To: Aaron Rector, Interim City Manager
From: Alonzo Liñán, P.E., Director of Public Works
Subject:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: Consider an ordinance amending the City of Keller Code of Ordinances, Chapter 19, Water and Sewers, Article XIV, Water Conservation and Drought Contingency, Section 19-1600, Adoption of plan and policies, by deleting the current Water Conservation Plan in its entirety and replacing it with a new Attachment “A”, 2024 Water Conservation Plan for the City of Keller, and by deleting the current Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management Plan in its entirety and replacing it with a new Attachment “B”, 2024 Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management Plan for the City of Keller.
Action Requested:
Approve an ordinance amending the City of Keller Code of Ordinances, Chapter 19, Article XIV, Section 19-1600 to replace in their entirety the current Water Conservation Plan and the Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management Plan with updated Plans.
Background:
The Texas Water Code, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and Keller’s wholesale contract with the City of Fort Worth requires submission of an updated Water Conservation Plan and an updated Drought Contingency & Emergency Water Management Plan to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The attached Ordinance complies with these requirements.
The goals of the Water Conservation Plan are to reduce water consumption, reduce water loss, increase the efficiency of use an extend water supplies. This is done through the monitoring and documenting of purchased water, water sold, water meter management, public education, and coordination with regional water planning groups.
The Water Conservation Plan provides an overview of water use, a statement of water use goals for the next 5 and 10 years, metering and record management practices, and conservation measures. Further, these conservation measures maintain a twice per week watering schedule based on the last number of the property address and increase public outreach and education.
The purpose of the Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management Plan is to establish short-term water savings during droughts or emergency conditions by maintaining supplies for domestic, sanitary and fire needs. The goal is to minimize the adverse effects of drought or emergency conditions and to preserve the public health, welfare and safety.
The Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management Plan outlines required water use restrictions during emergency conditions, triggers for each of the three stages of water restrictions, conditions for restriction termination, and allowable variances.
Chapter 19, Article XIV, Section 19-1600 the Keller Code of Ordinances is attached for reference and further outlines what constitutes a violation of watering restrictions, applicable fines and administrative costs, irrigation system requirements, and allowable exemptions. It should be noted that except in extreme drought or emergency conditions, hand watering, drip irrigation and the use of soaker hoses is exempt from most restrictions.
The Ordinance under consideration is the formal adoption of the 2024 plans to replace the currently referenced 2019 plans in Keller’s Code of Ordinances.
Each plan is required to be updated every 5 years. The current Water Conservation Plan and the Drought Contingency and Emergency Water Management Plan was last updated in May 2019.
Financial Impact:
N/A
Citizen Input/Board Review:
Citizens are able to provide input through the Public Hearing.
Legal Review:
The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed Ordinance.
Alternatives:
City Council has the following alternatives:
- Approve as submitted
- Approve with changes
- Denial