(a) Water Management Task Force. There is hereby established within this Municipality a local Water Management Task Force composed of the Mayor, Administrative Director, Public Works Superintendent, President Pro Tempore of Council and the Chairman of Council's Public Utilities Committee. The purpose of this Task Force is to monitor the municipal water supply and the use of water within the Municipality. The Mayor shall serve as chairman of the Task Force and all actions shall be by a majority vote of all of its members. Meetings of the Task Force may be called by the Mayor or any two members and shall be held at such times and places as will allow as many members as possible to attend.
(b) Declaration of Emergency: Ban on Outdoor Use of Water. The Task Force shall have the authority to declare a water emergency and impose a mandatory ban upon the outdoor use of water. Such ban shall not extend to the following: irrigation for the production of food, maintenance of pets and livestock; watering by commercial nurseries at a minimum level to maintain stock (to the extent that other water sources are not available or feasible); watering by arboretums and public gardens of national, state or regional significance where necessary to preserve specimens; operation of municipal swimming pools or pools used by health care facilities for patient care and rehabilitation; fire hydrants for fire fighting or health protection purposes (if specifically approved by local health officials, and the local governing body); flushing of sewers and hydrants to ensure public health and safety (if approved by the local governing body); and make-up water for air conditioning cooling towers or refilling (specifically approved by health officials and the local governing body) after draining for health protection or repair purposes.
(c) Notice of Ban. Upon the determination that a ban upon the outdoor use of water with the exceptions listed in subsection (b) hereof should be imposed, the Task Force shall notify the news media and use such other means as it deems appropriate to bring to the attention of all water customers of the Municipality that a water ban has been imposed. The Task Force shall have the authority to cancel the ban as conditions warrant.
(d) Report to Council. The Task Force shall report to Council at each regular Council meeting or at a special Council meeting called for that purpose the status of the municipal water supply, water consumption and the status of any water ban imposed along with any recommendations for amendments as may be required to this chapter.
(1980 Code 51.45)