Resolution No. 2021-040RESOLUTION NO. 2021-40
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON
DECLARING A PHASE I WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE PURSUANT TO
SECTION 25.103 OF THE VERNON MUNICIPAL CODE AND
REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2017-19
SECTION 1. Recitals.
A. On May 2, 2017, the City Council of the City of Vernon adopted Resolution No.
2017-19, lifting the drought restrictions pursuant to California Governor’s Executive Order
B-40-17.
B. In April, May, and July of 2021, the Governor of the State of California proclaimed
various counties, not including Los Angeles County, to be in a drought state of
emergency.
C. On July 8, 2021, the Governor issued Executive Order N-10-21, calling for a
voluntary reduction in water use.
D. Sustained and extreme high temperatures have resulted in further depletion of
California’s water supplies, and on October 19, 2021, the Governor issued a Proclamation
of a Drought State of Emergency statewide.
E. The Drought State of Emergency Proclamation requires that local water suppliers
execute a Water Shortage Contingency Plan, at a level appropriate to local conditions,
that considers the possibility of a third consecutive dry year.
F. The Drought State of Emergency Proclamation requires that the State Water
Resources Control Board track and report monthly on the state’s progress toward
achieving a 15 percent reduction in statewide urban water use as compared to 2020 use.
G. The General Manager of Public Utilities has recommended the City Council
declare a Phase I Water Supply Shortage, consistent with an anticipated water supply
shortage of up to 20 percent, pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code Section 25.103.
H. The City Council of the City of Vernon desires to declare a Phase I Water Supply
Shortage.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF VERNON AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby finds and determines
that the above recitals are true and correct.
Resolution No. 2021-40
Page 2 of 2
_______________________
SECTION 3. The City Council of the City of Vernon finds that declaring a Phase
I Water Supply Shortage is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),
in accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15307, because the action is being carried
out by a regulatory agency as authorized by the California Governor’s October 19, 2021
Drought State of Emergency Proclamation to assure the maintenance, restoration, or
enhancement of water resources.
SECTION 4. The City Council of the City of Vernon hereby declares a Phase I
Water Supply Shortage pursuant to Section 25.103 of the Vernon Municipal Code.
SECTION 5. All resolutions or parts of resolutions, specifically Resolution No.
2017-19, not consistent with or in conflict with this resolution, are hereby repealed.
SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify the passage and adoption of this
resolution and enter it into the book of original resolutions.
APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of November, 2021.
_____________________________
MELISSA YBARRA, Mayor
ATTEST:
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ZAYNAH N. MOUSSA,
Interim City Attorney
I CERTIFY THAT THE FOREGOING RESOLUTION NO. 2021-40 was passed and
adopted by the City Council of the City of Vernon at the Regular meeting on November
16, 2021 by the following vote:
AYES: 5 Council Members: Larios, Lopez, Merlo, Davis, Ybarra
NOES: 0
ABSENT: 0
ABSTAIN: 0
________________________________
LISA POPE, City Clerk
(seal)
City Council Agenda Item Report
Agenda Item No. COV-847-2021
Submitted by: Joanna Moreno
Submitting Department: Public Utilities
Meeting Date: November 16, 2021
SUBJECT
Declaration of a Phase I Water Supply Shortage
Recommendation:
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), in
accordance with CEQA Guidelines Section 15307, because the action is being carried out by a
regulatory agency as authorized by the California Governor’s October 19, 2021 Drought State of
Emergency Proclamation to assure the maintenance, restoration or enhancement of water resources;
and
B. Adopt Resolution No. 2021-40 declaring a Phase I Water Supply Shortage pursuant to Section
25.013 of the Vernon Municipal Code and repealing Resolution No. 2017-19.
Background:
In April, May and July of 2021, the Governor of California (Governor) proclaimed various counties in
California to be in a drought state of emergency and on July 8, 2021, issued Executive Order N-10-21.
Los Angeles County was not included in the initial drought proclamations. Since the most recent
proclamation on July 8, 2021, sustained and extreme high temperatures have resulted in further depletion
of California’s water supplies.
On October 19, 2021, the Governor added Los Angeles County and the remaining counties that had not
previously been included, to the Drought State of Emergency Proclamation (Proclamation), resulting in a
statewide drought emergency. Per the Proclamation, local water suppliers must execute a Water
Shortage Contingency Plan, at a level appropriate to local conditions, that consider the possibility of a
third consecutive dry year. Among other things, the Proclamation requires that the State Water
Resources Control Board (SWRCB) track and report monthly on the state’s progress toward achieving a
15 percent (15%) reduction in statewide urban water use as compared to 2020 use.
Staff recommends that Council adopt Resolution 2021-40 declaring a Phase I Water Supply Shortage. In
accordance with Section 25.103 of the Vernon Municipal Code (VMC), a Phase I Water Supply Shortage
may be declared when the City Council determines it is likely that the City will suffer a shortage in City
water supplies up to twenty percent (20%), but shall become mandatory when the City Council
determines that the City will suffer a water shortage in excess of twenty percent (20%) of its normal water
supplies. While staff does not currently anticipate a shortage in Vernon's local groundwater supply, it is
nonetheless prudent to enact measures to conserve water, as the State is in a severe drought overall.
Vernon Public Utilities (VPU) staff are currently working to implement water system operational changes
in order for VPU to do its part in conserving water both near- and long term.
On May 2, 2017, City Council adopted Resolution No. 2017-19, lifting the drought restrictions per
Executive Order B-40-17. Upon adoption of the proposed resolution, Resolution No. 2017-19 will be
repealed and a Phase I Water Supply Shortage declared.
Section 25.101 of the VMC details water conservation requirements that are permanent and always
effective. In summary, these general prohibition requirements are as follows: limited watering hours;
limited watering duration; prohibited excessive water flow or runoff; prohibited washing of hard or paved
surfaces; requirements for recirculating water for water fountains and decorative water features; limited
washing of vehicles; requirement that drinking water be served upon request only; prohibited installation
of single pass cooling systems; and limited commercial car wash and laundry systems.
In addition to the general prohibitions in VMC Section 25.101, declaring a Phase I Water Supply
Shortage would impose the following additional requirements:
1. Limits on watering days: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with
potable water is limited to three (3) days per week on a schedule established and posted by the City. The
City has determined that irrigation of landscaped areas may only be performed on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable
water is prohibited between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. This provision does not apply to
landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low flow drip-type irrigation systems when no emitter
produces more than two (2) gallons of water per hour. This provision also does not apply to watering or
irrigating by use of a handheld bucket or similar container, a handheld hose equipped with a positive
self-closing water shutoff nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of
adjusting or repairing an irrigation system.
2. Obligation to fix leaks, breaks, or malfunctions: All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water
user’s plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within seventy-two (72) hours of notification by
the City unless other arrangements are made with the City.
Upon City Council’s declaration of a Phase I Water Supply Shortage, staff will provide customers with a
notice detailing water conservation requirements (Attachment 2).
The proposed resolution and related notice have been reviewed and approved as to form by the City
Attorney's Office.
Fiscal Impact:
The fiscal impact associated with the proposed resolution is negligible, as there is very little water used
for landscape within the City of Vernon as compared to overall water consumption. Although customer
plumbing issues may contribute to customer water loss, a reduction in customer water use as a result of
plumbing repairs of such issues is expected to be negligible.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2021-40
2. Notice of Phase I Water Supply Shortage
PUBLIC UTILITIES
4305 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California 90058
Telephone (323) 583-8811
November XX, 2021
NOTICE OF PHASE I WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE
In April, May and July of 2021, the Governor of the State of California proclaimed various counties in California
to be in a drought state of emergency and on July 8, 2021, issued Executive Order N-10-21. Los Angeles County
was not included in the initial three drought proclamations. Since the most recent proclamation on July 8, 2021,
sustained and extreme high temperatures have resulted in further depletion of California’s water supplies.
On October 19, 2021, the Governor of the State of California added Los Angeles County and the remaining
counties that had not previously been included, to the Drought State of Emergency Proclamation, resulting in a
statewide drought emergency. Due to the drought conditions, on November 16, 2021, the Vernon City Council
declared a Phase I Water Supply Shortage pursuant to Vernon Municipal Code § 25.103. The following water
conservation requirements apply during a declared Phase I Water Supply Shortage and are effective
immediately:
1. Limits on watering days: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable
water is limited to three (3) days per week on a schedule established and posted by the City. The City
has determined that irrigation of landscaped areas may only be performed on Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Fridays. Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is
prohibited between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. This provision does not apply to landscape
irrigation zones that exclusively use very low flow drip-type irrigation systems when no emitter produces
more than two (2) gallons of water per hour. This provision also does not apply to watering or irrigating
by use of a handheld bucket or similar container, a handheld hose equipped with a positive self-closing
water shutoff nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or
repairing an irrigation system.
2. Obligation to fix leaks, breaks, or malfunctions: All leaks, breaks, or other malfunctions in the water
user’s plumbing or distribution system must be repaired within seventy-two (72) hours of notification
by the City unless other arrangements are made with the City.
In addition to these requirements, Vernon Municipal Code § 25.101 details water conservation requirements
that are permanent and always effective. These general prohibition requirements include but are not limited to:
watering durations of no more than fifteen (15) minutes per day per station, prohibition of excessive water flow
or runoff, and prohibition of washing down hard or paved surfaces except when necessary to alleviate safety or
sanitary hazards.
Violations of conservation requirements are punishable per Vernon Municipal Code § 25.107 as follows:
1. A written warning of violation for the first violation.
2. A surcharge in an amount equal to 10% of the customer’s water bill for a second violation.
3. An additional surcharge 10% for each violation for all subsequent violations. The City may also install a
flow restricting device on the service of the customer.
Additional fines and penalties may be assessed pursuant to the Vernon Municipal Code and/or state law. The
complete Vernon Municipal Code is available online at www.cityofvernon.org.
For information on water conservation tips, please visit the following websites: www.saveourh2o.org and
www.bewaterwise.com. If you have any questions, please contact Joanna Moreno at (323)583-8811 extension
888 or at jmoreno@ci.vernon.ca.us.
Sincerely,
Abraham Alemu
General Manager of Public Utilities
PUBLIC UTILITIES
4305 S. Santa Fe Avenue, Vernon, California 90058
Telephone (323) 583-8811
Noviembre XX, 2021
AVISO DE ESCASEZ DE SUMINISTRO DE AGUA FASE I
En abril, mayo y julio de 2021, el gobernador del estado de California proclamó que varios condados de
California estaban en estado de emergencia por sequía y el 8 de julio de 2021 emitió la Orden Ejecutiva N-10-
21. El condado de Los Ángeles no se incluyó en las tres proclamaciones iniciales de sequía. Desde la
proclamación más reciente del 8 de julio de 2021, las altas temperaturas extremas y sostenidas han provocado
un mayor agotamiento de los suministros de agua de California.
El 19 de octubre de 2021, el gobernador del estado de California agregó el condado de Los Ángeles y los
condados restantes que no se habían incluido previamente a la Proclamación del estado de emergencia por
sequía, lo que resultó en una emergencia por sequía en todo el estado. Debido a las condiciones de sequía, el
16 de noviembre de 2021, el Ayuntamiento de Vernon declaró una Fase I de Escasez de Suministro de Agua en
conformidad con el Código Municipal de Vernon § 25.103. Los siguientes requisitos de conservación de agua se
aplican durante una Fase I de Escasez de Suministro de Agua y son efectivos inmediatamente:
1. Límites en los días de riego: El riego del césped, el jardín u otra área con vegetación con agua potable
se limita a tres (3) días por semana en un horario establecido y publicado por la Ciudad. La Ciudad ha
determinado que el riego del césped, el jardín y de áreas con vegetación solo se puede realizar los
lunes, miércoles y viernes. Está prohibido regar el césped, el jardín u otra área con vegetación con
agua potable entre las 6:00 a.m. y las 6:00 p.m. Esta disposición no se aplica a las zonas de riego de
jardines que utilizan exclusivamente sistemas de riego por goteo de muy bajo flujo cuando ningún
emisor produce más de dos (2) galones de agua por hora. Esta disposición tampoco se aplica al riego o
irrigación mediante el uso de un balde de mano o recipiente similar, una manguera de mano equipada
con una boquilla o dispositivo de cierre automático positivo de cierre de agua, o por períodos de
tiempo muy cortos con el propósito expreso de ajustar o reparar un sistema de riego.
2. Obligación de reparar fugas, roturas o fallas de funcionamiento: Todas las fugas, roturas u otras fallas
en el sistema de plomería o distribución del usuario de agua deben repararse dentro de las setenta y
dos (72) horas posteriores a la notificación por parte de la Ciudad, a menos que se hagan otros
acuerdos con la ciudad.
Además de estos requisitos, el Código Municipal de Vernon § 25.101 detalla los requisitos de conservación del
agua que son permanentes y siempre efectivos. Estos requisitos de prohibición general incluyen, entre otros:
períodos de riego de no más de quince (15) minutos por día por estación, prohibición de flujo o escurrimiento
excesivo de agua y prohibición de lavar superficies duras o pavimentadas, excepto cuando sea necesario para
prevenir o aliviar los peligros sanitarios o de seguridad.
Las infracciones de los requisitos de conservación son punibles según la sección 25.107 del Código Municipal
de Vernon de la manera siguiente:
1. Una advertencia de infracción por escrito por la primera infracción.
2. Un recargo equivalente al 10% de la factura del agua del cliente por una segunda infracción.
3. Un recargo adicional del 10% por cada infracción por todas las infracciones posteriores. La Ciudad
también puede instalar un dispositive de restricción de flujo en el servicio del cliente.
Se pueden imponer multas y sanciones adicionales en conformidad con el Código Municipal de Vernon y/o la
ley estatal. El Código Municipal de Vernon completo está disponible en línea en www.cityofvernon.org.
Para obtener información sobre consejos para la conservación del agua, visite los siguientes sitios web:
www.saveourh2o.org y www.bewaterwise.com. Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con Joanna Moreno
por teléfono al (323) 583-8811 extensión 888 o por correo electrónico a jmoreno@ci.vernon.ca.us.
Atentamente,
Abraham Alemu
General Manager of Public Utilities