ATTACHMENT
4. Action
Items
Directors Erickson and Lehman agreed that a
toilet/bidet combination should be given credit for two fixtures if the toilet
and bidet are separately plumbed and if there is historic use of the
fixture. If the District receives any
other requests for water use credit for toilet/bidet combinations, staff will
advise the Board. The Directors expressed concern that
offering credit for two fixtures might result in the un-permitted installation
of toilet/bidet combination units.
However, the Directors decided that requiring dual plumbing and proof of
historic use would be adequate safeguards.
Director Lehman stressed the importance of the applicant providing proof
of historic use for the fixture.
Comments from the public. Virginia
Colister urged the committee to recommend that toilet/bidet combination units
receive credit for two fixtures. She
noted that her combination unit does not contain a manufacturer’s insignia, so
there is no way to prove when the unit was installed.
b. Discuss
Process for Documenting Commercial Water Use Credits Related to On-Site
Retrofits
During
the discussion on this item, the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 AM and
reconvened at 8:45 AM. Director Henson
joined the discussion when the meeting reconvened.
Directors
Erickson, Henson and Lehman agreed that if an application for water use credit
includes fixtures that District staff has expertise in dealing with, staff
should proceed to calculate that credit.
If staff does not have the expertise or previous experience to calculate
that credit, or there is some circumstance that makes the situation unusual, a
consultant should be retained to calculate the water use credit. If the fixtures represent new technology or a
new approach that staff is unfamiliar with, the applicant should be advised
immediately that staff is unable to make a determination on the credit. The issue should then be brought to the
Water Demand Committee or the Board as soon as possible for direction. When water credit is granted, the applicant
should agree to provide Cal-Am consumption records in perpetuity. As for calculating water use, Cal-Am
historic records only provide part of the information needed.
During
the discussion, it was stated that referral to a consultant is only necessary
the first time a new technology is presented.
The goal is to obtain guidance from a consultant that can be used the
next time that technology is presented.
The water use calculations for a specific water fixture should be
obtained from an independent source, not the manufacturer. There was a suggestion from the public that
staff might issue a “provisional” permit prior to completion of a consultant
report on water use. The Directors
commented that an “incremental or component” approach might be better. If an applicant has completed plans for a
project and staff can quantify water savings in one area, but needs advise in
another, it might be possible for the project to move ahead with the water
credit that is quantifiable. This method
might be utilized for a project that can be constructed in phases. Staff noted that the District has a list of
fixtures with documented water use credit factors for residential projects, but
a list has not been developed for commercial projects. It would be useful for applicants to have the
information for commercial projects. It
was also noted that a policy manual should be developed that describes how
water credit is calculated, and what fixtures are a source of water waste. For instance, should credit be given for a
fountain if it contributes to water waste?
Director Erickson noted that the issue of water use for commercial
fixtures will be discussed at a future Water Demand Committee meeting.
Comments
from the Public: Charles Eldred
stated that staff needs clear guidelines so that they can advise applicants on
how to proceed. Upon filing his
application with the District, he was advised that no water credit issues
applied. However, after he went through
the building and planning department process, he was told that he must provide
water use calculations. Bill Gamble
suggested that the Board grant him a provisional water permit for his
project. He also stated that deed restrictions
were onerous, and should be limited to granting the District authorization to
inspect the property.
The item was deferred to a future Water Demand Committee meeting.
d. Discuss
Hotel Water Use Factors for New Construction and Remodels
The committee members agreed that estimating water use for hotels should be handled as follows: (1) abolish luxury hotel classification; (2) base estimated water use on standard hotel factor; (3) figure landscaping and other components such as pools, oversized tubs, beauty salons, and restaurants separately, (4) office space and common areas could be calculated as Group I space; and (6) the Board should be advised when a hotel or controversial project is brought to staff for extension of water use credit, or a new permit. The General Manager should be kept apprised of applications that require ministerial approval. The Committee will make a determination in the future on how to assess the water capacity for meeting room/banquet room space that is served by an on-site kitchen. The Committee will also discuss at a future meeting the procedure for updating the hotel water use factor.
Comments from the public. Russ Hasley, representing Cypress Point Inn, disagreed with the District’s initial estimate of water use credit for the hotel. Six of the motel rooms are two-bedroom suites with a bathroom, kitchen and hot tub. Mr. Hasley requested that the two-bedroom suites be calculated as 2 hotel rooms. In addition, water credit should be granted for abandoning a boiler system that was used to heat the rooms. Mr. Hasley asked that he be granted water use credit equal to one hotel room, for each of the nine recreational vehicle hookups that are
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