Minutes - Public Works Committee - 04/20/2004

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will result in better compliance. Staff recommends that section 4.40.06 Subd. 10 be amended to include the following penalties for successive violations within a calendar year: . 1st violation mailed written warning . 2nd violation written violation by registered mail . 3rd violation $50 fine added directly to the water bill . 4th violation $100 fine added directly to the water bill. . 5th violation shut off of water service City Engineer Jankowski reported the City has had situations where the tower ,was not able to keep up. With thee developments coming on line this year something effective needs to be done that will be acceptable to people. ' Councilmember Cook asked what the time frame is in the violations. City Engineer Jankowski replied it would likely be within a period of one calendar year. Councilmember Cook stated if he wanted to take care of his yard and it cost him $150 in fines over the summer to take care of it he might go through these first four violations before stopping anything. City Engineer Jankowski explained in preparing this case he was a little surprised to see the ordinance was written as it was. The ordinance requires a written published notice in order to enforce it. He commented the City's Water Conservation notice is placed in the Ramsey Resident, and it spells out the ordinance. He noted Andover has the restrictions included right in the ordinance, which also includes exemptions for things such as newly seeded or sodded yards. He stated it is important to have the penalties where they are reasonable or effective, and questioned if Ramsey should incorporate things like the odd/even ban right in the ordinance. He has copied the City Attorney regarding this, and he will have to review any penalties that would be included. Chairperson Zimmerman suggested the $50 fine be eliminated, with the first fine being $100. ParkslUtilities Supervisor Riverblood advised the other reason it is important to consider this is the primary complaints are from people that are paying attention and seeing their neighbor violate the ordinance. He stated there was a 19 percent increase in water in 2003 from the preceding year, and there is no reason to believe there will not be a serious increase this year. It is proposed that the City actually monitor the residents for compliance, with staff coming in on a Sunday when there would be the greatest number of violators. The addresses would be recorded so the first letter could be initiated if the Council chooses. If four employees come in for overtime each person would likely put in approximately two hours. The total cost would be abo~t 500 dollars, which would include handling calls from residents making phone calls to City Hall. Public Works Committee/April 20, 2004 Page 9 of 16