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Englewood board adopts code changes to enable staged water-use restrictions amid drought concerns
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Summary
The Water and Sewer Board approved municipal code amendments letting the city implement staged or mandatory water-use restrictions, clarify waste-of-water penalties and authorize shutoffs for violations; staff said the move prepares Englewood for drought while retaining council and emergency-manager approval pathways.
Chair Moore opened the meeting and staff presented proposed municipal code amendments intended to give Englewood clearer, enforceable tools to respond to drought conditions.
Sarah, a city utilities presenter, told the board the changes would add authority to establish "mandatory and enforceable water restrictions" by stage, clarify that violations could be treated as "waste of water" subject to penalties, authorize shutting off service for violations and apply city restrictions to customers outside Englewood.
The amendments, Sarah said, "position the city to respond to drought conditions, strengthens our ability for enforcement, and allows for flexibility in how water restrictions could be used in drought response." Deputy City Attorney Vicky McDermott clarified that the code already gives the city council authority to authorize restrictions and that, "in times of emergency, the city manager" can act by resolution or administrative order; the utilities director would handle enforcement.
Peter Van Rys, Englewood's utilities director, told the board the city has relied on voluntary, honor-system conservation to date and lacks the programmatic staffing to enforce mandatory restrictions immediately. He said converting remaining flat-rate accounts (about 1,100) to metered service and standing up enforcement staff would be part of any shift to mandatory measures. "If we needed to move to something like that in the future, it would be a, some form of a staffing change," he said.
Board members raised concerns about due process, affordability and political sensitivity. Several members and the mayor urged preserving council oversight; staff answered that council approval remains the normal path and emergency discretion in the code is intended only for rare catastrophic events.
Mayor Sierra moved to approve item 6A as written; the motion was seconded and, after discussion, the board approved the code amendments. The clerk recorded two members as voting no: Rita Russell and Marshawn Freeman; the motion otherwise carried. Staff said it would return with recommendations on an inclining block rate structure within six to nine months and could bring a short-term stopgap for the board to consider sooner.
The board also asked staff to improve the code wording (including titles referencing shutoffs) and to include clearer communications and equity protections if higher tiers or surcharges are later proposed.
