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16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
9B
CRAIG ELDRED, STREETS AND UTILITY SUPERVISOR
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBSECTION 704
OF THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE RELATED TO CITY WATER WORKS
SYSTEM
Introduction
The purpose of this agenda item is to amend the Prior Lake City Code
Ordinance, Subsection 704, related to the City Water Works System.
History
The 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan has the following five-year goal, "Adopt and
implement the Wellhead Protection Plan and Water Supply Plan emphasizing
production, conservation, education, communication and landscape
maintenance, and continue to partner with neighboring communities to protect
regional groundwater resources."
A two-year objective also directs, "Expand conservation and communication
efforts emphasizing efficient use of water to meet the goals of the Water Supply
Plan and promote best management practices; including providing account
consumption information to customers using the Internet."
In 1998, the City adopted even/odd sprinkling restrictions which are effective
from May 1 through September 1. We are proposing the following items related
to Section 704.1500 Odd-Even Sprinkling Ban:
. Change Ban to Restrictions
. Extend the restriction period 30 calendar days to October 1
. Add an additional hour to the period which residents may not water. The
current time is 11 :00 am to 5:00 pm., staff would recommend it be
changed to be 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This allows additional time to refill
water storage facilities and discourages watering during times that are
not beneficial typically based on weather conditions.
. Implement stepped violations including the following fines:
- First offense Warning
- Second offense $50.00
- Third offense $100.00
- Fourth and each subsequent offenses Fine Doubles ($200,$400)
. Allow hand watering of vegetable gardens, flower pots and hanging
baskets, car washing and general use of power washers.
. Note exceptions for The Ponds, Ryan Park and Lakefront athletic areas
due to the inability to cover all zones during restriction periods
R:\Council\Agenda Reports\2007\09 17 07\Extend Water Restrictions.DOC
www.cityofpriorlake.com
Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245
Current Circumstances
While the proposal is primarily a water conservation action, there are a number
of other good reasons for its implementation:
. Even with restrictions on usage, in June and July there were between 5.6
and 6.3 million gallons of water used per day with a peak day of 7.0
million gallons.
. Landscaping can be satisfactorily cared for with the restrictions we have
adopted.
. Depending upon the year, drought-like weather can extend well into
September.
Conclusion
The Council should determine if the proposed action is a good conservation
proposal as recommended by the 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan.
ISSUES:
There are issues relating to this recommendation. In some years the weather
can be quite mild by middle September. In such circumstances the extended
restrictions would be ineffective. By contrast, in years which are warm, the City
could earn greater revenues if it does not extend the restrictions. If the Council
shared this perspective, the extension could be revised to September 15 instead.
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
Revenues would be impacted to some extent based upon the weather. By the
same token the water system is protected from breakdown by extending the
restrictions.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Adopt the Ordinance Amendment Subsection 704 of the Prior Lake City
Code related to City Water Works System.
2. Discuss and make recommendations.
3. Take no action and leave the Ordinance "as is."
RECOMMENDED Alternative #1.
MOTION:
R:\Council\Agenda Reports\2007\09 17 07\Extend Water Restrictions.DOC
16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714
CITY OF PRIOR LAKE
ORDINANCE NO.107-XX
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBSECTION 704 TO THE PRIOR LAKE CITY CODE
RELATING TO CITY WATER WORKS SYSTEM
The City Council of the City of Prior Lake hereby ordains that Section 704, subsection 704.1500 is
amended to read as follows:
704.1500 ODD-EvEN SPRINKLING RESTRICTIONS: Lawn sprinkling, irrigation, car washing and other
non-essential outdoor use of the Municipal Water System shall be restricted to an odd I
even system in conjunction with a 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily ban effective May 1 through
October 1. Residents with an odd-numbered house number (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) may water
lawns or use an outside hose, when necessary, before 10:00 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m. only
on odd-numbered calendar days. Residents with an even-numbered house number (0, 2, 4,
6 or 8) may water lawns or use an outside hose, when necessary, before 10:00 a.m. and
after 5:00 p.m. only on even-numbered calendar days. This applies to all municipal users.
Exceptions shall be made for the following:
. Hand held hose watering of vegetable/flower gardens, flower pots, hanging baskets, car
washing and general use of a power washer.
. City athletic complexes; Ponds, Ryan Park and Lakefront.
. Landscaping, including newly seeded or sodded lawns, within the first thirty (30) days of
placement with the use of a watering permit.
. Private wells for irrigation.
. Residents pumping from the lake.
Municipal water customers who violate this ordinance are subject to the following warnings
or fines:
. First offense; warning.
. Second offense; $50.00.
. Third offense; $100.00.
. Each subsequent offense fine shall double ($200, $400, $800 etc.) for the same
property owner within the same calendar year.
The fine shall be added to the offender's next water bill.
This ordinance shall become effective upon passage and publication beginning in 2008.
Passed by the City Council of the City of Prior Lake this 1 ih day of September 2007.
ATTEST:
City Manager
Mayor
Published in the Prior Lake American on the 22nd day of September 2007.
R:\Council\Agenda Reports\2007\09 17 07\amend ordina~~~riorlake.com
Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245