(A) The City Manager or his or her designee may, in writing, grant temporary variance for existing water uses otherwise prohibited under this plan if it is determined that failure to grant such variance would cause an emergency adversely affecting the health, sanitation, or fire protection for the public or the person requesting such variance and if one or more of the following conditions are met:
(1) Compliance with this plan cannot be technically accomplished during the duration of the water supply shortage or condition for which the plan is in effect;
(2) Alternative methods can be implemented which will achieve the same level of reduction in water use.
(B) Persons requesting an exemption from the provisions of this subchapter shall file a petition for variance with the city within five days after the plan or a particular drought response stage has been invoked. All petitions for variances shall be reviewed by the City Manager or his or her designee and shall include the following:
(1) Name and address of the petitioner(s);
(2) Purpose of water use;
(3) Specific provision(s) of the plan from which the petitioner is requesting relief;
(4) Detailed statement as to how the specific provision of the plan adversely affects the petitioner with this subchapter;
(5) Description of the relief requested;
(6) Period of time for which the variance is sought;
(7) Alternative water use restrictions or other measures the petitioner is taking or proposes to take to meet the intent of this plan and the compliance date;
(8) Other pertinent information.
(C) Variances granted by the city shall be subject to the following conditions, unless waived or modified by the City Manager or his or her designee:
(1) Variances granted shall include a timetable for compliance.
(2) Variances granted shall expire when the plan is no longer in effect, unless the petitioner failed to meet specified requirements. No variance shall be retroactive or otherwise justify any violation of this plan occurring to the issuance of the variance.
(Ord. O-21-940, passed 8-23-2021)