• All zoning districts, excluding R-1 Residential (single family residential), require in-ground irrigation for all landscaping (excluding natural areas left undisturbed).  This standard applies to multifamily developments (R-2 and R-3 districts), commercial developments (H-1, B-1 and B-2 districts), and employment developments (E-1 and E-2 districts).  Within The COR district, streetscapes must be irrigated but City Code is silent on interior lot irrigation.
• There are no stated exceptions for parking lot rain gardens (or infiltration swales) or considerations for xeriscaping.
  • Xeriscaping can pose some challenges.  This concept really means to install drought tolerant species, which when established, require very little moisture.  However, over the first year or two, irrigating the plants (grasses, perennials, shrubs and trees) is critical for establishment.
• LRRWMO requires first inch of rainfall on a site to be infiltrated, might this be an opportunity to encourage more use of swales/rain gardens in parking lots rather than raised (curbed) landscaped islands.
• Soil moisture sensors could be a tool to use with irrigation systems so they don't 'kick on' until their zone actually needs moisture.  A cost analysis would help in considering whether it may make sense to require this in addition to rain sensors.

The information provided is in response to a discussion from last month.  There is no specific recommendation other than to review the information and discuss any ideas/thoughts that the Board has on them.  This discussion may lead to ideas that could be incorporated into an education campaign for inclusion on the website and possibly in the new resident information packet.  For instance, maybe the development of basic information about irrigation systems such as programming properly (especially in new construction where topsoil is required, which should reduce the amount of water needed), maintenance (winterizing system, checking for leaks, etc).  Some of this information is likely already found in the water conservation toolbox.