To: Members of the Castle Rock Water Commission
From:
Mark Marlowe, P.E., Director of Castle Rock Water
Matt Benak, P.E., Water Resources Manager
Rick Schultz, Water Conservation Specialist
Linda Gould, Water Conservation Technician
Title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 15.48.010 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code Adopting by Reference as a Primary Code the Town of Castle Rock Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual
Town Council Agenda Date: February 2, 2021
Body
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Executive Summary
The purpose of this memorandum is to request Water Commission recommend Town Council approval of the proposed changes to the Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual by ordinance on first reading (see Attachment A). A summary of the proposed changes is provided as Attachment B. The Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual is a key document which will help Castle Rock meet its long term water efficiency goals. The manual outlines landscaping and irrigation standards which reduce water waste, improve watering efficiency, and focus on landscapes which use less water (ColoradoScapes).
The major changes to the Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual being proposed are included below:
• Manual title was changed from “Landscape and Irrigation Performance Standards and Criteria Manual” to “Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual”.
• Several definitions were deleted and/or updated.
• Changed: From: “Irrigated areas between five hundred (500) and two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet should be served from the building through a combined tap.”
To: “Irrigated areas between five hundred (500) and five thousand (5,000) square feet shall be served from the building through a combined service line.”
• Added “All landscape and irrigation inspections are weather dependent and must be completed no later than November 1st”. These inspections are seasonal and cannot be completed once plant material has gone into dormancy and irrigation
systems can no longer be operated due to freezing temperatures.”
• Clarified language on requirements for Certificates of Occupancy, “Certificate of Occupancy (CO) will not be issued until all inspections have been completed, punch list items have been addressed, final letter of acceptance has been issued, and irrigation permit has been closed.
In order to receive the CO, prior to completion of all permit requirements, the applicant may post a surety”. These are not new requirements. Language has been added to clarify permitting process.
• Added language clarifying what is required in the way of a surety if CO is desired prior to completing all permit requirements, “Surety amount will be outlined in the Subdivision Improvement Agreement (SIA) or Property Improvement Agreement (PIA). If surety is not specifically addressed in existing document, amount will be determined as a percentage of the owner’s landscape and irrigation construction contract for items incomplete as determined by the approved plans.
a. Bond: 100% of owner’s landscape and irrigation construction contract
b. Letter of credit: 75% of owner’s landscape and irrigation construction contract
c. Cash / Escrow: 65% of owner’s landscape and irrigation construction contract”
These amounts create consistency with existing Municipal Code.
• Changed: WI-FI enabled smart irrigation controllers, capable of interval watering, are required. This requirement shall be adhered to by all installations within this category, including homeowner installations.
• Section was split to create a separate section for “Urban Areas”. Information regarding urban areas was taken from a few sections to create the new “Urban Areas” section. The majority of the information was removed from section 7: non-residential properties.
• Temporary Irrigation Criteria were updated.
Notification and Outreach Efforts
Castle Rock Water staff presented a summary of the changes and revised manual to the Castle Rock Economic Development Council (EDC) Water Subcommittee on December 17, 2020 and again on January 15, 2021. There were not any significant comments on the proposed changes.
Discussion
The last revision to the Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual was in July 2020. The Landscape and Irrigation 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 Criteria Manual consists of residential and non-residential landscape and irrigation efficiency requirements. All new development, renovations, and ongoing maintenance activities must follow the criteria in these standards.
Town Staff including, Castle Rock Water, Development Services, Parks, and Golf all worked together to review and update the criteria.
The Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual was reformatted to create consistency with other Town manuals and improve navigation. All changes are shown in red in the revised manual. The revised manual is included as Exhibit 1.
Budget Impact
There is no significant anticipated additional cost to the Town. Some additional administrative work may be needed. The proposed changes will help reduce outdoor water usage and the associated renewable water needed in the future. Additionally, these efforts will also contribute to the stabilization of future peak water demands placed on the water system to meet the summer irrigation demands of the community. This will help reduce the need to upsize existing facilities to meet these future peak demands saving on future capital costs.
Proposed Motion
“I move to recommend to Town Council approval of the above Ordinance as presented”
Attachments
Attachment A: Ordinance
Exhibit 1: Landscape and Irrigation Criteria Manual
Attachment B: Summary of Changes to the Manual