11/24/2009 6:45:00 AM Town cancels Dec. 1 study session on proposed water conservation ordinance
By Jerry Herrmann Special to Review
The Chino Valley Town Council won't get its first look at proposed ordinances on water sustainability, conservation and historically irrigated acres in the Big Chino Sub-Basin in a special study session Dec. 1.
Mark Holmes, Water Resources director, said because of the size of the proposal and some misinformation currently circulating in the community the town has decided to separate the proposal into smaller pieces and discuss it thoroughly in numerous council study sessions early next year.
"I look forward to participating with the town in reviewing and providing input for a finished product that is acceptable to the stakeholders and residents," Bright Star's Operations Director Charlie Arnold said.
Because of pressing deadlines, Holmes said, the HIA (historically irrigated acres) water component, which is "extremely time sensitive," will go before the council for discussion and possible adoption at its Dec. 10 meeting.
Holmes said he is distressed by recent statements local master gardener, business owner and Courier columnist Ken Lain made when he wrote in a recent column, "The town of Chino Valley will consider adopting an 84-page law that completely bans all water use for landscapes, washing cars, kids playing on Slip 'n Slides, horses, vegetable gardens, or any other outdoor use of water. Even pools and spas are at risk!"
In 2008, Holmes said, the council directed him and the stakeholders to come up with a water conservation ordinance. This document is the result of 1.5 years of meetings of stakeholders - landscape nurseries, landscape architects, Yavapai County Contractors Association, developers, landowners and Chino Valley residents, he said.
"The landscapers came to only three of our stakeholders meetings on these codes," Holmes said. "In October 2008, they walked away from the table," he said. "However, they did have one landscaper at all our meetings. And he did give some input."
Later, he and Town Manager Jerry Stricklin agreed the Yavapai County Nursery and Landscape Association could create and present its proposal to the council. Lain, a member of the association, said Wednesday he can give the association's presentation at one or several of the council's future study sessions on the town's proposal.
Contrary to what Lain says, Holmes said, the proposed ordinance does not ban the use of water for one's landscape. Lain was not immediately available for comment on Holmes' statements.
Holmes said residents must remember Chino Valley has no water resources. The majority of this proposal, he said, deals with future HIA water. Residents can't use HIA water for landscape, and can use HIA water only for interior uses in any development.
He said the document states developers need to find an alternate water supply for landscape in new developments. The plan tries to get landscapers, developers and engineers at the designing stage of the project instead of at the back end, he said.
Developers can make central retention or recharge basins in their developments and let the town recover the water and deliver it in potable form. That takes a Recharge and Recovery Permit through the Arizona Department of Water Resources permit.
If a developer doesn't want to use a central retention basin, Holmes said he or she can look at individual water recapture systems with small tanks to provide an alternate water supply for outdoor use. The developers also can partner with the town, which is doing a storm water master plan, to capture as much water as they can and get it into the recharge site.
Holmes said the ordinance is versatile. "It doesn't tell anyone what to do. It sets performance standards," he said.
Holmes said the ordinance doesn't ban the washing of cars as Lain contends. He also contends the proposed ordinance protects existing exempt wells and their owners. "We're ensuring they have a right," he said.
The nursery association contends this is not right because the ordinance says owners of new residential properties along a street where a town water main is must hook up to the system, and they can't drill any new wells.
Holmes said the ordinance is just complying with House Bill 2277, which states property owners can't drill wells within 100 feet of existing water line.
The association also contends the ordinance bans Slip 'n Slide artificial water features that use less than 150 gallons of water. Holmes said the ordinance permits Slip 'n Slide or other artificial water features and encourages the use of a recirculation pump where feasible. If people are using HIA water they must find an alternate water supply.
After the council adopts the ordinance, the document states developers can get a Permanent Artificial Water Feature Permit to use more than 150 gallons of water. However, it must use a recirculating pump.
Holmes said contrary to the association's contention, the proposed ordinance does not prohibit the watering of horses or vegetable gardens. It requires an alternate water supply.
The Yavapai County Nursery and Landscape Association also doesn't believe drought guidelines should be in the ordinance.
Holmes said restrictions are necessary during water shortage. An example would be if the town's water pump fails or if there is an extended drought.
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
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Thanks Ken for the heads up on the soon to be Chino’s town czar’s plans to control all water in the town are under town control. Are they going to have special water police with special water police cars and will neighbors who report on neighbors receive rewards. I have lived here for a good many years and it still boggles my mind as to how much distain the town council and mayors past and present have for the people of Chino Valley They seem to always know what’s best for us. I would hope that this will be a lesson for the people to get more involved in local government and do like Prescott recently did on the last election and start putting some controls on city government
Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009
Article comment by:
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Why did you delete the blogs that was with this article. could it be because you got caught. um I wander.
