Rangely council adopts one-year drought emergency ordinance with watering restrictions

The Rangely Town Council voted to adopt Ordinance 707-2026, a one-year emergency ordinance declaring a water shortage and establishing a four-stage drought response framework that includes outdoor-watering restrictions, bulk-water limits and a schedule of violations and penalties. The ordinance authorizes the town manager to declare and rescind drought stages and is effective for one year unless renewed.

Councilors discussed enforcement and appeals before the vote. Council members asked how citations would be issued and whether residents could contest fines. Town staff explained the ordinance provides for written notices and fines and described a 14-day written appeal process; staff and council also noted the practical limit on municipal-court fines and said they would need to clarify legal options for penalties that might exceed court limits. One councilor pointed out municipal court’s $300 maximum fine for certain offenses, and the council agreed the legal mechanics for larger penalties may require further review.

Andy moved to adopt Ordinance 707-2026; Jimmy seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote with no opposition recorded in the transcript.

The ordinance text as presented to the council sets out: a four-stage drought response model, a prohibition on cross-system water use, restrictions on bulk water distribution, and a schedule of violations and penalties tied to each drought stage. Council discussion clarified that any future rate increases would require a separate resolution and that the current emergency ordinance does not itself set permanent rate changes. The ordinance includes a one-year sunset provision, after which council would consider follow-up legislation if needed.

Council members and staff emphasized the goal of using the ordinance to preserve community water supplies during the drought period while avoiding unnecessary litigation. The council did not specify vote tallies for the approval; the record in the transcript shows the motion was moved and seconded and passed by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will finalize administrative procedures for issuing citations and will follow up on the legal question of how penalties exceeding municipal-court caps would be handled. No effective-date beyond the one-year term in the ordinance text was specified during the meeting.