(1)   That waters resources in California are of limited supply and are subject to ever-increasing demands.

      (2)   That the continuation of California's economic prosperity is dependent on the availability of adequate supplies of water for future uses.

      (3)   That it is the policy of the state to promote the conservation and efficient use of water and to prevent the waste of this valuable resource.

      (4)   That landscapes are essential to the quality of life in California by providing areas for active and passive recreation and as an enhancement to the environment by cleaning air and water, preventing erosion, offering fire protection and replacing ecosystems lost to development.

      (5)   That landscape design, installation, maintenance and management can and should be water efficient.

      (6)   That Cal. Const. Art. X, §2 specifies that the right to use water is limited to the amount reasonably required for the beneficial use to be served and the right does not and shall not extend to waste or unreasonable method of use.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

      (1)   New development projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review.

      (2)   Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review.

   (B)   The reporting requirements of this subchapter shall become effective December 1, 2015 and the remainder of this subchapter shall be effective no later than February 1, 2016.

   (C)   Any project with an aggregate landscape area of 2,500 square feet or less may comply with the performance requirements of this subchapter or conform to the prescriptive measures contained in § 153.160.225.

   (D)   For projects using treated or untreated graywater or rainwater captured on site, any lot or parcel within the project that has less than 2,500 square feet of landscape and meets the lot or parcel's landscape water requirement (estimated total water use) entirely with treated or untreated graywater or through stored rainwater captured on site is subject only to § 153.160.220(A)(5) of the city's Municipal Code.

      (1)   Registered local, state or federal historical sites;

      (2)   Ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system;

      (3)   Mined-land reclamation projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system; and

      (4)   Plant collections as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   The landscaping standards provided in this section shall apply to all parcels within the city.

      (1)   All landscaped areas shall be kept and maintained in a manner that does not detract from the appearance of the immediate neighborhood, and that protects the health, safety and welfare of the user, occupants and general public.

      (2)   All landscaped areas shall be kept and maintained in a neat and clean condition, free of weeds, debris, litter, dead, diseased or dying vegetation and broken or defective decorative elements.

      (3)   Vegetation in landscaped areas shall be mowed, groomed, trimmed, pruned and watered to maintain a healthy, growing condition.

      (4)   Irrigation systems shall be kept in good working condition and repair to prevent leaks or public health hazards.

      (5)   Vegetative overgrowth shall not be permitted in a manner that is likely to harbor rodents, vermin, insects or other nuisances; or impedes, obstructs or denies pedestrian or other lawful travel on sidewalks, walkways or other public rights-of-way.

      (6)   All property owners shall water, prune, weed and otherwise maintain landscaping in the parkway portions of adjoining streets, including street trees.

      (7)   Parkway landscaping shall be maintained by the abutting property owner.

      (1)   To the greatest extent possible, landscape material shall consist of drought-tolerant plants. Low-water-use plants shall be used in at least 50% of the total planted area. Planted areas shall consist of plant material well-suited to the given soil and climate of the region. Plant selection shall take into consideration water conservation through appropriate use and groupings of plants that are well adapted to particular sites and require similar watering needs and climatic, geological and topographical conditions.

      (2)   The maximum area permitted for turf shall be 50% of the total landscaped area on the site. Higher percentages may be permitted when sod is an essential part of the development such as playing fields for schools or parks and residential model units. Turf usage shall only be permitted for highly visual and functional use areas. Turf shall not be permitted in areas difficult to irrigate, such as sidewalk strips, slopes over 15% or narrow pathways.

      (3)   Where decorative water features such as pools, ponds or waterfalls are used in landscaped areas, such features shall incorporate recycling of water and where available, use of reclaimed water. Decorative water features shall be designed to minimize water loss.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   The following standards shall apply to all parcels in the R-1 -7,500, R-1, R-G and R-3 zones:

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   All new and rehabilitated landscaping plans undertaken in conjunction with any private development project on commercial, industrial, mixed-use and other nonresidential properties, or those projects requiring a grading, building or use permit, shall comply with the following standards:

   (A)   Unpaved areas. All unpaved areas, including those portions of required yard areas not utilized for vehicular and pedestrian access, shall be landscaped with plant material, including some combination of trees, shrubs, groundcover and turf. Dry landscape material may be incorporated into the landscape design.

      (1)   The minimum plant size for trees shall be 15 gallons, unless otherwise specified by the provisions of this chapter. Trees planted within ten feet of a street, sidewalk, paved trail or walkway shall be a deep-rooted species or shall be separated from paved surfaces by a root barrier to prevent physical damage to public improvements. A minimum distance of 15 feet is required between the center of trees to street light standards, water meters, back-flow prevention systems, sewer cleanouts and fire hydrants.

      (2)   The minimum plant size for shrubs shall be five gallons.

      (3)   Groundcover, including turf, shall be planted in a manner to provide 100% coverage within one year of initial planting.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   A Preliminary Landscape Design Plan shall specify the items detailed below. Special design attributes may require detail drawings and/or the submittal of manufacturer's literature.

(Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   The Landscape Documentation Package shall include the following elements:

   (A)   The following project information shall be provided in the Landscape Documentation Package.

      (1)   Date.

      (2)   Project applicant.

      (3)   Project address (if available, parcel and/or lot number(s)).

      (4)   Total landscape area (square feet).

      (5)   Project type (e.g., new, rehabilitated, public, private, cemetery, homeowner-installed).

      (6)   Water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, well) and identify the local water purveyor.

      (7)   Checklist of all documents in Landscape Documentation Package.

      (8)   Project contacts to include contact information for the project applicant and property owner.

      (9)   Applicant signature and date with statement, "I agree to comply with the requirements of the water efficient landscape ordinance and submit a complete Landscape Documentation Package."

   (B)   Approved Preliminary Landscape Design Plan.

   (C)   Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet as described in § 153.160.110.

   (D)   Soil Management Report as described in § 153.160.120.

   (E)   Landscape Design Plan as described in § 153.160.090.

   (F)   Irrigation Design Plan as described in § 153.160.100.

   (G)   Grading Design Plan as described in § 153.160.130.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

         (a)   Any plant may be selected for the landscape, providing the estimated total water use (as described in § 153.160.110(D)) in the landscape area does not exceed the maximum applied water allowance (as described in § 153.160.110(C)). To encourage the efficient use of water, the following is highly recommended:

            1.   Protection and preservation of native species and natural vegetation.

            2.   Selection of water-conserving plant and turf species.

            3.   Selection of plants based on disease and pest resistance.

            4.   Selection of trees based on applicable local tree ordinances or tree shading guidelines.

            5.   Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program plant lists.

         (b)   Each hydrozone shall have plant materials with similar water use, with the exception of hydrozones with plants of mixed water use, as specified in § 153.160.100(A)(2)(d).

         (c)   Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geologic and topographical conditions of the project site. To encourage the efficient use of water, the following is highly recommended:

            1.   Use the Sunset Western Climate Zone System which takes into account temperature, humidity, elevation, terrain, latitude and varying degrees of continental and marine influence on local climate.

            2.   Recognize the horticultural attributes of plants (i.e., mature plant size, invasive surface roots) to minimize damage to property or infrastructure (e.g., buildings, sidewalks, power lines).

            3.   Consider the solar orientation for plant placement to maximize summer shade and winter solar gain.

         (d)   Turf is not allowed on slopes greater than 25% where the toe of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape and where 25% means one foot of vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run x 100 = slope percent).

         (e)   A landscape design plan for projects in fire-prone areas shall address fire safety and prevention. A defensible space or zone around a building or structure is required pursuant to Cal. Pub. Res. Code §4291(a) and (b). Avoid fire-prone plant materials and highly flammable mulches.

         (f)   The use of invasive and/or noxious plant species is strongly discouraged.

         (g)   The architectural guidelines of a common interest development, which include community apartment projects, condominiums, planned developments and stock cooperatives, shall not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of low-water use plants as a group.

         (a)   Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.

         (b)   Where available, recycled water shall be used as a source for decorative water features.

         (c)   Surface area of a water feature shall be included in the high water use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.

         (a)   A minimum two-inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated.

         (b)   Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes.

         (c)   The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-seeded applications shall meet the mulching requirement.

         (d)   Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the plants selected.

      (1)   North arrow.

      (2)   Scale (preferably an engineer's scale of 1"=10' or 1"=20').

      (3)   Delineated property lines and easements, including utility easements.

      (4)   Adjacent streets, including location, dimension, and centerline.

      (5)   Existing and proposed public improvements, including right-of-way and street dedications.

      (6)   All existing and planned buildings and structures on site.

      (7)   Delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter or other method.

         (a)   Identify each hydrozone as low, moderate, high water or mixed water use. Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape shall be included in the low water use hydrozone for the water budget calculation.

         (b)   Identify recreational areas.

         (c)   Identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants.

         (d)   Identify areas irrigated with recycled water.

         (e)   Identify type of mulch and application depth.

         (f)   Identify soil amendments, type and quantity.

      (8)   Identify type and surface area of water features.

      (9)   Identify hardscapes (pervious and non-pervious).

      (10)   Identify location and installation details, and 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity of any applicable stormwater best management practices that encourage on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater. Stormwater best management practices are encouraged in the landscape design plan and examples include, but are not limited, to:

         (a)   Infiltration beds, swales and basins that allow water to collect and soak into the ground.

         (b)   Constructed wetlands and retention ponds that retain water, handle excess flow and filter pollutants.

         (c)   Pervious or porous surfaces (e.g., permeable pavers or blocks, pervious or porous concrete, etc.) that minimize runoff.

      (11)   Identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies as discussed in §153.160.220 and their 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity.

      (12)   Identify any applicable graywater discharge piping system components and area(s) of distribution.

      (13)   Contain the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them for the efficient use of water in the landscape design plan."

      (14)   Bear the signature of a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor or any other person authorized to design a landscape. (See Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3, 5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701 and 7027.5, § 832.27 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations and Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 6721.)

(Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

         (a)   Landscape water meters, defined as either a dedicated water service meter or private

submeter, shall be installed for all nonresidential irrigated landscapes of 1,000 square feet and residential irrigated landscaped of 5,000 square feet or greater. A landscape water meter may be either

            1.   A customer service meter dedicated to landscape use provided by the local water purveyor; or

            2.   A privately owned meter or submeter.

         (b)   Automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data utilizing non-volatile memory shall be required for irrigation scheduling in all irrigation systems.

         (c)   If the water pressure is below or exceeds the recommended pressure of the specified irrigation devices, the installation of a pressure regulating device is required to ensure that the dynamic pressure at each emission device is within the manufacturer's recommended pressure range for optimal performance.

            1.   If the static pressure is above or below the required dynamic pressure of the irrigation system, pressure-regulating devices such as inline pressure regulators, booster pumps or other devices shall be installed to meet the required dynamic pressure of the irrigation system.

            2.   Static water pressure, dynamic or operating pressure and flow reading of the water supply shall be measured at the point of connection. These pressure and flow measurements shall be conducted at the design stage. If the measurements are not available at the design stage, the measurements shall be conducted at installation.

         (d)   Sensors (rain, freeze, wind, and the like), either integral or auxiliary, that suspend or alter irrigation operation during unfavorable weather conditions shall be required on all irrigation systems, as appropriate for local climatic conditions. Irrigation should be avoided during windy or freezing weather or during rain.

         (e)   Manual shut-off valves (such as a gate valve, ball valve or butterfly valve) shall be required, as close as possible to the point of connection of the water supply, to minimize water loss in case of an emergency (such as a main line break) or routine repair.

         (f)   Backflow prevention devices shall be required to protect the water supply from contamination by the irrigation system.

         (g)   Flow sensors that detect high flow conditions created by system damage or malfunction are required for all non-residential landscapes and residential landscapes of 5,000 square feet or larger.

         (h)   Master shut-off valves are required on all projects except landscapes that make use of technologies that allow for the individual control of sprinklers that are individually pressurized in a system equipped with low pressure shut down features.

         (i)   The irrigation system shall be designed to prevent runoff, low head drainage, overspray or other similar conditions where irrigation water flows onto non-targeted areas, such as adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, hardscapes, roadways or structures.

         (j)   Relevant information from the soil management plan, such as soil type and infiltration rate, shall be utilized when designing irrigation systems.

         (k)   The design of the irrigation system shall conform to the hydrozones of the landscape design plan.

         (l)   The irrigation system must be designed and installed to meet, at a minimum, the irrigation efficiency criteria as described in § 153.160.110 regarding the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.

         (m)   All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers'/International Code Council's (ASABE/ICC) 802-2014 "Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard", All sprinkler heads installed in the landscape must document a distribution uniformity low quarter of 0.65 or higher using the protocol defined in ASABE/ICC 802-2014.

         (n)   It is highly recommended that the project applicant inquire with the local water purveyor about peak water operating demands (on the water supply system) or water restrictions that may impact the effectiveness of the irrigation system.

         (o)   In mulched planting areas, the use of low volume irrigation is required to maximize water infiltration into the root zone.

         (p)   Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall have matched precipitation rates, unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer's recommendations.

         (q)   Head to head coverage is recommended. However, sprinkler spacing shall be designed to achieve the highest possible distribution uniformity using the manufacturer's recommendations.

         (r)   Swing joints or other riser-protection components are required on all risers subject to damage that are adjacent to hardscapes or in high traffic areas of turf grass.

         (s)   Check valves or anti-drain valves are required on all sprinkler heads where low point drainage could occur.

         (t)   Areas less than ten feet in width in any direction shall be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no runoff or overspray.

         (u)   Overhead irrigation shall not be permitted within 24 inches of any non-permeable surface. Allowable irrigation within the setback from non-permeable surfaces may include drip, drip line or other low flow non-spray technology. The setback area may be planted or unplanted. The surfacing of the setback may be mulch, gravel or other porous material. These restrictions may be modified if:

            1.   The landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no runoff occurs.

            2.   The adjacent non-permeable surfaces are designed and constructed to drain entirely to landscaping.

            3.   The irrigation designer specifies an alternative design or technology, as part of the Landscape Documentation Package, and clearly demonstrates strict adherence to irrigation system design criteria in § 153.160.100(A)(1)(h). Prevention of overspray and runoff must be confirmed during the irrigation audit.

         (v)   Slopes greater than 25% shall not be irrigated with an irrigation system with an application rate exceeding 0.75 inches per hour. This restriction may be modified if the landscape designer specifies an alternative design or technology, as part of the Landscape Documentation Package, and clearly demonstrates no runoff or erosion will occur. Prevention of runoff and erosion must be confirmed during the irrigation audit.

         (a)   Each valve shall irrigate a hydrozone with similar site, slope, sun exposure, soil conditions and plant materials with similar water use.

         (b)   Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall be selected based on what is appropriate for the plant type within that hydrozone.

         (c)   Where feasible, trees shall be placed on separate valves from shrubs, groundcovers and turf to facilitate the appropriate irrigation of trees. The mature size and extent of the root zone shall be considered when designing irrigation for the tree.

         (d)   Individual hydrozones that mix plants of moderate and low water use, or moderate and high water use, may be allowed if:

            1.   Plant factor calculation is based on the proportions of the respective plant water uses and their plant factor.

            2.   The plant factor of the higher water using plant is used for calculations.

         (e)   Individual hydrozones that mix high and low water use plants shall not be permitted.

         (f)   On the landscape design plan and irrigation design plan, hydrozone areas shall be designated by number, letter or other designation. On the irrigation design plan, designate the areas irrigated by each valve, and assign a number to each valve. Use this valve number in the hydrozone information table which is required in the Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet. This table can also assist with the irrigation audit and programming the controller.

      (1)   The point of connection to the public water supply, and location and size of separate water meters for landscape.

      (2)   Location, type, size and manufacturer of all components of the irrigation system, including controllers, main and lateral lines, valves, sprinkler heads, moisture sensing devices, rain switches, quick couplers, pressure regulators and backflow prevention devices.

      (3)   Static water pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply.

      (4)   Flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches per hour) and design operating pressure (pressure per square inch) for each station.

      (5)   Recycled water irrigation systems as specified in § 153.160.190.

      (6)   The following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them accordingly for the efficient use of water in the irrigation design plan."

      (7)   The signature of a licensed landscape architect, certified irrigation designer, licensed landscape contractor or any other person authorized to design an irrigation system. (See Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code §§ 5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3, 5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701 and 7027.5, §832.27 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations and Cal. Food & Agric. Code § 6721.)

(Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   (A)   Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet required. A project applicant shall submit the Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet, as provided in the Landscape Design Manual, which contains information on the plant factor, irrigation method, irrigation efficiency, and area associated with each hydrozone. Calculations are then made to show that the evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF) for the landscape project does not exceed a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas, exclusive of Special Landscape Areas. The ETAF for a landscape project is based on the plant factors and irrigation methods selected. The Maximum Applied Water Allowance is calculated based on the maximum ETAF allowed and expressed as annual gallons required. The Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU) is calculated based on the plants used and irrigation method selected for the landscape design. The ETWU must be below the MAWA. In calculating the Maximum Applied Water Allowance and Estimated Total Water Use, a project applicant shall use the ETo values from the Reference Evapotranspiration Table contained in the water-efficient landscape packet available from the Community Development Director. Because the city is not covered by the Reference Evapotranspiration Table as provided in the Landscape Design Manual, projects shall use data from other cities located nearby in the same reference evapotranspiration zone, such as the City of Monrovia, as found in the CIMIS Reference Evapotranspiration Zones Map, Department of Water Resources, 1999.

      (1)   The plant factor used shall be from the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) or from horticultural researchers with academic institutions or professional associations as approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). The plant factor ranges from 0 to 0.1 for low water use plants, from 0.4 to 0.6 for moderate water use plants and from 0.7 to 1.0 for high water use plants.

      (2)   All water features shall be included in the high water use hydrozone and temporarily irrigated areas shall be included in the low water use hydrozone.

      (3)   All Special Landscape Areas shall be identified and their water use calculated as described below.

      (4)   ET Adjustment Factor for new and existing (non-rehabilitated) Special Landscape Areas shall not exceed 1.0.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   (A)   Submit soil samples to a laboratory for analysis and recommendations.

      (1)   Soil sampling shall be conducted in accordance with laboratory protocol, including protocols regarding adequate sampling depth for the intended plants.

      (2)   The soil analysis shall include, as applicable:

         (a)   Soil texture.

         (b)   Infiltration rate determined by laboratory test or soil texture infiltration rate table.

         (c)   pH.

         (d)   Total soluble salts.

         (e)   Sodium.

         (f)   Percent organic matter.

         (g)   Recommendations.

   (B)   The project applicant, or his or her designee, shall comply with one of the following:

      (1)   If significant mass grading is not planned, the soil analysis report shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package.

      (2)   If significant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report shall be submitted as part of the Certificate of Completion.

   (C)   The soil analysis report shall be made available, in a timely manner, to the professionals preparing the landscape design plans and irrigation design plans to make any necessary adjustments to the design plans.

   (D)   The project applicant, or his or her designee, shall submit documentation verifying implementation of soil analysis report recommendations with Certificate of Completion.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   (A)   The project applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates finished configurations and elevations of the landscape area including all of the following:

      (1)   Height of graded slopes.

      (2)   Drainage patterns.

      (3)   Pad elevations.

      (4)   Finish grade.

      (5)   Stormwater retention improvements, if applicable.

   (B)   To prevent excessive erosion and runoff, it is highly recommended that project applicants do the following:

      (1)   Grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains within property lines and does not drain on to non-permeable hardscapes.

      (2)   Avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil.

      (3)   Avoid soil compaction in landscape areas.

   (C)   The grading design plan shall contain the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them accordingly for the efficient use of water in the grading design plan" and shall bear the signature of a licensed professional as authorized by law.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   Upon receipt of the permit for the Landscape Documentation Package and completion of the landscaping and irrigation system, the developer shall submit a Certificate of Completion, as provided in the Landscape Design Manual, to the Director of Community Development for review. The following details apply to the Certificate of Completion:

      (1)   Where there have been significant changes made in the field during construction, these 'as-built' or record drawings shall be included with the certification;

      (2)   SA diagram of the irrigation plan showing hydrozones shall be kept with the irrigation controller for subsequent management purposes.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   For the efficient use of water, all irrigation schedules shall be developed, managed and evaluated to utilize the minimum amount of water required to maintain plant health. Irrigation schedules shall meet the following criteria:

      (1)   The plant establishment period.

      (2)   The established landscape.

      (3)   Temporarily irrigated areas.

      (1)   Irrigation interval (days between irrigation).

      (2)   Irrigation run times (hours or minutes per irrigation event to avoid runoff).

      (3)   Number of cycle starts required for each irrigation event to avoid runoff.

      (4)   Amount of applied water scheduled to be applied on a monthly basis.

      (5)   Application rate setting.

      (6)   Root depth setting.

      (7)   Plant type setting.

      (8)   Soil type.

      (9)   Slope factor setting.

      (10)   Shade factor setting.

      (11)   Irrigation uniformity or efficiency setting.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

      (1)   The project applicant shall submit an irrigation audit report with the Certificate of Completion that may include, but is not limited to: inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity, reporting overspray or run off that causes overland flow and preparation of an irrigation schedule, including configuring irrigation controllers with application rate, soil types, plant factors, slope, exposure and any other factors necessary for the accurate programming.

      (2)   The city may require an irrigation water use analysis, irrigation audits, or irrigation surveys to ensure compliance with the maximum applied water allowance.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   For the purpose of determining estimated total water use, average irrigation efficiency is assumed to be 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip system devices.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   Any proposed graywater systems shall conform to the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5, Chapter 16) and any applicable city standards.

(Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

      (1)   All model homes shall be landscaped and shall use signs and written information to demonstrate the principles of water-efficient landscapes described in this ordinance.

      (2)   Developers shall provide information to owners of new, single-family residential homes regarding the design, installation, management and maintenance of water-efficient landscapes.

      (3)   Signs shall be used to identify all models as an example of a water efficient landscape featuring elements such as hydrozones, irrigation equipment and others that contribute to the overall water-efficient theme.

      (4)   Information shall be provided about designing, installing, managing and maintaining water-efficient landscapes.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

      (1)   For all landscapes that have a water meter, the city shall administer programs that may include, but not be limited to, irrigation water use analyses, irrigation surveys and irrigation audits to evaluate water use and provide recommendations as necessary to reduce landscape water use to a level that does not exceed the maximum applied water allowance for existing landscapes. The maximum applied water allowance for existing landscapes shall be calculated as:

   MAWA   =   (0.8) (Eto)(LA)(0.62)

   where:

   MAWA   =   Maximum Applied Water Allowance (gallons per year)

   ETo   =   Reference Evapotranspiration (inches per year)

   0.62   =   Conversion Factor (to gallons)

   0.7      =   ET Adjustment Factor (ETAF)

   LA      =   Landscape Area including SLA (square feet)

   0.3      =   Additional Water Allowance for SLA

   SLA   =   Special Landscape Area (square feet)

      (2)   For all landscapes that do not have a meter, the city shall administer programs that may include, but not be limited to, irrigation surveys and irrigation audits to evaluate water use and provide recommendations as necessary in order to prevent water waste.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   Compliance with the following items is mandatory and must be documented on a landscape plan in order to achieve prescriptive compliance.

   (A)   Submit a Landscape Documentation Package which includes the following elements:

      (1)   Date.

      (2)   Project applicant.

      (3)   Project location including parcel number.

      (4)   Total landscape area in square feet, including a breakdown of turf and plant material.

      (5)   Project type (new, rehabilitated, public, private, home-owner installed).

      (6)   Water supply type (potable, recycled, well) and identify the local retail water purveyor.

      (7)   Contact information for the project applicant and property owner.

      (8)   Applicant signature and date with statement, "I agree to comply with the requirements of the prescriptive compliance option.”

   (B)   Incorporate compost at a rate of at least four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet to a depth of six inches into landscape area unless contra-indicated by a soils test).

   (C)   Plant material shall comply with all of the following:

      (1)   For residential areas, install climate adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 75% of the plant area excluding edibles and areas using recycled water;

      (2)   For non-residential areas, install climate adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 100% of the plant area excluding edibles and areas using recycled water.

      (3)   A minimum three inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated.

   (D)   Turf shall comply with the following:

      (1)   Turf shall not exceed 20% of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in non-residential areas.

      (2)   Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas which exceed a slope of one foot vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length;

      (3)   Turf is prohibited in parkways less than ten feet wide, unless the parkway is adjacent to a parking strip and used to enter and exit vehicles. Any turf in parkways must be irrigated by subsurface irrigation or by other technology that creates no overspray or runoff.

   (E)   Irrigation systems shall comply with the following:

      (1)   Automatic irrigation controllers are required and must use evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data.

      (2)   Irrigation controllers shall be of a type which does not lost programming date in the event the primary power source is interrupted.

      (3)   Pressure regulators shall be installed on the irrigation system to ensure the dynamic pressure of the system is within the manufacturers recommended pressure range.

      (4)   Manual shut-off valves (such as gate valve, ball valve, or butterfly valve) shall be installed as close as possible to the point of connection of the water supply.

      (5)   All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the ANSI standard, ASABE/ICC 802-2014. "Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard," All sprinkler heads installed in the landscape must document a distribution uniformity low quarter of 0.65 or higher using the protocol defined in ASABE/ICC 802-2014.

(Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)

   In addition to the requirements contained in this subchapter, regulations contained in subchapters 153.150, Off-Street Parking and Loading, and 153.200, Nonconforming Lots, Structures and Uses, may apply to landscaping.

(Ord. 1346, passed 5-2-12; Am. Ord. 1379, passed 11-4-15)