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Parks and Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes <br />June 3, 2024 <br />Page 7 <br />1 <br />2 No person may draw or use the city water system for the purpose of watering lawns or <br />3 gardens during any period of emergency as declared under §52.08, except during the days and <br />4 hours permitted. Notice of the emergency and any permitted watering will be given by <br />5 publication and posting. At no time may a hose larger than 1 inch in diameter be used from <br />6 any service pipe without special permission of the City Council, and upon payment of a fee <br />7 set forth in Chapter 33 for the water to be used from the special connection. <br />8 <br />9 Additionally, Council Resolution 17-032 further clarifies the specific dates, days and times in <br />10 which season irrigation restrictions are to be adhered to, indicating: <br />11 Watering restrictions shall apply each year between April 15th and November 1st. <br />12 Residents with an odd house number shall water lawns when necessary, only on odd- <br />13 numbered calendar days and those with even numbered addresses shall water lawns <br />14 only on even-numbered days. <br />15 Lawns shall not be watered between the hours of 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. <br />16 An exception may be granted for recently established lawns. Those lawns may be <br />17 watered daily for one year following installation, but only during the hours listed <br />18 above. <br />19 <br />20 The City’s code compliance approach is based on an education-first method to inform those in <br />21 violation of City Code what parameters are in place and help residents gain compliance <br />22 voluntarily, which is almost always adequate to address an issue. The City does not have an <br />23 administrative fine component in the City Code, thus relies on voluntary compliance. Certain <br />24 continual code violations can result in misdemeanors being prosecuted by the City’s <br />25 prosecuting attorney, but only in the most extreme situations that would warrant that action. <br />26 <br />27 Since May 1, 2022 the City has made contact with twenty-two residents found to be in <br />28 violation of Resolution 17-032. None of the twenty-two were repeat offenders and the <br />29 majority of those found in violation were watering on the correct odd/even day, but were <br />30 watering between 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. <br />31 <br />32 In no case has contact with residents in violation of the resolution been met with resistance. <br />33 Staff believes that these individuals were, as they claimed, unaware of that restriction. <br />34 <br />35 The Commission was requested to provide comments to Council regarding the current <br />36 compliance approach and whether to consider an administrative fine component. <br />37 <br />38 The irrigation practices comparison of surrounding communities was provided for <br />39 Commission consideration. <br />40 <br />41 Chair Fee stated if we are trying to achieve water reduction maybe more important is how the <br />42 water is used. A bigger opportunity is how water is used. Mr. Sonterre noted the City of <br />43 Fridley doesn’t have a policy however they monitor water usage and implement an emergency <br />44 scenario. She noted Resolution 17-032 didn’t contain anything about gardening. She also <br />45 noted April 1st is the start of the restriction period. Education of residents is important as to <br />46 the restrictions.