11-26-2018 BPU RPT 10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WATER I ENERGY I LIF E RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum PUBI1G U7TIrTIF$ BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: NOVEMBER 26, 2018 ITEM NO: 10 SUBJECT: PLANNING CASE P18-0608 — AMENDMENT TO THE CITYWIDE DESIGN AND SIGN GUIDELINES TO INCLUDE WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION DESIGN GUIDELINES ISSUE: Receive and file a report on the amendment to the Citywide Design and Sign Guidelines to include Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Design Guidelines. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities receive and file a report on the amendment to the Citywide Design and Sign Guidelines to include Water Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Design Guidelines. BACKGROUND: In November 2007, the City Council adopted Citywide Design and Sign Guidelines (Design Guidelines). The Design Guidelines are used to review the design of proposed developments in the City. The Design Guidelines reinforce the physical image of the City, and promote well-designed development that enhances neighborhoods, creates identity, and improves quality of life. On April 1, 2015, Governor Brown issued Executive Order B-29-15 (EO B-29-15), which mandated water conservation efforts. These efforts included a requirement for local agencies to comply with the State's updated Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), or adopt their own Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELD) to be at least as effective in conserving water as the MWELO. On December 1, 2015, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 7310, which updated Zoning Code Chapter 19.570 — Water Efficient Landscaping and Irrigation, to comply with the State's stricter water efficiency standards. In early 2016, the Community & Economic Development Department, in partnership with Riverside Public Utilities (RPU), retained the services of Architerra Design Group to develop tools that set clear design expectations, integrate best practices in landscape design, and make the adopted WELO customer friendly. On September 20, 2018, the City Planning Commission recommended City Council approval of the proposed WELO Guidelines. DISCUSSION: The proposed Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Guidelines (WELD Guidelines) supplement the City's WELO regulations, which are contained in Chapter 19.570 of the Zoning Code (Title 19 of the Riverside Page 108