient water use through proper landscape design and management. The guidelines shall supersede all other existing City landscape policies, Specific Plan landscape guidelines, and conceptual master landscape plans. The City Manager may grant exceptions from the guidelines where appropriate and justified. The guidelines should be reviewed from time to time for input from the public and for potential revision or modification. For the purpose of these guidelines, landscaped areas shall be defined as ornamental planted areas, patios, decks, walkways and natural areas (excluding creek setback zones) within that portion of the lot to de developed. Pools, ponds, and fountains will be considered on an individual basis. Applicability The water efficient landscape guidelines are applicable to: -All new and rehabilitated landscaping in projects that are subject to discretionary review, including common areas. When two or more model homes are proposed in a residential complex, at least one shall comply with the guidelines. The "Water Efficient" landscaped model home shall be identified with signage as "Water Efficient Landscaping." The following projects are exempt from the guidelines: - Landscaping on existing and proposed single family lots. It is recommended but not required that front yard landscaping installed by developers on existing and proposed single family lots comply with these guidelines. -Areas devoted to agricultural cultivation. -Areas utilizing reclaimed wastewater for irrigation. _Public parks, golf courses, cemeteries, school recreation areas, and private active use recreational areas where the applicant can demonstrate no other feasible alternative exists to turf groundcover. - Projects officially filed with the City Planning Department as of the date of adoption of the guidelines. Plant Selection Plants selected in landscaped non -turf areas shall be well - suited to the climate of the region and require minimal water once established. Plants that are of a higher water use variety should be grouped together and be irrigated separately from water conserving plants. Turf Selection and limitations Turf shall be limited to 25% (or 30% for drought tolerant turf varieties) of the projects landscaped areas. Infill lots, corner lots, and other lots with more than one street frontage may be permitted to have turf up to 35% (or 40% for drought tolerant turf varieties) of the projects landscaped areas, where necessary to provide consistent streetscapes. No turf shall be allowed: -in areas three feet wide or less. -on slopes exceeding 25 %. Soil Conditioning & Mulching 1. A minimum one foot depth of uncompacted soil should be available for water absorption and root growth in planted areas. 2. Soil tests for horticultural suitability shall be required at time of landscape installation. Soil shall be prepared and /or amended as appropriate. 3. A minimum of two inches of mulch shall be added in non -turf areas to the soil surface after planting. Plant types that are intolerant to much shall be excluded from this requirement. Non- porous material shall not be placed under the mulch. Irrigation 1. All landscaped areas shall be irrigated with an automatic system. Water efficient systems (drip, minispray, bubbler -type, etc.) shall be used whenever feasible. Low gallonage type sprinkler heads with matched precipitation rates shall be used when spray or rotor -type heads are specified for watering shrubs and ground cover areas. Lawns shall be sized and shaped so they can be efficiently irrigated. Spray or run -off onto paved areas shall be avoided. 2. Dual or mulit- program controllers with separated valves and circuits shall be used when the project contains more than one type of landscape treatment (lawn, ground cover, shrub, tree areas, etc.), or a variety of solar aspects. Soil moisture sensing devices and rain sensors should be used on larger projects (50,000+ square feet of landscaped area) to minimize or eliminate overwatering. 3. Watering should be scheduled at times of minimal wind conflict and evaporation loss. 4. Sprinkler heads must have matched precipitation rates within each valve zone. 5. Check valves are required where elevation differential may cause low head drainage. 6. Within 60 days of project completion, it is recommended a water audit be conducted by a certified consultant to insure efficient water usage.