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REQUEST FOR ACTION <br />ver <br />To Item Number <br />Ci Council 5.3. <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />Communi Develo ment Au ust 18, 2008 erem Barnhart, Plannin Mana er <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />Request by City of Elk River fox Ordinance Amendment Jeff Gongoll, Community <br />Regarding Placement of Black Dirt, Case No OA 08-06 -Public Develo ment Director <br />Hearing Reviewed by <br />Action Requested <br />Denial of "Black Dirt" Ordinance as proposed. <br />Summary <br />The Utilities Commission, in an effort to reduce the City's water use during the summer months, is <br />proposing an ordinance amendment that would require certain soil improvements for new lots <br />throughout the City. This draft ordinance is attached. <br />Bryan Adams, Elk River Municipal Utilities Superintendent, provided information regarding the proposed <br />ordinance at the meeting, highlighting the need to conserve water. <br />The intent of the ordinance is to reduce water consumption during the summer months. Utilities has <br />noticed a trend where the summer water demand doubles and triples the winter demand. The bulk of <br />this water is used to water lawns, wash cars, etc. Utilities generally have an obligation to reduce summer <br />water usage metro area wide, to preserve water fox non-recreation or lawn needs: drinking, cooking, <br />bathing, and fire protection. <br />Planning Commission Discussion <br />The Planning Commission agreed with the goal of reducing water consumption, but felt that the <br />proposed ordinance would not adequately reduce water usage city wide, and impose extraardinary costs <br />on few properties within the city. <br />The Planning Commission asked for supporting information cited during the presentation that area cities <br />with the ordinance observed a 30% reduction in water usage. No information was provided. <br />Public Comment <br />One local businessman, Steve Rohlf, spoke at both the Planning Commission and City Council meetings, <br />voicing his concern of the proposed ordinance, its enforceability, and its reach into private matters. <br />Attachments <br />• Staff report to Planning Commission dated August 12, 2008 <br />S:\PLANNING MAIN\Case Files\OA\OA 08-06 Black Dirt\Memo to CC 8-18-08.doc <br />