To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Mark Marlowe, PE, Director of Castle Rock Water
Matt Benak, PE, Water Resources Manager
Rick Schultz, Water Conservation Specialist
Linda Gould, Water Conservation Technician
Title
Ordinance Amending Section 15.48.010 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code Adopting by Reference as a Primary Code the 2020 Landscape and Irrigation Performance Standards and Criteria Manual (Second Reading - Approved on First Reading on May 5, 2020 by a vote of 7-0)
Body
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Executive Summary
The purpose and intent of this memo is to seek Town Council approval of an Ordinance to amend certain chapters of the Town of Castle Rock Municipal Code (see Attachment A), specifically the Landscape and Irrigation Performance Standards and Criteria Manual. A summary of the changes is provided as Attachment B. Roughly fifty percent of the water used in Castle Rock is used outdoors for landscape irrigation. Creating more water efficient landscapes (what Castle Rock Water refers to as ColoradoScapes) holds the potential to significantly reduce water use for new development in the future. This action will help Castle Rock meet our water efficiency plan goal of another 18 percent reduction in per capita use.
The major changes to the Landscape and Irrigation Performance Standards and Criteria Manual
being proposed are included below:
• Removed Class II Compost as a soil amendment option. Class II compost contains animal waste and has a higher salinity level. We’re removing Class II compost and only allowing Class I, as it is a more desirable amendment for Castle Rock soils.
• Updated definitions to include:
o Registered Landscape Company
o Registered Landscape Professional
o Responsible Landscape Professional (RLP)
o Temporary Erosion and Sediment Control (TESC)
• Updated our hardiness zone to match the USDA hardiness zone for Castle Rock.
• Updated registration requirements to include landscape companies. These companies must also designate one or more Responsible Landscape Professional(s) (RLP). Landscape and irrigation companies will begin registration in 2020. Designated Responsible Landscape Professionals must be currently registered with Castle Rock Water. Those professionals must obtain the QWEL certification prior to the expiration of their existing registration, April 30, 2021.
• Removed existing GreenCO Best Management Practices requirement and replaced with Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification. GreenCO is an older program that hasn’t been updated since 2008. QWEL is a more up to date and comprehensive training and certification program.
• Added the following for suspension or disciplinary action:
o The Responsible Landscape Professional will be notified of any instance of non-compliance and given the opportunity to correct all inconsistencies.
• Streetscapes. The following statement was added to clarify intent specifically for Town of Castle Rock Public Works Capital Improvement Projects.
o This section shall not apply to Town of Castle Rock Capital Improvement Projects.
• Per direction from Town Manager, Public Works, and Castle Rock Water the following restriction has been added.
o There shall be no irrigation within street medians, islands, or round-a-bouts.
Added the following:
• Section 9 Parks, Sports Fields, and Golf Courses. Added section 9 that was inadvertently excluded during the last update in 2018.
o A sentence in Section 9 that required shade trees every 120 feet along trails was deleted.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
Castle Rock Water staff presented a summary of the changes to the Developer’s Roundtable at their meeting on February 19th, 2020. There were no significant comments on the proposed changes.
The entire memo packet, proposed changes and revised manual were also sent to the Economic Development Council for wide distribution via email to all members and member entities. Castle Rock Water received four comments from various developers, engineers and landscape architects. The comments were focused on what would be required in medians and round-a-bouts if irrigation is not allowed. Castle Rock Water reached out to those that commented and explained that we did not want to be prescriptive and would allow applicants to propose their ideas. There was one comment on the cost of Class I compost being higher than Class II compost. Castle Rock Water did take this into consideration. The cost difference is approximately $3 to $5 per yard, but the improvement in irrigation efficiency and plant health outweighs the cost difference in the staff’s opinion.
Castle Rock Water staff has communicated with all registered landscape professionals and their associated companies through email, U.S. Mail, in person meetings, and by telephone to seek feedback on the proposed changes. On March 3, 2020, approximately 190 emails were sent to all existing landscape professionals registered with Castle Rock Water and approximately 90 letters were sent to their associated companies by U.S. Mail. All emails and letters included a summary of upcoming changes and an invitation to provide feedback either directly or through an online Stakeholder’s meeting that was held March 26, 2020. We received one phone call from a registered landscape architect seeking clarification on the new registration requirements. The online meeting was attended by four individuals representing three landscape companies. Several questions seeking clarification were presented. There were no concerns or negative feedback received. A follow up email was received from one of the online attendees expressing their gratitude for the opportunity and support of the program direction.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, and Other Discussions
Castle Rock Water Commission was presented with a summary of the changes to the landscaper registration program at their meeting on January 22, 2020. The changes were presented under the agenda item for the Water Use Management Plan. Commission was supportive of the proposed changes.
Castle Rock Water Commission was presented with the proposed changes to the Landscape and Irrigation Performance Standards and Criteria Manual on March 25th, 2020. The Commission unanimously voted to recommend Council approve the proposed changes as introduced by staff.
Discussion
The last revision to the Landscape and Irrigation Manual was in February 2018. The Landscape and Irrigation Performance Standards and Criteria Manual works in conjunction with the Water Efficiency Master Plan and the Water Use Management Plan to ensure the overall goals are implemented through efficient landscape and irrigation design, installation, and maintenance. These plans outline the need for additional water conservation efforts to meet the long-term water demands of the growing community and minimize the need to acquire additional renewable water resources to meet peak summer demands.
The Landscape and Irrigation Performance Standards and Criteria Manual consists of residential and non-residential landscape and irrigation efficiency requirements. All new developments must follow the criteria in these standards.
Under the changes, Registered Landscape Companies will be required to maintain a QWEL certified RLP on staff to be registered with the Town. Castle Rock Water will maintain a list of registered Responsible Landscape Companies on our website for customers to see and use.
Budget Impact
There is no significant anticipated additional cost to the Town if Council approves the proposed code amendment. Some minor administrative work may be needed. The proposed changes will help reduce outdoor water usage and therefore reduce the total amount of renewable water needed in the future and reduce the future peak water demands placed on the system to meet the summer irrigation demands of the community.
Recommendations
The proposed changes were presented to Castle Rock Water Commission on March 17, 2020. Castle Rock Water Commission recommends the proposed code amendment to the Town of Castle Rock Municipal Code be approved by Town Council. Staff also recommends approval of the code amendments.
Proposed Motion
“I move to approve the Ordinance as introduced by title.”
Attachments
Attachment A: Ordinance
Exhibit 1: Manual
Attachment B: Summary of Changes to the Manual