Council committee sends proposed drought-contingency ordinance back to task force for technical review

The Roswell Infrastructure Committee voted to send the proposed 2025 drought-contingency ordinance and plan back to the city—s drought task force for further technical work and clearer language before advertising a public hearing.

Committee members said the ordinance sets mandatory watering restrictions to activate during drought stages but lacks the technical triggers and wording needed to ensure sound implementation. The vote was a voice vote; the chair announced approval and returned the item to the drought task force.

The city—s staff presenter, Chantelle (last name not specified in the record), told the committee the draft plan and proposed ordinances were prepared to meet a grant requirement and that the grant—s plan expires in April. She said the grant does not require the ordinance to be implemented to submit the plan, but the ordinance language must explicitly state it applies during declared drought conditions. "The expiration for the actual plan is is due in April," she said, adding that staff sought permission to advertise the plan and ordinance for public hearing so the public and council could comment.

Council members voiced repeated concerns about the ordinance—s technical basis. Councilor (first name not given in the transcript) who identified himself as a new member said he had found "significant technical issues" and did not think the draft reflected the geohydraulic conditions of the Roswell Basin. Councilor Mann and others pressed for clearer language tying mandatory provisions to declared drought stages and for community notice and outreach before enforcement.

Several committee members urged the task force to clarify: the scientific triggers that would move the city between drought stages; whether the ordinance—s "shall" requirements apply only during an emergency drought stage; and how public notification would work (green/orange/red) so residents understand what each stage means. Chantelle said public education is already underway through radio, billboards and outreach at community venues, but she acknowledged the formal public notice tied to an enforceable ordinance cannot be issued until the city finalizes ordinance language and council direction.

Because of those outstanding technical and notification questions, the committee agreed to return the proposal to the drought task force for additional work rather than advancing it to a public hearing in its current form. The chair announced the motion approved by voice vote and sent the item back to the task force.

Next steps identified by staff and council members include: task-force review and refinement of scientific triggers; draft ordinance language that limits mandatory requirements to declared drought stages; and updates to the public-notice plan. Staff said the grant timeline and reapplication options would be checked and reported back to the council.