01-13-2014 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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