SUBJECT
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Public Hearing and Introductory Ordinance amending Ordinance No. 2024-O-095 Chapter 31 (Utilities), Article V (Water Conservation) Section 31-236 to include the City Council in the determination that mild, moderate, severe, critical, emergency or water shortage conditions exist, Section 31-237 to include the City Council in the determination of Stage 3 and 4 drought restrictions, Section 31-238 to include a threshold and surcharges when thresholds are exceeded in Stage 3 and 4 drought conditions. Stage 3 and 4 surcharges and thresholds are as follows:
Residential
Stage 3- $10.00 per thousand gallons for customers who exceed 20,000 gallons
Stage 4- $10.00 per thousand gallons for customers who exceed 15,000 gallons
Commercial
Stage 3- $10.00 per thousand gallons for customers who exceed 15,000 gallons
Stage 4- $10.00 per thousand gallons for customers who exceed 10,000 gallons
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PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION
On May 20, 2024, the City Council approved the final reading.
BACKGROUND
The Texas Water Development Board requires a copy of all municipal water conservation and drought contingency plans in order to qualify for funding. A comparative analysis was conducted to assess Laredo's water conservation ordinance with other ordinances around the state. Findings indicated that our ordinance was significantly more lax than other cities around Texas that have similar population, poverty rate and water scarcity issues. As a result, the City of Laredo Utilities Department developed a water conservation plan and drought contingency plan to be adopted as a combined ordinance officially named the Water Conservation and Drought Contingency Ordinance. Implementation of this ordinance will help reduce the consumption of water, reduce the loss or waste of water, improve the efficiency in the use of water, and increase the recycling and reuse of water for the ultimate purpose of making a water supply available for future or alternative uses. In addition, impleme...
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