(A) The City Council may grant a temporary variance for existing water uses otherwise prohibited under this Plan if the City Council determines that failure to grant such a variance would cause an emergency condition 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 other condition for which the Plan is in effect; and
(2) Alternative methods can be implemented which will achieve the same level of reduction in water use.
(B) Persons requesting a variance from the provisions of this chapter 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 variance shall be reviewed by the City Council, 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 or what damage or harm will occur to the petitioner or others if the petitioner complies with this chapter;
(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; and
(8) Other pertinent information.
(C) Unless waived or modified by the City Council, variances granted shall include a timetable for compliance, and variances granted shall expire when the Plan or particular drought response stage is no longer in effect. No variance shall be retroactive or otherwise justify any violation of this Plan occurring prior to the issuance of the variance.
(Ord. 2011-8, passed 9-26-2011; Ord. 2016-10, passed 10-18-2016; Ord. 2021-11, passed 11-16-2021)