Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City reviews new water-administration policies to expand enforcement beyond city limits
Summary
In a work session staff presented proposed water system administration guidelines that would move enforcement from city code to adopted policies and create contractual authority over customers outside city limits; the council is scheduled to consider an ordinance with first and second readings.
City staff led a work session on proposed water administration guidelines and customer regulations intended to give Safford administrative authority to manage water service to customers both inside and outside city limits.
Staff said the existing city code is enforceable only within city limits and the proposed policy framework (to be adopted by ordinance) would create contractual relationships with out-of-city customers. The policy package would include water facility extension agreements, service agreements and a curtailment plan. “Every customer has to be treated the same,” a staff presenter told the council, noting the restated service agreement requires Thatcher to cooperate on conservation enforcement.
Key substantive proposals include making landowners responsible for ensuring lessee compliance with water rules, strengthening curtailment enforcement mechanisms for customers in other jurisdictions, defining extension-agreement requirements for developers (engineer requirements, insurance, land transfer expectations), and enabling mandatory backflow protection where necessary. Staff said the restated agreement and the new administrative guidelines are layered: the restated agreement provides intergovernmental cooperation while the administrative rules give the city direct enforcement authority with customers.
Staff said they will return with redlined code language and bring the ordinance forward for a first and second reading at upcoming meetings; the ordinance would take effect 30 days after second reading and staff anticipates doing public outreach tied to implementation.
