4.1. ERMUSR 01-11-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Elk River Municipal Utilities 130(9 Orono Parkway • P.O. Box 430 Elk River, MN 55330-0430 UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING Phone: 763.441.2020 Fax: 763.441.8099 TO: FROM: Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission David Berg -Water Superintendent John Dietz, Chair Troy Adams, P.E. - Director of Operations D 1 Thom son, Trustee MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: Janu 11,2011 4.1 SUBJECT: Review of City Ordinance 78-51 WATER USE RESTRICTIONS and Elk River Municipal Utilities' 2009 RESOLUTION IMPOSING WATER USE RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF ELK RIVER. BACKGROUND: In July 2009, as authorized under City Ordinance Section 78-51, the Utilities Commission adopted a resolution imposing water use restrictions. The motion to approve this resolution was carried by a 3-0 vote. The scope of 78-51 WATER USE RESTRICTIONS was reviewed by the Utilities Commission in September 2010. It was then proposed to the City Council in October 2010 to amend the scope of geographical area subject to water use restrictions from the City water service area to all of the City limits. The Council chose not to make any changes to the ordinance at that time. At the December 2010 Utilities Commission meeting, the Commission directed staff to bring back for review the water use restriction resolution that had been adopted in 2009. DISCUSSION: The attached 2009 RESOLUTION IMPOSING WATER USE RESTRICTIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF ELK RIVER did not required an amendment to the ordinance and is permanent until revoked or amended by Utilities Commission resolution. The Utilities had water restrictions in place prior to the adoption of this resolution. However, the adoption of this resolution enabled the enforcement of these water restrictions through Ordinance 78-51 PENALTIES. City ordinances 78-51 and 78-52 are attached for Commission reference. Part of the current discussion has focused on the concern that the current water restrictions may be perceived as "crying wolf' during periods when not suffering drought conditions. Based on the information presented below as well as included by reference, the current water restrictions should not be perceived as sending a false alarm, but rather as conserving important resources: water supply, system capacity, system capability, and cost to efficiently run the water distributions system. It should also be noted that during drought conditions, the prudent course of action would likely include more drastic sprinkling restrictions.