Efforts to promote water savings to encourage Californians to help achieve California Dept of Water Resources and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 20 x 2020 plan are finding ways to provide fantastic incentives for this drought-riddled state’s citizens.
California Assembly Bill 474 – sponsored by Metropolitan Water District and proposed by freshman Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield is just one of many.
Basic language of great interest to synthetic turf and artificial grass industry:
5) States that it is the intent of the Legislature that the
authorization created by this bill should be used to finance
the installation of water efficiency improvements that are
permanently fixed to residential, commercial, industrial,
agricultural, or other real property, including,
but not limited to, recycled water connections, synthetic turf,
cisterns for stormwater recovery, and water-porous concrete.
Update on Calif AB.474
CURRENT BILL STATUS
The Assembly Bill 474′s language – proposed by Assemblymember
Blumenfield has been amended in minor ways to reflect that the bill would
not be requiring that construction is limited to “new” building projects.MEASURE : A.B. No. 474
AUTHOR(S) : Blumenfield.
TOPIC : Contractual assessments: water efficiency improvements.
HOUSE LOCATION : ASM
+LAST AMENDED DATE : 04/27/2009
Assembly Local Government – 04/22/09
Motion: Do pass as amended.
Ayes: 5, Noes: 0, Abstentions: 2
TYPE OF BILL :
Active
Urgency
Non-Appropriations
2/3 Vote Required
Non-State-Mandated Local Program
Non-Fiscal
Non-Tax Levy
LAST HIST. ACT. DATE: 04/28/2009
LAST HIST. ACTION : Read second time. To third reading.
FILE : ASM THIRD READING
FILE DATE : 05/07/2009
ITEM : 61
COMM. LOCATION : ASM LOCAL GOVERNMENT
COMM. ACTION DATE : 04/22/2009
COMM. ACTION : Do pass as amended.
COMM. VOTE SUMMARY : Ayes: 05 Noes: 00 PASS
TITLE : An act to amend Sections 5898.12, 5898.14, 5898.20,
5898.21, 5898.22, 5898.24, 5898.28, and 5898.30 of the
Streets and Highways Code, relating to contractual
assessments, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take
effect immediately.
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Metropolitan Water District – cosponsored AB.474
“If you have any questions or wish additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Thank you for your consideration.”
Kathleen Cole
MWD Sacramento Office
Rosario Kapeller
California Municipal Utilities Association
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Sample Letter to Send In as an Example of Your Support:
( You are welcome to make changes to the following or create your own letter! )
Please copy and paste onto your own letter head and send to the following*
in show of support of this very important piece of legislation!
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RE: AB 474 (Blumenfield): – SUPPORT
Contractual Assessments: Water conservation and Efficiency Improvements
Dear Assembly Member Blumenfield:
The ________________ supports your AB 474, which would reduce water use throughout California by allowing for a voluntary financing program between public entities and property owners. AB 474 is dramatic new tool for water policy in California by how it encourages and facilitates the installation of fixed and permanent water efficiency improvements on private property.
The timing of AB 474 could not be better. Extremely limited water supply availability is forcing California and its residents to re-examine water use options that can result in greater efficiency. By establishing conservation practices today through sound water efficiency, we not only maximize currently available water, but will also ensure that future supplies will be available to meet demands.
AB 474 will provide an optional authority to public entities to finance water use efficiency. AB 474 will allow the opportunity for public entities to provide initial funding for the installation of water use efficiency projects on the property of willing property owners . AB 474 allows for the use of advanced, large-scale technologies and products that are effective, but would otherwise be unobtainable for many homeowners and businesses due to the sizeable upfront financial cost. Under AB 474, willing property owners will be required to repay the public entity over an extended period of time, while the property owner and local jurisdiction experience marked water savings.
This financing tool is not new. AB 474 is an extension of existing law, as established by AB 811 (Levine, 2008). However, as AB 811 was drafted, the financing mechanism was only limited to solar improvements. Reducing water use is as important to California as reducing energy consumption.
Water districts throughout California are expected to raise rates because of the higher costs of obtaining supplies and because of newer, more expensive forms of treatment. Property owners could benefit from new choices that would allow them to lower their water bills by lowering their water use over the long term. Your AB 474 is both timely and responsive to the need to encourage conservation.
If you should have any questions or concerns regarding our position on AB 474, please feel free to contact me at your convenience at ____Phone and Email is best_________.
Sincerely,
Your signature and name, title
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* PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO THE ATTENTION OF:
Kathleen Cole, Legislative Representative
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
1121 “L” Street, Suite 900
Sacramento, CA 95814
916/650-2642 (Office)
916/650-2615 (Fax)
The Honorable Robert Blumenfield
California State Assembly
State Capitol, Room 6011
Sacramento, CA 95814
916/319-2040 (Office)
916/319-2140 (Fax)
