TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Brian Ambrose, Community Services Director
PREPARED BY: Gretchen Sedlacek, Assistant Management Analyst
SUBJECT:
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Western Municipal Water District Funding Support for the Carol Carson Garden of Verses at the Murrieta Public Library
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ABSTRACT
The Murrieta Public Library seeks to partner with Western Municipal Water District (Western Water) to secure funding for the design, installation, and ongoing maintenance of a demonstration landscape as part of the Library expansion project. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining Western Water’s funding support, authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents, and approve an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Capital Improvement Plan budget.
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve the Memorandum of Understanding between Western Water District and the City of Murrieta, which provides funding support in an amount not to exceed $85,000, on a reimbursement basis;
Authorize the City Manager and/or designee to execute all necessary documents to facilitate the project; and
Authorize an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Capital Improvement Plan Budget as detailed in the fiscal impact statement.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
None.
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT
The City Council’s goal of planning, programming and creating infrastructure development is associated with this Tier 1 project.
DISCUSSION
Western Water District is offering a partnership with the City of Murrieta (City) for funding support for a demonstration landscape as part of the library expansion project. As part of this partnership, Western Water will provide cost-sharing to the city to transform non-functional turf into a highly visible and accessible example of an appropriate climate landscape.
The City will install a water-wise landscape using California native plants endemic to the Murrieta service area. The city will use the water-wise landscaping as an educational tool for Library patrons. The project will focus on sustainability and water-efficient gardening, mitigating the growing threats to diminishing pollinator populations, and creating an equitable opportunity for all community members to better understand their environment and the impact of pollinators.
By proactively replacing non-functional turf with water-efficient landscaping, the City ensures compliance with the upcoming AB 1572 regulations while contributing to the State Board's broader water conservation goals.
In addition, Western has also helped to facilitate a partnership with Metropolitan Water District for a turf removal rebate which will be applied toward the new landscaping in the garden as part of the Library expansion project. The anticipated value of this funding is $61,686.
PUBLIC NOTICING
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
CEQA AND REGULATORY OVERVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines because this action will not result in a physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
FISCAL IMPACT
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Capital Improvement Plan budget in GL 3110050-47815 JL 21027311 to increase the revenue budget by an amount not to exceed $85,000 on a reimbursement basis, and an expenditure appropriation in GL 3117500-70000 JL 21027311-500 for $85,000.
ATTACHMENTS
ATT 1 - Memorandum of Understanding between Western Municipal Water District and the City