HomeMy WebLinkAboutX-A-01 Adopt City Code Amendment - Chapter 51.05G - Water Conservation
City Council Memorandum
To: Mayor Fasbender & City Councilmembers
From: Ryan Stempski, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Date: March 30, 2022
Item: 2nd Reading & Adoption: City Code Amendment – Chapter 51.05 G – Water
Conservation
Council Action Requested:
Consider 2nd Reading and ordinance adoption of the attached amendment to Hastings
City Code Chapter 51.05 G pertaining to water conservation. City Council considered 1st
Reading at the March 21, 2021 Council Meeting. Approval requires a simple majority of
the City Council.
Background:
In response to drought conditions in 2021, the City Council declared temporary
limitations on exterior water usage on July 21, 2021. One of those limitations
included time of day restrictions on lawn sprinkling systems. Best practices
and guidance for lawn watering is to avoid watering in the heat of the day.
This is when evaporation tends to steal a lot of water and lawn sprinkling
becomes inefficient. Therefore, it is recommended to enact time of day
restrictions in perpetuity to manage the water supply system.
Ordinance Provisions:
To ensure adequate water supply during hot summer months, the City of
Hastings has an odd-even day lawn sprinkling policy from May 15 to
September 1 of each year and is recommending an Ordinance amendment to
also prohibit watering between the hours of 11 am to 5 pm during this ban each
year. The exemption from the odd/even sprinkling ban for newly planted sod,
grass or landscaping has been extended from 1 week to 2 weeks.
Financial Impact:
N/A
Council Committee Discussion:
N\A
Attachments:
Draft Ordinance Amendment
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CITY OF HASTINGS, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO. 2021-___
An Ordinance of the City of Hastings Amending City Code Chapter 51.05 G: Water
Conservation
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HASTINGS:
SECTION 1. HASTINGS CITY CODE CHAPTER 51.05 G IS AMENDED AS FOLLOWS (new language
is underlined, strikethrough language is deleted):
G. Water Conservation.
1. Lawn sprinkling. It is unlawful for the owner or occupant of any property to sprinkle a
lawn, wash a motor vehicle or to accomplish any non-essential use not involving private
or public sanitation or health when the same is prohibited in accordance herewith.
2. Water emergency. After 24-hours’ notice following broadcast by local radio stations, or
immediately after hand-delivered special notice that a water emergency exists, it is
unlawful for the owner or occupant of any property to use water for sprinkling a lawn,
washing a motor vehicle, or any other non-essential use not involving private or public
sanitation or health. The water emergency shall continue until further notice by local
radio station or newspaper.
3. Ban.
a. Dates. From May 15 to September 1 of each year, an odd/even lawn sprinkling
ban shall be in effect for all lawn sprinkling systems supplied by water from the
City of Hastings water utility. Properties with even numbered addresses may
sprinkle lawns only on days with even numbered dates. Properties with odd
numbered addresses may sprinkle only on days with odd numbered dates. The
utility billing address will establish the permitted odd or even day for sprinkling
for homeowners’ associations with both odd and even residences.
b. Hours. During the odd/even days when properties are authorized to use lawn
sprinkling systems under 51.05.G.3.a. above, it shall be prohibited to water
between the hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3.4. Exemption. A 12-week exemption from the odd/even sprinkling ban may be granted for
newly planted sod, grass or landscaping upon registering for the exemption and
recommendation of the Hastings Utility Department. Other exemptions may be granted
upon evaluation and recommendation of the Hastings Utility Superintendent. The utility
billing address will establish the permitted odd or even day for sprinkling for homeowners
associations with both odd and even residences.
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SECTION 2. SUMMARY PUBLICATION. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 412.191, in the
case of a lengthy ordinance, a summary may be published. While a copy of the entire ordinance
is available without cost at the office of the City Clerk, the following summary is approved by the
City Council and shall be published in lieu of publishing the entire ordinance.
The ordinance amendment prohibits the hours of lawn sprinkling during the odd/even ban so
that no lawn sprinkling can be done between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. It also expands the exemption
for watering new sod or landscaping from one week to two weeks.
This Ordinance shall be effective upon seven (7) days after its passage and publication.
Adopted by the Hastings City Council on this ___ day of _______, 2022, by the following vote:
Ayes:
Nays:
Absent:
CITY OF HASTINGS
_____________________________________
Mary Fasbender, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Kelly Murtaugh
City Clerk
I hereby certify that the above is a true and correct copy of the Ordinance presented to and
adopted by the City of Hastings, County of Dakota, Minnesota, on the ___ day of ________________, as
disclosed by the records of the City of Hastings on file and of record in the office.
_____________________________
Kelly Murtaugh
City Clerk
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