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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9A - Water Emergency CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: JUNE 19,2000 9A BUD OSMUNDSON, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER FRANK BOYLES, CITY MANAGER 10 CONSIDER APPROVAL OF ORDINANCE OO~ AMENDING SECTION 704.1450 OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE, "WATER EMERGENCY" REVIEWED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: HISTORY. The purpose of this item is to consider approval of Ordinance OO-XX to amend City Code Section 704.1500 which would allow the City Manager in consultation with the Public Works Director to impose a total ban of outside water use in the event of a water emergency. As you are aware we currently have an odd/even address sprinkling ban for lawn or garden sprinkling, irrigation, car washing, and other non-essential outdoor use of the municipal water system between May 1 st through September 1 st (City Code 704.1500). This ordinance was enacted in March of 1998. CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES: Previous to the wet period that we are currently experiencing, the metro area had been experiencing drought like conditions. This drought pushed the City's demand and "associated well pumping to a new record output on May 7th of 4,342,000 gallons in a twenty-four hour period. In the best case scenario, our three wells can produce approximately 4.7 million gallons in a twenty-four hour period. If we had lost a well due to a mechanical failure, we could have been in a dire predicament if faced with a house fire or watermain break. CONCLUSION:: In 1998, when the City Code was changed, there was discussion about allowing the City Manager to have the ability to declare a water emergency and totally restrict the outside use of water. However, this language was not included in the new ordinance (see attached copy of existing ordinance). The old ordinance would have required the City Council to pass a resolution to declare a water emergency and deliver that resolution to all the residents prior to the actual enforcement. The proposed ordinance (attached) which adds Section 704.1450, will allow the City Manager, in consultation with the Public Works Director and Utility Department, to declare a total ban on outside water use when the water system is in imminent danger of failure to keep up with demand. cl~9A~-I'V6ef:fE~J\ve, S,L Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph, (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQLAL OPPORTCNITY E\IPLOYER TIT'T ISSUES: Currently there is not an easy method for staff and the City Council to declare a water emergency and totally ban the outside use of city water. Drought, natural disaster, mechanical failure, or fire emergency could necessitate such a ban. Staff would recommend the adoption of the attached ordinance which allows for emergency restrictions. AL TERNA TIVES: The alternatives are as follows: 1. Approve Ordinance OO-XX amending 704.1450 of the Prior Lake City Code. 2. Table this item for a specific reason. 3. Deny the ordinance OO-XX at this time. REVIEWED BY: ion of the ordinance. RECOMMENDED MOTION: G:\AGENDAOOICITYCODE,DOC CITY OF PRIOR LAKE 10 ORDINANCE NO OO-~ AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 704.1450 OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE The City Council of the City of Prior Lake does hereby ordain: Section 704.1450 ofthe Prior Lake City Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 704.1450 WATER EMERGENCY 1. The City Manager, acting upon the recommendation of the Public Works Director, shall have the authority to declare a water emergency and to ban all outside water use within the City. 2. This ban may be placed in effect only if one or more of the following conditions exist: a) Production of water cannot meet the demand; b) Water in storage is expected to be depleted within twenty-four hours; c) There is a serious malfunction of equipment or facilities. 3. When a water emergency has been declared, all outside water uses shall be shut down. 4. The City Manager, or his/her designee, shall contact local newspapers, local radio/television stations, and any other available means to publicize the water emergency and to inform the citizens of the total ban on outside water use. 5. Municipal water customers who have been notified of a violation of this ban, and who violate them a second time, shall be penalized as described under "penalty" in this section of the code. 6. The watering ban shall be lifted by the City Manager only after conditions improve and the system returns to normal. This ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage and publication. Passed by the City Council of the City of Prior Lake this 19th day of June, 2000. ATTEST: City Manager Mayor Published in the Prior Lake American on the day of .2000. Drafted By: City of Prior Lake Engineering Department 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372 cl~Ntl~~6Q~~<t\\/e, SL Prior LaKe. [vlinnesota 55372-1714 / Ph (612) 447-4230 / Fax (6121447 -424"> .-\:; EQl~:\L C~'?<)t\-~", "~.~'I ~:.".:~)Ln'tT.F. 11 ~, SUBSECTIONS: 704.100: 704.200: 704.300: 704.400: 704.500: 704.600: 704.700: 704.800: 704.900: 704.1000: 704.1100: 704.1200: 704.1300: 704.1400: 704.1500: 704.1600: 704.1700: 704.1800: 704.1900: 704.2000: Public Ways & Property SECTION 704 CITY WATERWORKS SYSTEM COUNTY REGULATIONS ADoPTED PERMIT APPUCAT10N~ CONNECTlON To CITY's SYSTEM CONNECTION PERMITS PAYMENT OF PERMIT FEES TAPPING MAINS; CHARGES TAPPING OF MAINS PROHIBITED PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS WATER USE RESTRICTIONS WATER RATES; WATER TOWER CHARGE; DEUNQUENCY SERVICE PIPES REPAIR OF lEAKs METER REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT DEFICIENCY OF WATER AND SHUTnNG OFF WATER RESTRICTED HOURS FOR SPRlNKUNG USE OF FIRE HYDRANTS PRIVATE WATER SUPPUES BACKFLOW PREVENTERS DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE FOR VIOLA TlONS PENALTY 704.100: 704.200: COUNTY REGULATIONS ADOPTED: The City hereby adopts, by reference, the ordinance adopted by the County of Scott entitled OJ An Ordinance Regulating the Use of Waters Within the County of Scott", said Ordinance dated August 27, 1974. PERMIT APPLICATIONS: All applications for pennission to connect to the City water system or to drill a private well or to make repairs to any connection, shall be made at the office of the City Cleric The application must be submitted on the printed fonn furnished by the City, and must state the name of the owner, the official street address or legal description, the kind of service for which the pipe is intended or the well is to be drilled and must bear the signature of the applicant agreeing to confonn to the rules and regulations that are established by the City as conditions for said water use or well drilling. No pennit herein required shall be granted unless application therefor shall be made in writing and signed by the duly authorized agent of the owner who must be a plumber licensed by the City as prescribed by the licensing laws of the City. The applicant shall, at the time of making application, pay to the City the amount of II I, City of Prior Lake 704/p1 Public Ways & Property fees or deposits required for the installation of water service or drilling of said well. 704.300: CONNECTION To CITY'S SYSTEM: At such time as a Municipal water system becomes aV"!!!€lble and within a one-year period, property served by a private water system shall make a direct connection to the public water system, in compliance with this Section. /', ,"" -: .''-: /:.;. 1- " /.' . )/ I i' 704.400: CONNECTION PERMITS: 704.401 Connection To Stop Box: A permit must be obtained to connect to existing water service leads at the stop box. Whenever the 'water service connections are connected to the stop box, the owner must also simultaneously install the properly sized meter. Upon installation, a seal shall be affixed to the water meter. Unless authorized by the City, breakage and/or removal of such seal shall be subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100.00). The fee for each such permit issued shall be determined at the discretion of the City Council. 704.402 ~eimbursement And Installation Of Water Meter: The owner must reimburse the City for the cost of the water meter. Installation of the meter shall be done at the expense of the owner by a plumber licensed to make such installations in the City. 704.403 Connection Permits: A connection fee Gf-six Ilundred dollars ($600:00) shall be charged per unit connected subject to an adjustment as determined by the City Council. One-half (1/2) of the fees collected as unit connection charges under this subsection shall be applied towards the maintenance, building, construction, reconstruction, repair, enlargement or improvement of the Municipal system. "The Municipal system" shall mean waterworks systems, induding mains, valves, hydrants, service connections, wells, pumps, reservoirs, tanks, treatment plants, and other appurtenances of a waterworks system, sewer systems, sewage treatment works, disposal systems, and other facilities for disposing of sewage, industrial wastes, or other wastes, and storm sewer systems, includi~ins, holding areas and ponds, and other appurtenances and related facilities for 'the collection and disposal of storm water. The remaining one-half (1/2) shall e plated in the Sewer and Water Fund as revenue to offset operational expenses. b'- / _\'" ,.../1 704.404 Charges: A detached, single-family dwelling shall be considered as a standard unit Other users shall be charged in accordance with the number of units connected and in accordance with the unit charges established by the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission. 704.405 Persons Not licensed Plumbers: Permits: (1) Any person not a licensed plumber, desiring to construct or connect a Municipal City of Prior Lake 704/p2 Public Ways & Property water system to a building within the City shall apply to the City Manager for a permit for said construction. The application shall be submitted on forms fumished by the City Plumbing Inspector and shall be accompanied by a permit and inspection fee to be determined at the discretion of the City Council. A permit shall be required for each separate construction site and job. A permit shall be required for each connection to the Municipal water system if there is more than one a particular construction site or job. (2) No permit shall be issued unless the applicant has filed with the City Manager a surety bond in the face amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) running in favor of the City, saving the City harmless for any loss, damage, cost or expense by reason of any work performed under this Section or by reason of improper or inadequate performance or compliance with the terms of this Section. " (3) Subsequent to receiving a permit, written notice of intent to commence construction shall be given the City Plumbing Inspector at least twenty four (24) hours before commencement of construction. If no notice is given, the applicant may be assessed up to one hundred dollars ($100.00) administrative charge. (4) It shall be the duty of the City Plumbing Inspector to inspect the construction regulated by this Section, and all construction found to be in violation of either State law or City ordinance shall be corrected by the applicant. If said connections are not made within a reasonable time, the City Plumbing Inspector may either remove the work done or correct the violation and may charge the cost or said removal or correction to the applicant, or the City may effect a partial or complete forfeiture of the applicant's surety bond to pay said costs. (5) Nothing in this subsection shall permit installation or connection of any plumbing within the premises other than connection of, or running to the premises the water main from the Municipal system to the premises. A separate water line from a well, to be used for drinking purposes only, will be allowed. A maximum of one faucet may be connected to this line. 704.406 Tax Levy: Any amount due hereunder for water charges may be collected in an action brought for that purpose in the name of the City, or the City Manager may certify to the County Auditor the amounts due for the charges including penalty, together with a legal description of the premises served, and the County Auditor shall thereupon enter such amount with the tax levy of said premises collectible with the taxes with the next ensuing year. 704.500: PAYMENT OF PERMIT FEES: It is hereby ordained that any property owner of the City who is obligated to pay permit fees under this Section shall have the right to make said payments over a period of three (3) years, and payments shall be made as follows: (1) The first payment shall be one-fourth (1/4) of the total amount due under this City of Prior Lake 704/p3 II 704.600: 704.601 704.602 704.603 Public Ways & Property Section and shall be paid at the time the permit is secured. (2) The next payment shall be due on August 1 st next following the date of issuance of the permit and each August 1st thereafter until all three (3) payments have been made. (3) Interest shall be at the rate of eight percent (8%) per annum on the unpaid balance. (4) In the event of default in any of the payments as prescribed above, it is understood that the entire balance due and owing to the City shall be assessed upon the property taxes the following year subject to an eight percent (8%) interest charge. (5) It is further understood that any person seeking benefit of this time schedule waives the right to any public hearing on the assessment, and said persons shall sign a waiver of notice of hearing of assessment at the time of application for the permit. TAPPING MAINS; CHARGES: A charge shall be made and collected for tapping water mains where a curb box and service lead were not previously installed. This charge is to be paid at the time of making application and is as follows: 3/4" $200.00 1" $200.00 2" service or larger shall be installed by contractor by permit from the City Engineer. Street Repair Charge: When installation of service connection requires excavation of the street right of way, a permit shall be secured from the office of the City Engineer. The fee for such permit is to be determined at the discretion of the City Council, and the cost for repair of street surfacing will be determined by the City Engineer. For raising or lowering stop boxes to conform with ground level changes made by the property owner, a service charge of actual cost will be made. Excavation for Tapping: Excavations ma~the purpose of making a tap from the City water mains shall be so ordered b he ater and Sewer Superintendent. Ample clear space shall be allowed aroun e main in all cases to insert the tapping machine. All excavations for tapping shall be safely curbed to the satisfaction of the tapper. In case the excavation is not property made, sufficient clear space is not provided. or the excavation is improperly curbed, the tap shall not be made until the excavation, clear space and curbing are proper and safe. A safe ladder shall be furnished by the plumber for the use of the purpose of inspecting the connection the City main. Time for Connection: If, for any cause, the plumber iaying the service pipe should fail to have the connection made or the excavation ready for tapping the Cffy of Prior Lake 704/p4 Public Ways & Property main at the time specified in his or her application, notice must be given to the Water and Sewer Department, fixing another day on which or she wishes to make the connection. The notice must be given at least two (2) days previous to the excavation for laying the service pipe or making a tap and must be given during nonnal working hours. 704. 700: TAPPING OF MAINS PROHIBITED: No person except authorized agents or employees of the City shall tap any distributing main or pipe of the City water supply system or insert stop cocks or ferrules therein. 704.800: PROPERTY ASSESSMENTS: No permit shall be issued to tap or connect with any water main either directly or indirectly from any lot or tract of land unless: (1) Such tract or lot to be served by such connection has been assessed for the cost with which the connection is to be made, or (2) If no assessment has been levied for such construction cost, that proceedings for levying such assessment have been made and will be commended in due course, or (3). If no assessment has been levied, and no assessment proceedings. will be completed in due course, but a sum equal to the cost of said utilities shall have been paid to the City as determined by the City Council, not to exceed benefit to the property. 704.900: WATER USE RESTRICTIONS: 704.901 Turning on Water: No ,person, except an authorized City agent or employee shall turn on any water supply at the stop box. No permit will be issued unless the house number as given by the Building Department is prominently displayed, and no such pennit shall be given anyone but a licensed plumber. 704.902 ~upply From One Service: No more than one house or building shall be supplied from one service connection, except by special permission of the City Engineer. Whenever two (2) or more parties are supplies from one pipe. connecting with the distribution main, each building must have a separate stop box and a separate meter. 704.903 Abandoned Services: All service installations connected to the water system that have been abandoned or have not been used for three (3) years, or for any reason have become useless for further service, shall be disconnected at the main by the City unless ,,'..aived by t"e City Engineer, and all pipes and appurtenances removed shall become the property of the City. When new buildings are erected on the site City of Prior Lake 704/p5 ~--'._..'---'''-------'"~ --_._~---->..,--'-'~-- ]1 Public Ways & Property of old ones, and it is desired to increase or change the old water service, no connections with the mains shall be made until all of the old services shall have been removed and the main plugged. If any contractor, workman or employee upon such building shall cause or allow any service pipe to be hammered together at the ends to stop the flow of water, or to save expense in removing such pipe from the main, the owner of such building, such workman and contractor shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall remove said service pipe from the main. Failure to do so on twenty four (24) hours' notice shall be obligation to the City for cost incurred by it for such removal. 704.904 Use Confined To Premises: No person shall permit water from the City water supply system to be used for any purpose except upon his or her own premises. 704.1000: WATER RATES; WATER TOWER CHARGE; DELINQUENCY: 704.1001 Water Rates: The rates shall be as follows: (1) Effective on the February 1, 2000 billing cycle, a billing charge of one dollar forty cents ($1.40) per one thousand (1.000) gallons of water. (amd. Ord. 00-02 - pub. 1/8100) (2) There shall be a capital facility charge (CFAC) established per two (2) month billing period for use by the City for sewer and water capital property purchases. The CF AC charge shall be determined by the City Council on, an annual basis. The following capital facility charge fee schedule is effective upon the water billings beginning February of each year as follows: $5.00 for 1992 - 1994 $7.50 for 1995 - current year (3) A minimum charge of five dollars ($5.00) per two (2) month billing period per user shall be made for sewer and water. - (4) There will be a delinquency charge of ten percent (10%) on any bills which are delinquent within the terms of this Section. (5) Residents failing to retum their meter reading for two (2) consecutive billing periods will be billed a ten dollar ($10.00) service charge and the City will read the meter. In the event the outside meter register is removed or disabled and a property owner refuses entry by City maintenance personnel for the purpose of verifying or obtaining a correct meter reading. the water service may be terminated by the City due to the occurrence of unmetered water usage. 704.1002 Water Tower Charge: (1) The water tower charge shall be determined on an annual basis in accordance with a fee schedule effective January 1 of each year as determined by the City Council. City of Prior Lake 704/p6 704.1003 Public Ways & Property The following fee schedule is effective through calendar year 1996: $150.00 for 1973 150.00 for 1974 150.00 for 1975 150.00 for 1976 150.00 for 1977 150.00 for 1978 150.00 for 1/1179 - 7/31179 200.00 for 8/1179 -12/31179 200.00 for 1980 200.00 for 1981 200.00 for 1982 250.00 for 1983 $250.00 for 1984 250.00 for 1985 250.00 for 1986 250.00 for 1987 350.00 for 1988 350.00 for 1989 400.00 for 1990 250.00 for 1991 250.00 for 1992 250.00 for 1993 250.00 for 1994 250.00 for 1995 700.00 for 1996 Said fees shall be placed in a fund maintained by the City to accumulate funds for the construction of water storage facilities and wells. Delinquency: Said water system usage bill is delinquent if not paid within ten (10) days of the date of billing, and the water service of any user may be terminated by the City whenever any water bill shall remain delinquent for a period of ten (10) days or more. If water service is terminated by the City for delinquency in the payment of a water usage bill or for any other reason, a fee of twenty five dollars ($25.00) will be made for tuming on. said water service, payable in advance. If said water service is turned on during a time other than normal business hours, a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) shall be charged to cover the City's expense for call-back time. If a water usage bill remains unpaid for a period of ninety (90) days, after it becomes delinquent, the same shall constitute a lien on the real estate subject to an interest rate of eight percent (8%) per annum and the City Manager shall forthwith file a lien against the real estate for the unpaid amount of the bill, notifying by mail the owner of the real estate of said fact. In the event that it becomes necessary for the City Manager to file such a lien on the real estate, then and in that event, an additional fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be charged and added to the bill and the lien when filed. 704.1100: SERVICE PIPES: Every service pipe must be laid in such manner as to prevent rupture by settlement. The service pipe must be placed no less than seven and one-half feet (7 1/2') below the surface and in all cases so arranged as to prevent rupture by freezing. Service pipes must extend from the curb box to the inside of the building, or if not taken into a building, then to the hydrant or other fixtures which they are intended to supply. City of Prior Lake 704/p 7 ---------,-,-,---~~-~._-"-_..._._...- - -~------ - -------~~-- 111 704.1200: 704.1300: 704.1400: of.(. ,... 5"c > 704.1500: Public Ways & Properly REPAIR OF LEAKS: It shall be the responsibility of the consumer or owner to maintain the service pipe from the curb box into the house or building. In case of failure upon the part of any consumer or owner to repair any leak occurring in his service pipe within twenty-four (24) hours after oral or written notice has been given the owner or occupant of the premises, the water will shut off and will not be turned on until a fee, determined by the City Council, has been paid. When the waste of water is likely to result from the leak, the water will be tumed off if the repair is not proceeded with immediately upon the giving of such notice. METER REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT: If any water meter is damaged, destroyed or rendered defective by freezing, hot water, neglect, etc. the owner or occupant must pay for the repair or replacement thereof. In the event that any owner or occupant is chargeable for the cost of repair or replacement of a meter, the cost of such repair or replacement shall be paid to the City immediately upon repair or replacement, and be it not so paid, the water service to the premises shall be terminated. DEFICIENCY OF WATER AND SHUTTING OFF WATER: The City shall not be liable for any deficiency or failure in the supply of water to consumers, whether occasioned by shutting the water off for the, purpose of making repairs or connections or by any other cause whatever. In case of fire, or alarm of fire, water may be shut off to insure a supply for fire fighting, or in making repairs or construction of new works, water may be shut off at any time and kept shut of so long as may be necessary. ODD-EVEN SPRINKL,ING BAN: Lawn or garden sprinkling, irrigation, car washing and other non-essential outdoor use of the Municipal Water System shall be restricted to an odd/even system in conjunction with an 11 :00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ban effective May 1 through September 1. Residents with an odd house number may water lawns or use an outside hose, when necessary, before 11 :00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. only on odd numbered calendar days. Residents with an even house number may water lawns or use an outside hose, when necessary, before 11 :00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. only on even numbered calendar days. This applies to all municipal water users. Exceptions shall be made for landscaping, including newly seeded or sodded lawns, within the first thirty (30) days of placement. Private wells used for irrigation shall be exempt from these restrictions. Municipal water customers who have been notified of a violation of these restrictions, and who violate them a second time, shall be fined $25.00 for each day of violation. The fine shall be added to the offender's next water bill. A third violation shall be cause for discontinuance of water service. After payment of all outstanding bills, fines and connection fee (as stated in city fee schedule), the water service shall be restored. City of Prior Lake 704/p8 Public Ways & Property 704.1600: USE OF FIRE HYDRANTS: No person other than an agent, employee or member of the Water and Sewer, Street or Fire Departments shall operate fire hydrants or interfere in any way with the City water system. When contractors or individuals which to use water from hydrants for construction, they shall make application to the Water and Sewer DepartfTlent, which may, upon receipt of application and deposit install a hydrant meter. 704.1700: PRIVATE WATER SUPPLIES: No water pipe of the City water supply system shall be connected with any pump, well or tank that is connected with any source of water supply and when such are found, the Inspector shall notify the owner to disconnect the same, and if not done immediately, the public water supply shall be turned off. Before any new connection to the City system is permitted, the Inspector shall ascertain that no cross connections will exist when the new connection is made. It is to be specifically understood that water from private sources, when a public supply is available, cannot be used for any purpose within the City limits, except for outside uses and one faucet per residential dwelling unit. 704.1800: BACKFlOW PREVENTERS: No water pipe from the City water supply system shall be connected to any source of possible contamination without an approved backflow preventer. Required backflow prevents are listed in the Minnesota State Plumbing Code. If a possible source of contamination is found connected to the City water supply, the Inspector shall notify the owner, lessee or occupant to make the proper corrections and if not done immediately, the public water supply shall be turned off. Before the water is turned on, the Inspector shall ascertain that the connection meets the Minnesota State Plumbing Code to prevent possible contamination of the public water supply. It shall be the responsibility of any owner, lessee or occupant to have al/ reduced pressure zone and double check valve-type backflow preventers tested annually. All testing must be done by individuals who are accredited by the Minnesota Department of Health. A tag shall be affixed to each backflow preventer showing the date and the name of the tester along with hislher accreditation number. In addition to the required tag, a copy of the test results shall be submitted to the Building Inspection Department of the City. 704.1900: DISCONTINUANCE OF SERVICE FOR VIOLATIONS: The following acts shall be considered violations for which disconnection of water service is warranted: (1) The owner or occupant of the premises served or any persons working on any pipes or equipment tt,ereon which are connected wit.'1 1.'1e City water supply system has intentionally violated any of the requirements of the provisions of this City cay of Prior Lake 704/p9 --------- ----------~~- II 11 Public Ways & Property Code relative to the water supply system or connections therewith. (2) The owner or occupant of the premises served violates, threatens to violate or causes to be violated any of the provisions of this Code. (3) There is fraud or misrepresentation by the owner or occupant in connection with an application for service. 704.2000: PENAL TV: Any person violating any provIsion of this Section shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding seven hundred dollars ($700.00) or by imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days. A separate offense shall be deemed committed for each day the violation shall continue, and any person violating any of the provisions of this Section shall become liable to the City for any expense, loss or damage occasioned the City by reason of such violation. (This Space Intentionally Blank For Future Amendments) City of Prior Lake 704/p10