§ 31-141.84. Implementation and enforcement of the drought contingency plan.

The City of Laredo Utilities Director has the primary responsibility for implementing and enforcing this drought contingency plan through the water conservation program. All water conservation orders described on this plan shall be enforced by the utility's water conservation inspectors and other utility personnel designated by the utilities director, such as code enforcement inspectors, code-certified personnel from other city departments, police officers, and the municipal court, as appropriate. Any employee of the City of Laredo Utilities Department designated by the utilities director and police department or code-certified employees from another city department may issue a warning or citation to a person that he or she reasonably believes to be in violation of this drought contingency plan.

During Stage 2, the alleged violator shall receive two (2) written warning before receiving the first citation. The two (2) written warnings may be for violation of any section, or combination of sections, found on this drought contingency plan. During Stage 3, the alleged violator shall receive only one (1) written warning before receiving the first citation. During Stage 4, the alleged violator shall receive zero (0) written warnings before receiving the first citation. No prior written warnings shall be required prior to issuing a citation during a Stage 4.

The citation(s) shall be prepared in triplicate form and must contain the name and address of the alleged violator, if known, the offense charged, and shall direct him or her to appear at the City of Laredo Municipal Court on the date shown on the citation, which date shall be not less than five (5) days or more than ten (10) days from the date that the citation was issued. The citation must be issued to the alleged violator, an agent, manager, or employee of the violator, or to a person of age eighteen (18) years or older who is a member of the violator's immediate family or is a resident of the violator's residence. The alleged violator shall be served with a copy of the citation, and a copy must be submitted to the water conservation program for data entry and recordkeeping. Any pictures taken as proof of violation shall also be submitted to the water conservation program with a copy of the citation. The original document(s) must be delivered to the City of Laredo Municipal Court for stamping and processing. The alleged violator shall appear at the City of Laredo Municipal Court to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty for the violation of this drought contingency plan. If the alleged violator fails to appear in court, a warrant for his or her arrest may be issued by the City of Laredo Municipal Court. A summons to appear in court may also be issued in lieu of an arrest warrant. Cases involving a violation of the drought contingency plan shall be expedited and given preferential setting at the City of Laredo Municipal Court before all other cases.

Note: During a Stage 4, any customer found utilizing over fifteen thousand (15,000) gallons of water per month, will receive a water use surcharge of twenty dollars ($20.00) billed by the utilities customer service division. The fee will be added to the regular monthly payment of the account responsible for paying the water services delivered to the meter at the property in violation. In addition, any irrigation system found irrigating at any time during a Stage 4 will result in the irrigation meter to be shut off temporarily until Stage 4 is lifted or reversed to a Stage 3, Stage 2, or a Stage 1.

( Ord. No. 2014-O-048, §1(Exh. A), 4-21-14 )