City of Seal Beach toured LW to offer guidelines to Mutuals

WATER CONSERVATION

Representatives from the City of Seal Beach met with the four landscape companies that work in Leisure World July 29 and Aug. 1, according to Jeri Dolch of Mutual 8, who is the president of the Presidents’ Council and chair of a new drought management committee here.

The goal of the meeting was to better understand how to best apply new water restrictions mandated by the state as unprecedented drought grips California.

The group was comprised of Dolch, Seal Beach Deputy Director of Public Works Iris Lee, two consultants from the environmental consulting firm of John L. Hunter Associates, City of Seal Beach arborist Joe Talarico and representatives from J& J Landscape, Total Landscape, Stars Landscape and Anguiano Lawn Care, among others. They toured most Mutuals, with city officials providing guidelines as to what constitutes functional turf, which can be watered under California’s Level 2 restrictions, and what areas cannot be watered. A draft summary of the site visit has been compiled as is currently being circulated to the Mutuals and GRF for comments. So-called functional turf can be watered shorter periods of time as prescribed by the current irrigation restrictions, Dolch said. Those areas include greenbelts with trees and trees planted against the walls. Smaller trees in green areas in front of units will be hand watered by gardeners or residents as determined by Mutuals.

Non-functional turf cannot be watered. These areas are mostly confined to building frontage and the ends of buildings without trees, and will be generally noted on the guidelines.

Gardens that shareholders are permitted to plant in front of their homes can be watered two to three times a week (depending on necessity) early in the morning and after 6 p.m. Hose nozzles should be equipped with a positive shut-off devices.

There is a difference between residential property within Seal Beach and Leisure World. Per state guidelines, the Leisure World community’s common areas are not classified as “residential” when it comes to water restrictions. Instead Mutuals must abide by rules for common interest developments, or HOAs.

“Hopefully, we will adapt for the good of the goal and realize it is what it is,” said Dolch. “Please do not make requests of our gardeners as they are doing their jobs. We are going to have brown areas but in the spirit of LW and for the good of the greater community, we should adhere to conservation measures.”