City Council Agenda
|
Memo to: |
Manteca City Council |
|
|
|
|
From: |
George Montross, Director of Utilities |
|
|
|
|
Date: |
October 20, 2026 |
|
|
|
|
Subject: |
Unlawful Water Use Ordinance Amendment |
Recommendation:
title
Waive the first reading by substitution of the title, and introduce an ordinance of the City Council of the City of Manteca, State of California, amending the Unlawful Water Use Code as defined in section 13.04.210 of Chapter 13.04 of Title 13 of the Manteca Municipal Code
body
Background:
On October 13, 2023, the State of California adopted Assembly Bill (AB) 1572, which prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf, which is defined as turf located within street right-of-ways and parking lots at commercial, industrial and institutional properties (CII), other than a cemetery, and on properties of homeowners’ associations, common interest developments and community service organizations or similar entities. The use of potable water is not prohibited by this ordinance to the extent necessary to ensure the health of trees and other perennial nonturf plantings, or to the extent necessary to address an immediate health and safety need.
AB 1572 set specific compliance dates for the prohibition of irrigation of nonfunctional turf with potable water. The adopted schedule is as follows:
1. All properties owned by local governmental, local and regional public agencies beginning January 1, 2027.
2. All other institutional properties and all commercial and industrial properties beginning January 1, 2028.
3. All common areas of properties of homeowners’ associations, common interest developments and community service organizations or similar entities beginning January 1, 2029.
4. All properties owned by local government, local public agencies in a disadvantaged community, beginning January 1, 2031, or the date upon which a state funding source is made available to fund conversion of nonfunction turf, whichever is later.
The City has been working for several years to replace turf within streetscapes and right-of-ways. Additionally, turf is no longer installed in new streetscapes. The Utilities Department’s Water Conservation Staff have been focusing on education and outreach regarding these new regulations. The current focus is on our CII customers with a January 1, 2028, compliance date. Following these efforts, the focus will shift to homeowner associations. This outreach includes the general information about AB 1572 and notification of the City’s Lawn to Garden program, where the City will pay $1 per square foot of turf replacement, up to $5,000 for commercial customers and $650 for residential customers.
Fiscal Impact:
This action has no fiscal impact. The Lawn to Garden program is an existing program and is included in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget.
Documents Attached:
1. Attachment 1 - Ordinance
2. Attachment 2 - Redlined Ordinance