OXNARD : Councilman Offers Water-Saving Plan

Oxnard Councilman Michael Plisky has called for a moratorium on new construction in the city until the City Council adopts an ordinance requiring developers to refit public buildings with water-saving plumbing in exchange for building permits.

“As long as there’s a threat to our water supply, we have to find ways to conserve,” Plisky said. “The developers understand and they are willing to cooperate.”

The City Council will consider Plisky’s motion at Tuesday’s meeting. Plisky said he would require developers to install plumbing fixtures in schools, libraries and government buildings to offset the same amount of water that would be used in any new building.

Plisky proposed the retrofit program as an alternative to the city’s $300,000 rebate program, which he criticized as too costly. Under that program, homeowners would be offered free plumbing kits and garden hose shut-off nozzles, in addition to $75 rebates for low-flow toilets.