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A MINUTES OF THE <br /> � ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,December 9,2013 <br /> 6:30 dclock p.m. <br /> (PUBLICHEARING, Continued) <br /> Struve stated watering restrictions generally only apply to municipal water users. <br /> Printup commented it would not be very consistent if it is only applied to municipal water users. <br /> Bremer stated it is intentional to make sure that the City's municipal water supply remains steady. <br /> Levang asked if the City's water capacity is the concern or whether it also relates to the equipment. <br /> Struve stated watering in the middle of the day is not an efficient use of water since 50 percent or more <br /> will evaporate and that restrictions on when people can water will help promote better use of the City's <br /> water supply. Struve stated watering restrictions would ban watering during different times of the day. <br /> Struve stated currently the City does not have any ban on when watering can occur. <br /> McMillan asked what would happen if the City's municipal water supply became low for whatever <br /> reason. <br /> Struve stated a public outreach would need to be done. <br /> McMillan noted this would also impose a fine. <br /> Anderson stated it would also require the police to monitor who is watering. <br /> Printup stated in his mind it would be unenforceable. <br /> McMillan concurred it would be difficult to enforce on a daily basis but that the restrictions would only <br /> apply during a drought or emergency. <br /> Mattick noted the City's Code does have a section regarding regulating water during periods of water <br /> shortage and it talks about the fact that the City Council has the ability to restrict water usage, which <br /> would include the time someone can water and regulating sprinkling and other nonessential uses. <br /> Currently the City has a blanket provision in the City Code that says it is a misdemeanor, which is <br /> punishable by 90 days in jail or a$1,000 fine. By making it an administrative offense, Staff would have <br /> the ability to take a softer approach to enforcement. <br /> McMillan asked what the process for that would be. <br /> Mattick stated the City Code reads as follows: "Whenever the City Council shall determine that a <br /> shortage of water is threatened, the City may enact, by resolution, restrictions for nonessential water use <br /> as set forth in this section." Mattick noted it would require action by the City Council and is not <br /> something that Staff can impose or implement. Mattick stated whether the water restrictions should be <br /> included in the administrative offenses is up to the City Council. <br /> Printup stated he does not want to send police around monitoring water usage by the residents. <br /> Page 5 of 35 <br />