REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Consideration of a Rain Barrel Rebate Program
Report
BACKGROUND
The historic drought that spanned from 2012 through 2016 included the driest four-year statewide precipitation on record (2012-2015) and the smallest Sierra-Cascades snowpack on record (2015, with 5 percent of average). This period was also marked by extraordinary periods of heat with 2014, 2015 and 2016 being California’s first, second and third warmest years in terms of statewide average temperatures. During this period residents and businesses responded by reducing water demands and meeting water conservation goals set by the City.
While last year’s record breaking precipitation totals did end the State-wide drought, it is imperative that water conservation remains a way of life for all Californians in preparation of future dry spells. As part of the City's overall effort to continue promoting water efficiency, Water and Sewer Utilities is proposing a Rain Barrel Rebate Program to encourage residents to install rain water capture and storage devices at their households. The program encourages conservation or water wise management practices and educates customers on the importance of water resources. The program will provide up to a $100 rebate to Santa Clara households that purchase and install a new rain barrel at their home.
DISCUSSION
Rain barrels capture rain water from a roof and store it for later use such as irrigation for lawns, gardens or indoor plants. By capturing and storing rain water for future use, households can potentially delay starting up irrigation systems for water efficient landscapes. Also, because the rain water is free it can help reduce water bills when used in lieu of traditional irrigation systems. Rain barrels can help maintain a healthy urban watershed by not only reducing the demand on the potable water system for irrigation, but also reducing the amount of wet weather runoff that is collected and sent into the City’s storm water system, which goes untreated into our bay and estuaries. While rain barrels are limited by both their storage capacity and the number of rain events in a given timeframe, these limitations can also increase awareness of a household’s water use.
A known disadvantage of rain barrel use is the potential for standing water in the rain barrels to become a breeding source for mosquitoes. For this reason, the Rain Barrel Rebate Program will include use information and guidelines to help prevent mosquito breeding.
Staff will promote this new program, if approved by Council, by adding the information on the City’s website and pushing it out through social media, the City Manager’s Blog, and utility bill inserts. Staff will return to provide updates to the Council regarding utilization of the program on an annual basis.
FISCAL IMPACT
The financial impact of a Rain Barrel Rebate program will include staff time to set up and administer the program as well as funds used for the rebates issued to program participants. Funding for the program will be limited to $10,000 which is currently budgeted for water conservation programs. Once all funds are depleted, the program will cease until additional funding is appropriated or budgeted.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve the Rain Barrel Rebate Program and $10,000 in program funding.
2. Other actions as determined by Council.
3. Take no action.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Alternative 1: Approve the Rain Barrel Rebate program and $10,000 in program funding.
Staff
Reviewed by: Gary Welling, Acting Director, Water and Sewer Utilities
Reviewed by: Manuel Pineda, Assistant City Manager
Reviewed by: Walter C. Rossmann, Chief Operating Officer
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager