CC 10-04-2022 Item No. 15. Climate Victory Gardens Pilot Program_Staff PresentationProgress Update 2022
Climate Victory Gardens
Pilot Program
Rina Horie, Sustainability Program Intern, III
Andre Duurvoort, Sustainability Manager
City Manager’s Office / Sustainability Division
CC 10-04-2022 Item No. 15
Overview
The Climate Victory
Gardens Pilot Program
Presentation will focus on
the following topics:
●Background
●Process
●Cost
●Progress Update
●Challenges
●Recommendations
Background
Climate Victory Gardens Objectives
•Create a program to help residents choose water-wise turf
conversion (concierge service)
•Leverage rebates from Valley Water
Source: https://s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/valleywater.org.us-west-1/s3fs-
public/Water%20Conservation%20Data%20Sheet_072822%20v4.pdf
Climate Victory Gardens Timeline
2021: 18 projects completed; 25,356 total landscape converted area
2022: 10 projects in progress; 9,739 total landscape converted area
Process
Eligibility Criteria:
•Home, multifamily property,
nonprofit
•Front/side turf yard visible to
the general public in the City
of Cupertino
•Minimum 500 square feet
Workflow: Direct Install
Property Owner
•Pays cost share
•Signs up for
turnkey service
•Contract
directly with
other vendors
for any extras
like hardscape
Ecology Action
•Selects contractor
•Pays contractor
set fee per ft²
•Coordinates
between property
owner and
contractor
•Provides all
designs
•Rebate
application
Cupertino City
•Pay program
administrator for
services
•Provide workflow
management
system and
reporting to
Council
Workflow: Self Install
Property Owner
•Pays cost share
($2/sf)
•Commits to
perform specific
tasks themselves
•Customer buys
materials
Ecology Action
•Provides landscape
design and support
•Coordinates delivery
of mulch and plants
•In-person support
throughout the
project
•Rebate application
Cupertino City
•Pay program
administrator for
services
•Provide workflow
management
system and
reporting to
Council
Additional Project Installation Elements
Rain Garden: $2.00/sq. ft. (up to $600) rebate
Laundry to Landscape: $200-$400 rebate
Rainwater Harvesting: up to $70 rebate
Cupertino Resident Project Example
Project A, Before Project A, After
1,042 ft² turf area converted
Progress Update
Target Goals and Progress
Pilot Program Goals
Total in Progress &
Completed
Completed to
Date
Up to 55 Landscape
consultation site visits 48 44
30 gardens designed 35 29
45,000 ft2 of turf converted 35,095 ft2 30,972 ft2
Site Visits: To educate residents about possibilities for sustainable landscape
transformation
Designs: Customized designs for single-family, multi-family, and non-residential sites
Turf Conversion: Climate-adapted landscapes that increase biodiversity, sequester
carbon, and reduce stormwater runoff
Cost
Cost to the City
Category
Label Project Size (Sq. Ft.)Total # of
Sites
Total Sq. Ft.
Converted
Water Savings
(Gallons per Year)
Cost per
gallon saved*
A 0-500 2 2,000 55,881 $3.13
B 501-800 4 5,564 155,462 $1.13
C 801-1000 2 3,692 103,157 $1.70
D 1001-1500 3 6,534 182,564 $0.96
E 1501-2000 2 6,428 179,602 $0.97
*this is the program administration cost only. Cupertino also provides a cost-share to the VW
landscape rebate program.
Challenges
Challenges and Responses to Victory Gardens
Challenges Response
•Contractor Availability Increased customer payment
commitment
•Uneven amount of staff time Selective intake to the pilot
•Drop-outs are costly Consider adding a deposit
payment requirement
•Planning/review fees for some
larger sites
Asked City Council to waive
planning fees
•Cost to serve small sites is high Consider focusing on
commercial/institutional sites
Recommendations
Recommendations
Recommended Next Steps
Provide feedback to staff and:
(1) Continue to share these findings with neighboring jurisdictions, Valley Water,
and to develop further partnerships with landscape supply companies,
designers, and installers through the life of the pilot program, and
(2) Focus on large and institutional sites based on the evidence provided by the
cost effectiveness table (Table 3), and
(3) Explore partnerships for training and workforce development to ensure that the
customer, the City, and contractor can move projects forward in a timely
manner, and
(4) Bring back a permanent program for City Council’s consideration before the
pilot program expires in 2023.