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Council adopts ordinance limiting culinary-water irrigation during drought; first offense warning, $500 fine thereafter
Summary
The council adopted Ordinance 2026-09 prohibiting unauthorized use of culinary water for outdoor irrigation when the secondary water supply is turned off during drought declarations. After debate about appropriate penalties and exceptions for new landscaping, council approved: one written warning for first offense, $500 fine for subsequent occurrences; enforcement by code enforcement officers was discussed.
City staff presented Ordinance 2026-09 to clarify that, during a governor-declared drought emergency when secondary water is turned off, culinary (drinking) water cannot be used for outdoor irrigation except in limited circumstances circumscribed by the ordinance.
Staff noted the statute allows a maximum penalty of $1,000 but told council that $1,000 was not the staff recommendation. "I just put in with the maximum penalty that the state will allow us, which is 1,000 dollars. That is not staff recommendation," a staff member said during the presentation, urging the council to set a practical enforcement level.
Councilors debated enforcement and exceptions. Several members asked about leaves for new sod and landscaping and how code enforcement would be routed; staff said enforcement would be handled through code enforcement (nonemergency dispatch) and that the city has existing timelines for establishing new yards (front yards 12 months, backyards 18 months) that staff can use as reference for exceptions.
After discussion, Council member Dalpaz moved to adopt the ordinance with a one-written-warning first step followed by a $500 fine for each cited occurrence; Council member Pulver seconded. The council took a roll-call vote: Carney, Dalpaz, Neighbor, Watson and Pulver each voted yes; the motion carried.
Enforcement note: staff said the city would post and publicize the rules and that code enforcement officers already perform a range of community-service and code duties; council asked for a later report on specific CSO responsibilities. The ordinance is effective immediately as adopted; staff will provide public notice and implement enforcement procedures.
