Mayor’s water‑scarcity proclamation endorsed with watering-hour correction and ban on watering right‑of‑ways

Mayor Mollie Halterman introduced a proclamation to limit outdoor water use during drought conditions and asked the Council to support a unified public position. Council discussion made two substantive amendments before the vote: correcting permitted watering hours to 10 AM–6 PM to match state code and adding language discouraging or prohibiting watering of city right‑of‑ways after Councilmember Lyle Barton noted water applied into drainage ditches or onto streets is wasteful.

Councilmember David Burton provided historical context on the city’s Pressurized Irrigation (PI) system—built in 1987 for roughly 900 connections and now serving about 1,139 hookups across an originally intended 626 acres—and urged an educational posture toward residents who see conservation measures as a diminution of historical expectations. The Council unanimously voted to support the proclamation as amended and directed staff to communicate the change via the city newsletter and social media.

The proclamation also establishes a color‑coded framework: green (normal), yellow (aggressive conservation warning), red (once‑a‑week watering), and a further stage allowing shutoff of PI service if conditions require it. The Council emphasized combining enforcement with public education to reduce frustration and improve compliance.