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Board passes ordinance to increase park water efficiency, requiring plans and recycled-water use; referral to committee fails
Summary
The Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance requiring the Recreation and Park Department to maximize water use efficiency and use recycled water where available; attempts to refer the measure back to committee failed after debate over cost and timing.
The Board of Supervisors on March 17 passed an ordinance (first reading) that asks the Recreation and Park Department to maximize water-use efficiency and to use recycled water where available for park irrigation. The ordinance passed on first reading by roll call, 9 ayes to 2 noes, after supervisors debated whether to hold the item for more cost information.
Supervisor Ross Ellsberg (transcript: Ellsberg) moved to refer the item back to committee, citing a budget analyst recommendation that the ordinance be continued until January 2010 to allow the Recreation and Park Department and the Public Utilities Commission to complete reports estimating implementation costs. Ellsberg argued the board should know the costs before passing an ordinance that could generate new obligations while departments face budget cuts. "Let's at least know what we're going to be asking of our ratepayers before we pass this ordinance," he said.
Supporters urged the board to act now. Supervisor Maxwell urged prompt action on water conservation and framed the ordinance as a planning deadline (Sept. and Dec. reporting benchmarks) rather than an immediate spending mandate. Supervisor Markarimi (Mercarimi) said the ordinance requires departments to produce plans and retrofit studies, not to implement costly capital work immediately.
The motion to refer to committee failed 4-7. On the ordinance vote, the board passed the item on first reading (9 ayes, 2 noes). The ordinance requires the Recreation and Park Department to develop a park and water conservation plan by September 2009 and an irrigation system retrofit report by December 2009, and to use recycled water where available, consistent with policy direction in the ordinance.
Why it matters: Supervisors described the measure as a first step toward reducing potable water use in parks at a time when the region faces higher water costs and continued attention to conservation. Opponents warned that the city lacks a cost plan and that near-term budget constraints argue for waiting for departmental reports.
Speakers: Supervisor Ellsberg (motion to refer back), Supervisor Maxwell (supported moving forward), Supervisor Mercarimi (defended timing and scope), and multiple staff and public commentators.
Action details: Motion to refer to committee failed (4 ayes, 7 noes). Ordinance passed in first reading (9 ayes, 2 noes). The ordinance sets reporting deadlines and directs departments to develop plans; it does not itself appropriate funding for capital work. The measure now proceeds to the next steps required for ordinance adoption.
