FIRST CONSIDERATION:  Consideration of and action on CITY OF SUGAR LAND ORDINANCE NO. 2110  AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SUGAR LAND, TEXAS, AMENDING CHAPTER 5, ARTICLE VIII, DIVISION 7, SECTION 5-306 AND SECTION 5-307 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES REGARDING THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN; AND ESTABLISHING A PENALTY IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $2,000 FOR EACH OFFENSE.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requires public water suppliers and wholesale water suppliers to adopt Drought Contingency Plans that lay out responses should a water shortage or water production and delivery emergency impact the ability to deliver drinking water. The City’s current plans were revised and adopted in 2014, as required by 30 TAC 288. The next update is due May 2019, however the annexation of Greatwood and New Territory necessitate an update of both the Retail and Wholesale Plans to incorporate the addition of two independent retail water systems (master districts Fort Bend MUD 112 and Fort Bend MUD 106) and wholesale supply to Fort Bend MUD 192.

The revisions to the Drought Plan include added description of City’s four potable systems (after annexation) and the two wholesale potable customers (MUD 128 Riverstone and MUD 192 Greatwood Lake). The authority to initiate or terminate the plan was changed from Mayor to City Manager. Procedures requiring Staff to take the initiatation and termination of the Drought Plan to the next Council meeting for Council to ratify that decision. Provisions allowing handheld watering and foundation watering to all stages: “Irrigation of landscaped areas and structure foundations are permitted at any time if it is by means of a hand-held hose with a positive shut-off nozzle, a faucet filled bucket or water can of five (5) gallons or less, or drip irrigation system”. The residential irrigation schedule was amended to reflect the solid waste and recycling days during two day and one day a week, respectively. Additionally, the commercial, rights-of-way, and greenspace irrigation days were changed to two day irrigation on Wednesday and Saturday; and one day irrigation on Wednesday only. Lastly, the City’s wholesale contract customers must adopt a similar or more stringent drought contingency plan as used by the City and must impose and enforce the same conditions on the use or consumption of water on their customers as the City’s retail customers.

Public Works Department recommends approval of Ordinance No. 2110 to amend Chapter 5, Article VIII, Division 7, Sections 5-306 and 5-307 of Code of Ordinances regarding the Drought Contingency Plan for Retail Water Supply and Drought Contingency Plan for Wholesale Water Supply.