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MEMORANDUM To:City of Saint Anthony Village Parks & Environmental Commission From:Richard Sonterre, City Code Official Date:August 27, 2024 City Council Worksession Request:Lawn Irrigation, Code Compliance Procedures and Administrative Citations BACKGROUND An action step in the 2024 Pyramid adopted by the City Council included an action step from the City’s Climate Plan to review the compliance rate of the City’s watering restrictions and consider fees for non-compliance. In addition, the City Council agreed to discuss the compliance rate of yard maintenance in the City and if the City’s compliance efforts are achieving the desired result. This also presents an opportunity to discuss whether non- compliance fees should be an added step the staff has available to achieve compliance. Following is a summary of the Parks & Environmental Commission discussion on irrigation, staff’s recent experience with lawn maintenance issues in the City, and a summary of staff’s approach to gain code compliance and the option of an administrative fine component for your consideration. LAWN IRRIGATION On June 3rd 2024, the Parks & Environmental Committee (PEC) discussed the topic of additional enforcement and non-compliance fees to the action steps for environmental responsibility, specific to residential lawn irrigation. After staff presented a very minimal record of non-compliance and no record of either lack of remedy or repeat offenses, the PEC determined that non-compliance was not a major issue and no changes are warranted to the current city policy, shown below: Currently, the city utilizes two primary sets of language to seek public compliance on this issue. First, Section 52.09 of City Code reads: No person may draw or use the city water system for the purpose of watering lawns or gardens during any period of emergency as declared under § 52.08, except during the days and hours permitted. Notice of the emergency and any permitted watering will be given by publication and posting. At no time may a hose larger than 1 inch in diameter be used from any service pipe without special permission of the City Council, and upon payment of a fee set forth in Chapter 33 for the water to be used from the special connection. Additionally, Council Resolution 17-032 further clarifies the specific dates, days and times in which season irrigation restrictions are to be adhered to, indicating: • Watering restrictions shall apply each year between April 15th and November 1st •Residents with an odd house number shall water lawns,when necessary,only on odd-numbered calendar days and those with even -numbered addresses shall water lawns only on even- numbered days. • Lawns shall not be watered between the hours of 11am – 6 pm •An exception may be granted for recently established lawns.Those lawns may be watered daily for one year following installation, but only during the hours listed above. 7