The new fixtures are another way that the city can cope with the statewide water crisis, City Manager Mary Alvord said. The requirements for the new fixtures will be on a voluntary basis for single-family-home and condominium projects for a one-year period, Coates said.
Vice Mayor Gary Bric was absent from the meeting, and Councilman David Gordon recused himself because of inadequate information and notice of the meeting to the public.
Under the ordinance, bathroom faucets must produce no more than 1.8 gallons per minute, toilets no more than 1.6 gallons per flush and shower heads no more than 2 gallons per minute, according to a council staff report.
Urinals could be either waterless or have a flush rate of 0.8 gallons per flush, according to the report. Fee incentives will be provided to people who comply with the new restrictions, Coates said.
An estimated 50 projects per month could take advantage of these discounts, such as $10.50 per fixture for commercial projects and $42 per bathroom for residential projects, according to a council staff report.
The estimated loss of revenue to the city is to be less than $10,000 a year, according to the report.
Although the code will not be adopted until the end of the summer, the city wants to plan ahead by approving the water-saving measures early, Coates said.
The code reduces previous bathroom appliance standards, set by the 1992 federal Energy Policy Act, by 20%, she said.
“I think this is premature,” Burbank resident David Piroli said. “A lot of these appliances are not readily available at local retailers. I think instead of rushing to pass this ordinance . . . we should consider technology and how much can happen in one year.”
