3. Consider Amendment to City Code Regarding Lawn Sprinkling Restrictions
CITY OF
CHANHASSEN
7700 Market Boulevard
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
Administration
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227.1110
Building Inspections
Phone: 952.227.1180
Fax: 952.227.1190
Engineering
Phone: 952.227.1160
Fax: 952.227.1170
Finance
Phone: 952.227.1140
Fax: 952.227.1110
Park & Recreation
Phone: 952.227.1120
Fax: 952.227.1110
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
1591 Park Road
Phone: 952.227.1300
Fax: 952.227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952.227.1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
Web Site
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
3
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
Paul Oehme, P.E., Dir. of Public Works/City Engineer ~..O,
FROM:
DATE:.
o~.
August 13, 2007
SUBJ:
Consider Amendment to City Code Regarding Lawn Sprinkling
Restrictions - PW024F
DISCUSSION
Staff would like to have the City Council consider changes to the City Code regarding
Lawn Sprinkling. Based on the finding from this summer's water supply problem, staff
would like to request two changes to the code.
1. Prohibits lawn sprinkling from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The normal daily high
water demand periods are from 3:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and then again from 6:00 p.m.
to 11 p.m. During these peak demands, water is drawn out of the water towers.
The time between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. is critical for the system to catch up before
the next peak demand occurs. By restricting sprinkling during the daytime hours,
the system would have time to catch up and hopefully stop pumping for a time.
This should allow the aquifers some time to recharge and not be constantly
pumped. This change is required because, currently, demand during the day does
not allow the water towers to fill up and the system to rest before th~;I1ext pe~
period. Also, during the summer days, it is not recommended to water during the
day since a substantial amount of the water is lost to evaporation.
As a reference, other communities that do not allow watyring durill.gi,tl1edayare:
Burnsville, Eden Prairie, Edina, Hopkins, Lakeville, Minnetonka, Plymouth, St.
Louis Park and Savage.
2. Staff is also recommending changing the odd/even sprinkling restriction to year-
round. Currently, the odd/even restriction is from May 1 to September 30. This
change would make it easier for property owners to follow the ordinance and not
potentially have to change settings on sprinkler systems seasonally. Based on
research, established lawns do not need to be watered on>a daily basis. Watering
every other day is sufficient to keep a healthy lawn. New sod or seed would be
exempt from this restriction by a no-fee permit.
This change would also make our ordinance more consistent with other
surrounding communities. Other communities that have a year-round odd/even
lawn sprinkling ordinance include:, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, Savage,
Eagan and Bumsville.
The City 01 Chanhassen · A growing community with clean lakes, quality schools, a charming downtown, thriving businesses, winding trails, and beautiful parks. A great place to live, work, and play.
Todd Gerhardt
Consider Amendment to City Code Regarding Lawn Sprinkling
August 13,2007
Page 2
Below is the current Lawn Sprinkling ordinance with the proposed changes strikeout or
in bold type.
Section 19-28
Water use restriction.
Use of the city water supply system for lawn and garden sprinkling, irrigation, car
washing or other nonpotable uses shall be limited to an odd-even schedule
corresponding to property address cff-ccth:c cach ycar from Ala)' 1 to Scptcmber 30
and shall be prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Whenever the
city council or, on a temporary basis, the public works director and/or the city
manager or city manager's designee, shall determine that a shortage of the water
supply threatens the city, they may further limit the days and hours during which
water may be used from the city water supply system. Special no fee permit
consideration will be given for those property owners with new seed or sod or other
nonpotable use if in the opinion of the public works director sufficient water for such
permits is available.
Property owners installing an automatic or underground irrigation system are
required to install a rain sensor device. Existing irrigation systems are required to
retrofit to install a rain sensor device at such time as improvement or extension of the
system valued at or above $1,000.00 or requiring a plumbing permit are done.
The first violation of the provisions of this section in any calendar year shall result in
a written warning from the city. Subsequent violations will result in a penalty fee
schedule approved by city council. The penalty will be added to the next water bill
for the premises.
RECOMMENDA TION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached ordinance amendment that
changes the odd/even sprinkling restrictions to year-round and prohibits lawn sprinkling
from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. Approval of this ordinance amendment requires a simple
majority vote of those City Council members present.
Attachment: Ordinance Amendment
G:\ENGlWaler Restrictions\bkgd 081307 ord amendment.doc
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES, MINNESOTA
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 19
WATER, SEWERS AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL
CHANHASSEN CITY CODE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA ORDAINS:
Section 1. Section 19-28 of the City Code, City of Chanhassen, Minnesota, is hereby amended to
read as follows:
Water use restriction.
Use of the city water supply system for lawn and garden sprinkling, irrigation, car washing or
other nonpotable uses shall be limited to an odd-even schedule corresponding to property address
and shall be prohibited between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Whenever the city council
or, on a temporary basis, the public works director and/or the city manager or city manager's
designee, shall determine that a shortage of the water supply threatens the city, they may further
limit the days and hours during which water may be used from the city water supply system.
Special no fee permit consideration will be given for those property owners with new seed or sod
or other nonpotable use if in the opinion of the public works director sufficient water for such
permits is available.
Property owners installing an automatic or underground irrigation system are required to install a
rain sensor device. Existing irrigation systems are required to retrofit to install a rain sensor
device at such time as improvement or extension of the system valued at or above $1,000.00 or
requiring a plumbing permit are done.
The first violation of the provisions of this section in any calendar year shall result in a written
warning from the city. Subsequent violations will result in a penalty fee schedule approved by
city council. The penalty will be added to the next water bill for the premises.
Section. This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon its passage and publication.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 13th day of August, 2007, by the City Council of the City
of Chanhassen, Minnesota
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
Thomas A. Furlong, Mayor
(Published in the Chanhassen Villager on
)