HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2f - Budget increase for Water Efficient Landscaping Plan Check ServicesG- L
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DATE
TO:
March 18, 2014
Honorable Mayor and City Council
STAFF REPORT
Development Services Department
FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services Director
By: Jim Kasama, Community Development Administrator, and
Don Stockham, Building Official
SUBJECT: INCREASE THE WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING PLAN CHECK
BUDGET FROM $125,000 TO $200,000 FOR ADDITIONAL PLAN
CHECK SERVICES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2013 -14
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
Due to the substantial increase in development activity throughout the City, the pass -
through funds budgeted for the water efficient landscaping plan check services for
Fiscal Year 2013 -14 will be exhausted with the payment of February invoice. It is
recommended that the City Council increase the water efficient landscaping plan check
budget from $125,000 to $200,000 for additional plan check services for Fiscal Year
2013 -14.
BACKGROUND
Water efficient landscaping plan checks began in 2010 to implement the City's Water
Efficient Landscaping Ordinance (No. 2267) that was adopted in accordance with the
State's water conservation mandates. The Ordinance calls for certain development
projects to install landscaping that conserves water by utilizing drought - tolerant plants
and efficient irrigation methods. The landscaping plans are also required to be
consistent with the City's design guidelines. It is estimated that the landscaping plans
that are being approved need as much as 50% less water than the conventional lawns
and gardens that they are replacing. And, since approximately 70% of a household's
water use is for landscape irrigation, homes with water efficient landscaping are
significantly reducing the City's overall water usage.
The City's Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance requires a landscape architect to
design the landscaping in accordance with the Ordinance so as not to exceed
prescribed water usage limits, and to complete a Landscape Documentation Package
that details the plant selection, soil and ground cover treatments, and irrigation
Water Efficient Landscaping Plan Check Budget Increase
March 18, 2014
Page 2 of 2
methods. The designs and documents are subject to plan check to ensure that they
comply with the Ordinance and are aesthetically acceptable.
One hundred twenty -five thousand dollars ($125,000) was budgeted for the water
efficient landscaping plan check expenses for Fiscal Year 2013 -14. This amount was
based on an expectation that development activity would increase from the preceding
fiscal year, for which $100,000 was budgeted and $76,150 was expended for 45 plan
checks. As of the end of February of this year; however, a total of $122,880 has been
expended for 70 water efficient landscaping plan checks. At this rate, there could be
more than 100 plan checks for FY 2013 -14, which would cost at least $170,000.
DISCUSSION
The City contracts with Armstrong & Walker, Landscape Architecture for water efficient
landscaping plan check services, and they are paid on a pass- through basis. Plan
checks are paid for by the applicant at the time of submittal, and the consultants are
paid monthly for the plan checks that were done. With four months left in the fiscal
year, it is estimated that an additional $75,000 is needed in order to provide these plan
check services. Water efficient landscaping plan checking is a cost neutral program.
The consulting contract specifies a rate of $1,700 for a standard water efficient
landscaping plan check, and, therefore, the applicants are charged $1,700 per plan
check.
FISCAL IMPACT
Increasing the water efficient landscaping plan check expenditure account will not have
an impact on the General Fund because this service is paid for on a pass- through basis.
However, the increase in water efficient landscaping plan checks correlates to an
increase in landscaping permit fees, which are retained by the City to cover staff costs
associated with inspections and the permitting process.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize and direct the City Manager to
increase the Water Efficient Landscaping Plan Check budget from $125,000 to
$200,000 for additional plan check services for Fiscal Year 2013 -14.
Approved,
Dorninio Lazzare�t�
CI y Manager