1. Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
City Council Meeting April 23, 2018

2. Overview What is Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO)?
What does MWELO do?
What does MWELO not do?
Significant Revisions in 2015 to the State MWELO
Compliance Options

3. What does MWELO do and not do?
What it does:
MWELO sets the minimum standard for water conservation in the state. Local agencies can adopt more stringent requirements via a local ordinance.
It establishes the legal criteria and Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) to standardize the calculation for water efficiency in landscaping.
MWELO goes beyond water conservation to address water resource issues acknowledging California’s climate.
What it doesn’t do:
MWELO does not ban the use of any plant or any plant type in the landscape
Turf grass usage is curbed (but not eliminated) due to its water usage
Does not require landscapes to be retrofitted unless a construction permit is required for new construction or remodeling

4. Significant Revisions 2015 (Applicability)
Applicability of MWELO for:
NEW Construction – Ground up or demo/rebuild of existing structures/site
New construction on a vacant lot, or demolition and reconstruction with total new landscaped area of 500 sf or more, and;
If the landscape area is less than 500 sf, then MWELO does not apply
If the landscape area is between 500 sf-2499 sf, then a prescriptive approach to compliance to MWELO is allowed.
If the landscaped area is more than 2500 sf, then strict compliance with MWELO (not prescriptive) is required.
EXISTING Construction – Remodels, Additions, Tenant Improvements, Parking Lot Reconfiguration, Landscape Revisions
Any construction project where existing landscaping of 2500 sf or more is being altered (turning the dirt and replacing).
Only rehabilitated landscapes that are associated with a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review are subject to the Ordinance.
Examples include remodels of existing single-family homes, a new single family home, addition to a single family home, a parking lot reconfiguration or commercial tenant improvement or remodel.
In all examples, these projects are only subject to MWELO if there is 500 sf of new landscaping for new construction or 2500 sf of altered landscaping for existing projects included in the scope of work.
Note 1: If no landscaping is being altered or proposed, or if the area is less than the respective thresholds, then MWELO does not apply.
Note 2: If landscaping is being removed as a result of a project, and no other landscaped areas are being affected, then MWELO does not apply (Room addition and windows analogy).
Note 3: Only the landscaped area being altered is subject to MWELO.  The entire site does not need to be brought into compliance if a project is subject to MWELO.  Only within Scope of Work
Note 4: In both new and existing conditions, it is the aggregate area of landscaping within the scope of work that needs to be counted.  Noncontiguous landscaped areas need to be considered as a single area for the threshold area.

5. Significant Revisions (Other)
Prescriptive Compliance Option now available (for landscape areas of 500 to 2,499 sf)
More efficient irrigation systems
Incentives for gray water use
Improvements in onsite storm water capture
Limiting the portion of landscapes that can be planted with high water use plants
New requirements for technical reports and annual agency reporting
Dedicated water meters required for residential landscapes over 5,000 sf and non-residential landscapes over 10,000 sf.

6. Proposed Code Revisions
Title 13 (Utilities & Sewers)
Chapter 13.22, Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
Last updated in 2010
Water efficiency and irrigation standards are not consistent with 2015 MWELO
Prescriptive Compliance Option and new irrigation efficiency standards are not included
Repeal Chapter 13.22, Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
Title 17 (Zoning Code)
Chapter (Landscaping)
Portions of the ordinance have not been updated since 2006
Water efficiency and irrigation standards are less efficient than Chapter 13.22
Does not include the Prescriptive Compliance option or full Performance Compliance submittal requirements
Recommend to include all 2015 MWELO regulations in this chapter
The proposed revisions will:
Ensure consistency in applicability of MWELO regulations
Ensure compliance with any future changes to MWELO

7. Compliance Options
Prescriptive Compliance Option: Projects with landscape areas of 500 to 2,499 sf may comply with a simplified landscape plan submittal through the Prescriptive Compliance Option. Submittal includes:
Project Information Sheet
Compliance with plant and irrigation specifications
Certification of Completion package submittal
Performance Compliance Option: Projects with landscape areas of 2,500+ sf will need to achieve performance compliance. Plans must be designed by a registered landscape architect or licensed contractor. Submittal of a Landscape Documentation Package is required, which shall include:
Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet
Soil Management Report
Landscape Design Plan
Irrigation Design Plan
Grading Design Plan
Certificate of Completion

8. Recommendation
1. Acknowledge that the proposed Municipal Code Amendment and Zoning Code Amendment are not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Sections 15307, Class 7, for Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of Natural Resources and 15308, Class 8, for Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment. The proposed Zoning Code Amendment is also exempt from CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, the general rule, in that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment;
2. Adopt the Findings of Consistency with the General Plan in Attachment A;
3. Direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance within 60 days repealing Chapter (Water Efficient Landscape) as contained in this report; and
4. Direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance within 60 days amending Title 17 (Zoning) of the Pasadena Municipal Code as presented in this report.

9. Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
City Council Meeting April 23, 2018

10. MWELO Calculations For example:
a 1,000 square foot landscaped area (LA=1,000)
which is entirely utilizing medium water use type plants (PF = .5)
entirely hydrozoning all landscaping (HA = 1,000)
utilizing drip irrigation (IE = .81)
which has no special landscaped areas (SLA = 0)
MAWA= (ETo) x (0.62) x [(0.55 x LA)+(0.45 x SLA)]
ETWU = (ETo) x (0.62) x [(PF x HA/IE) + SLA]
LEGEND
ETo Envirotranspiration rate (52.30 in Pasadena)
Conversion of inches into gallons per square foot
ETAF adjustment factor to allow moderate watering
LA Landscape Area in square feet, including SLAs
SLA Special Landscape Area in square feet
Adjustment factor for SLAs
PF Plant Factor indicating a specific plant’s water needs
HA Hydrozone area in square feet
IE Irrigation Efficiency (either .75 or .81 depending on
method used)
= x (0.62) x [(0.55 x 1,000)+(.45 x 0)]
= 17,853 gallons
= x (0.62) x [(0.5 x 1,000/.81) + 0]
= 20,037 gallons