Speaker 2: Yes. Item number 21. Communications from councilman all hour, Austin Vice Mayor Susan Lowenthal, Councilwoman Stacey Mango, Council Member Rex Richardson. Recommendation to request city manager to report back to City Council within 45 days on the measures that the city is taking to meet the new water conservation requirements and request the water department to provide a report on what additional measures the water department is implementing for residents and businesses.
Speaker 0: Councilman Austin.
Speaker 7: Thank you. And this is pretty straightforward. As we all know. On April 1st, Governor Brown issued an executive order mandating substantial reduction in water usage across the state. This came after the snowpack levels at the Sierra Nevada were measured at only 5% of normal levels. The governor required restrictions on local governments to achieve a 25% statewide reduction, and the State Water Resources Board is currently developing the regulations to implement these mandatory reductions because of Long Beach, previous and current significant conservation efforts. We're currently looking at a reduction requirement of 16% for the city of Long Beach. We all must do our part to help conserve water as the drought we are experiencing is likely to become more of the norm than the expectation in our state. I'd like to thank my colleagues for joining me in this request for the city manager to report back to the City Council within 45 days on what steps the city will be taking to achieve water reduction in water use in the city. And we'd also like to request the water department to share with the city council and the public what additional measures they may be implementing for residents and businesses throughout the city to help Long Beach do a fair share in meeting these new water conservation standards. And so, again, I'd like to thank my colleagues for for signing on to this very important issue. Obviously, we are facing a crisis here in the state of California. We've done some amazing work here in the city of Long Beach thus far, but we still have a lot of work to do. And I'm really interested in hearing more from from my colleagues and their thoughts, but more importantly, getting that report back after 45 days. I would encourage your support. Yeah. I also want to thank my colleagues for bringing this forward. I do want to say that I think Long Beach has already done a phenomenal job with water conservation and all the reports that I've read in terms of where Long Beach stands with this is is a phenomenal. So I'm looking for looking forward to a real positive report. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Councilmember Councilmember Mongo.
Speaker 6: I'm just so thrilled that the city of Long Beach has done such an excellent job with water conservation and look forward to sharing with the community what our district has been working hand-in-hand with the fire department to be able to do to ensure that we don't have sprinkler usage at any of our fire stations in the fifth . So more good, exciting conservation news to come.
Speaker 3: Okay. And I'd also like to add some comments. I'd like to thank Councilmember Austin for bringing this request forward and to keep the issue of water conservation and what Long Beach does in terms of water conservation, really at the forefront of not just our conversation here, but the minds of our residents as well. It's important to note that Long Beach Water Department has been at the forefront of water management in Southern California for decades, and it's something that we should be very proud of. Could we do more? We can always do more. But sitting on the Metropolitan Water District and really observing what everyone's experiences in this area with agencies throughout the six county region, I have to assure you and say to you that I'm very proud of how much Long Beach residents have conserved over these decades. I think currently we are at 114 gallons per capita per day. That's a pretty significant difference from 173 gallons per capita per day 30 years ago. So we've made a tremendous reduction over the last three decades, and that was before any mandates came into place. And if we could reference what another city's per capita use is, the city of Los Angeles is 123 gallons per day. And and every city has a different context. And so I don't make that comparison to disparage anyone else's efforts, but really just to demonstrate how much our residents have committed to conservation. So they're really the backbone of conservation efforts. And yet we consider all the front and backyard lawns in the city without water efficient timers or nozzles, or the fact that square footage of these lawns could be reduced or even eliminated with our lawn to garden program. So we do have a lot of options for people. Attractive options. I'm actually very optimistic that there's room for even more carp per capita reduction of water usage. And I have every bit of confidence that our residents will continue to make good choices to conserve water. And if I can reference back to Metropolitan last week, it was last week. Last Tuesday, we took a vote based on the governor's mandate, executive order on mandatory reduction for the for the entire state. The initial motion was for a 20% reduction that was made by board member director Judy Abdo from Santa monica and seconded by me . And while 20% sounds like it would be an onerous challenge to us in the city of Long Beach, it's something that we can do. Our residents can do that and demonstrate that. And sadly, that motion failed. And so there was a second motion for 15% reduction. And that did pass. And and certainly Long Beach voted yes. And I'm I'm still struggling to understand, but I will call the chairman of the Metropolitan Water District to find out why the chairman of the board voted no on both motions. So it's I looked at the vote record today. So we all represent different areas. Some areas have far more agricultural interests than certainly Long Beach does, and perhaps the challenge in reduction is greater. We understand that. And so I was a little startled by that vote. And I want to share with you that that's something I'd inquire about. But back to our issue in our city. I want to just make a comment about our city departments. I'm very pleased with the commitment in our operation side of the House and our use of recycled water in our golf courses and parks. But it would appear that we have a significant challenge and this is not a surprise to any of us here. We have a significant challenge ahead of us in replacing our park and median irrigation infrastructure. So City Manager West, you know this and I know that General Manager Water from the water department, you both will have thoughts about this, about our biggest areas and need for conservation. I don't know if you'd like to say anything part about that. It's something that we've discussed before.
Speaker 8: Vice mayor, council members, just to let you know that we're in. Very good. Communication with Mr. Wadia he has just done. If I have to echo what you've said, he's done a fantastic job in leading the city in water conservation, and he's at the front of the parade and we're following and talking to him. And we certainly are dealing with Mr. Wadia and the MWD on what potential grants and opportunities we have to eliminate turf get to zero escape. And I look forward to coming back in 45 days with all the when we know all the restrictions we're going to have to live with and then what we plan to do. And also have Mr. Wadia give us a talk about what's happening citywide.
Speaker 3: I appreciate that, and thank you for mentioning Mr. Waters. Leadership. I've known Kevin since 1997 and From Water when he had worked elsewhere. And I've met many general managers from throughout, not just Southern California, but really other states as well. And Kevin is a tremendous asset to this city. He's not only an expert in water, but he truly fights the good fight as as our city manager often uses that that expression, he does fight the good fight. And council members, I want to assure you and hope that you feel the same pride and hope we have an opportunity to talk with him. He really does do a phenomenal job on behalf of the city of Long Beach. We only have we have less than 2%, 2% of the vote on the Metropolitan Water District. But his voice is strong on our behalf and he's highly respected. And I'm very proud to work alongside him. Thank you. Councilmember Mungo.
Speaker 6: Since we are talking about water conservation, there's been a lot on the Internet recently about the program that Allen I discussed when I council member Austin and I discussed when I first got elected, and that we partnered on to work with the water department. There is a one year program where we are doing a pilot program where you can get artificial turf in your front yard right now. And so if you are interested in that program, please reach out to my office and we will help you through that process. Because while there continues to be information on the Internet about the standard program for lawn to garden at this time, if turf is the direction you'd like to go, which is artificial grass, and we do have a one year pilot program to see how that's working and how it works for our residents. So please reach out at 5705555.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Seeing for no further comment on the side of the diocese, is there any public comment? On this item.
Speaker 4: Very good. Quick as the address a student. Astute analysis of that of the item. Indicates that the central theme that over lines underlines and encompasses that. Is a very astute clarion call. The governor has sounded relative to the unprecedented drought. An unintended consequence is a second call. What that calls for is for the city to stop the near two and a half year, three year evisceration of the enhancement and support components of the Marine Stadium. Which is ocean fed. The pictures that the governor stands in front of have most and most people have seen them are the inland lakes of this state that are near bone dry. The Long Beach Marine Stadium is receiving the increased traffic for that. And that will continue to. There will be a direct correlation between the continuing drop in those levels and the people that will want to spend the weekends out on their boat. And they will come to this, which is certainly the premier venue for this in this section of California. They need. There needs to be the enhancement you cannot support. The venue. You can't take down all the support structures such as this to us. Such as? They want to take you down 8 hours and another one when you come down. Most people don't want their families to have to deal with porta potties. Period. So it's an unintended consequence of the campaign to eviscerate. Has to come to an end and you've got to start thinking like your counterparts did back in the late 30, in the late twenties. What type of enhancements can you do to take care of those people that will be coming in increasing numbers? And I believe the governor is absolutely correct. This drought is not going away. For the next 2 to 3 decades. That's in a way a blessing, because we can there are many people that will want to go to a destination point. With their family. And Watsky and the captain, Horatio Hornblower, and their vote for the day or for the weekend. We've got the primary venue. We need those to retain those original and upgrade them. Upgrade support components. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Thank you. There's been a motion and a second. Let's call for the vote. I mean. Yes.
Speaker 1: Councilwoman Gonzalez.
Speaker 2: Motion carries seven zero. Item number 25. Yes. I'm sorry, 23. Excuse me. Item number 23, report from Long Beach Gas and Oil Recommendation to execute an amendment to the Surf Operations and Maintenance Agreement with Covanta on of Long Beach Renewable Energy Corporation to provide a discount to the operating fee and recognize a change in the name of
Recommendation to request City Manager to report back to City Council within 45 days on the measures that the City is taking to meet the new water conservation requirements and request the Water Department to provide a report on what additional measures the Water Department is implementing for residents and businesses.