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Council updates drought enforcement rules and approves opioid settlement after closed session
Summary
Council approved amendments to drought contingency enforcement procedures (written notice, one‑year look‑back for repeat violations, fines up to $1,000 and disconnection procedures adjudicated by city administrator or deputy) and later approved a settlement agreement in opioid litigation following executive session.
The City Council approved amendments to the city’s drought contingency enforcement ordinance that clarify graduated penalties, hearing procedures, and disconnection authority, and separately approved an opioid lawsuit settlement after returning from executive session.
Deputy city attorney explained the enforcement amendments: first violations will receive a written notice; if a subsequent violation occurs within one year of the notice, staff may pursue municipal court prosecution and fines up to $1,000 for convictions. The ordinance provides for service disconnection after repeated violations and allows reconnection only after conditions and deposits are satisfied. The draft also adds a short, informal hearing process (at least three days’ notice) before disconnection, with hearing authority vested in the city administrator, deputy city administrator, or another designated officer rather than the municipal court judge. The deputy city attorney said the change avoids appellate or bias issues if the municipal judge has previously adjudicated related violations.
One council member raised the significance of disconnection decisions and urged that the administrative officer(s) be clearly identified; council amended the ordinance language to identify the city administrator and deputy city administrator as the designated authority for hearings and then approved the measure.
Later in the meeting, council convened an executive (closed) session under attorney consultation and deliberation and then returned to public session. A motion was made and seconded to approve a settlement agreement related to opioid litigation discussed in executive session; the council approved the settlement by voice vote.
The drought enforcement amendment clarifies administrative processes for water‑use enforcement and sets a one‑year look‑back for escalated penalties; the settlement motion directs staff to implement the executive‑session outcome as authorized by council.
