Title
REF210007/WATER AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN LANDSCAPING ORDINANCE
(Continued from November 2, 2021).
a. Introduce, waive reading, and consider an ordinance to add Chapter 16.63 to the Monterey County Code to establish regulations for water-efficient and energy-efficient landscaping in unincorporated Monterey County; and
b. Set December 7, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. as the date and time to adopt the ordinance
Location: Countywide
Proposed CEQA Action: Consider finding the project categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15307 and 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Report
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Introduce, waive reading, and consider an ordinance to add Chapter 16.63 to the Monterey County Code to establish regulations for water-efficient and energy-efficient landscaping in unincorporated Monterey County; and
b. Set December 7, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. as the date and time to adopt the ordinance.
SUMMARY
The Board of Supervisors considered this proposed ordinance at its November 2, 2021 meeting and continued the hearing on the introduction of the ordinance to the Board's November 16, 2021 meeting.
State law requires the County to implement the state's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) or adopt a local ordinance (Attachment A) that is at least as effective at landscape water conservation. Absent a local landscape ordinance, the County is required to implement and has been implementing the MWELO. If the Board chooses to advance the Water and Energy Efficiency in Landscaping Ordinance (WEELO) for adoption, consideration of adoption would be scheduled on the consent calendar for the Board meeting on December 7, 2021.
If the Board decides not to advance the local ordinance, the County would continue implementing the State MWELO (Attachment D).
DISCUSSION
Concerns raised by the Board during the November 2, 2021 meeting regard the following:
- The ordinance is too complex and convoluted and could frustrate applicants to in...
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