1980 06 03 CC Minutes, Emergency00603 -1
MINUTES OF THE EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
June 3, 1980
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas, met in emer-
gency session on Tuesday, June 3, 1980, at 5:00 p.m. in the Coun-
cil Chamber of the Baytown City Hall with the following members
in attendance:
Perry 11. Simmons
Mary E. Wilbanks
Eileen Caffey
Allen Cannon
Fritz Lanham
Dan Savage
Randy Strong
Eileen P. Hall
Absent: Fred T. Philips
Jimmy Johnson
Emmett 0. Hutto
Councilman
Councilwoman
Councilwoman
Mayor Pro Tempore
City Manager
Assistant City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
Councilman
Councilman
Mayor
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Pro Tempore Cannon.
Ordinance - Prohibiting Certain Uses of Water From the City Water
Supply System Not Essential to the Public Yell -Being
The Administration explained that the City has been working
on the Decker Drive water well for the past two or three weeks.
Today, it was discovered that one of the City's other major
wells, the Bayway Drive well's motor is burned out which caused
the well to be out of service Monday night. That was one of the
reasons there was such low water pressure. The Bayway Drive
water well has a capacity of approximately 1,000,000 gallons per
day. Approximately one year ago, two major wells were out of
service. At that time, Council took action to restrict the use
of water. The Administration is recommending that the same
action be taken again.
Richard Hare, Assistant Director of Public Works, reported
to Council on the problems that the City is experiencing with the
Decker Drive water well. The City employed a contractor to work
on the Decker Drive water well because that well was pumping sand
into the system which can damage the well and put it out of
commission entirely. The pumping of sand also effects the
quality of water in the whole system. Mr. Hare explained that
the contractor has been working on the well for approximately two
and one -half weeks. He has been attempting to take aggregate
rock which goes around the screen that allows the water to come
into the center of the well down around the screen to prohibit
the sands from entering and being pumped in along with the rest
of the water into the motor. The contractor has not been able to
get more than 70 feet into the well, and the well is 487 feet
deep. The well was constructed in such a fashion that gravel has
been placed all the way to the bottom and all the way to the very
top. The gravel work that was done last year barely took care of
the top portion. The City has a situation there where if the
contractor continues doing what is being done with the well, it
will take some time before the contractor can actually get all
the way to the bottom. The City is looking at several options
that the Administration will be discussing within the next few
days -- whether to continue this fashion or try different alterna-
tives that might speed up the progress and work on the well. Mr.
Hare explained the City's immediate problem is that the City is
losing a well that supplies 2.1 or 2.2 million gallons of water
a day. The City's demand during the dry period exceeds what the
wells can pump. The City has made certain adjustments to the
system and especially on the James Street water well. Now, the
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Minutes of the Emergency Meeting - June 3, 1980
City finds that the Bayway Drive water well, which well had a
transmission line failure yesterday afternoon, has zero flow.
This greatly inhibits the flow of water throughout the system.
The City had tremendous problems of very low water pressure with
the Baytown Medical Center last night and they are still experi-
encing problems. At the present time, the City has a burned out
well motor at Bayway Drive and the Decker Drive water well is out
of service. Also, another small producing well which is located
on Barnes Street off Bayway Drive is out. The Barnes Street
water well is a small well which only pumps approximately 200,000
gallons of water per day. With these three wells out of service,
the flow of the water within the City will be reduced by approxi-
mately 3 million gallons per day, which is 33% loss of capacity.
The City pumps approximately 9 million gallons per day with all
wells pumping. Another contributing factor is the lack of rain
which causes greater demand on the water system. Even during the
summer months, if the City is pumping at full capacity, the
demand often exceeds what the City can supply for short periods
of time. The need here is to somehow control the demand for the
next couple of weeks until the City can get some definite date as
to when the City can have some of these major producers back on
line.
In response to a question from Councilwoman Wilbanks, 11r.
Hare explained that he had spoken with the contractor about all
of the different options and one which would probably get it back
in service most rapidly would result in reduced capacity of the
well. The City would still be talking about approximately two
weeks before completion.
Councilwoman Caffey inquired as to how much time will it
take to repair the Bayway Drive water well? '14r. Hare explained
that to rewind the motor will take at least one week. The other
option open to the City would be to try to rent a motor. At the
present time, Mr. Hare did not know if there are any other motors
available that would fit, but every effort will be made to locate
a motor to rent while the other motor is being repaired.
Mr. Lanham explained that on the Decker Drive water well,
the Administration would like to look at the options that have
been suggested but Norman Dykes, City Engineer /Director of
Public Works, is out of town. When Mr. Dykes returns, fir. Lanham
would like to study these options with him and Mr. Hare. It
might be necessary to hold another special meeting.
Mayor Pro Tempore Cannon stated that although he hates to
see Council do this so early in the year, there is really no
other alternative. If there had been a fire on the east side of
town last night, there would have been a real bad problem.
Dan Savage, Assistant City Manager, explained that he had
talked with the administrator of the Baytown Medical Center
shortly before 5:00 p.m. to determine the status of water pres-
sure at the hospital. The hospital administrator stated that
pressure was down and felt that the contingency plans that they
used last night would be put into effect again tonight. At least
once in the past, the City had used civil defense water barrels
in an emergency situation. This could be done again. If the
City can improve the water pressure tomorrow by eliminating some
lawn watering, the Baytown Medical Center will be in a better
situation.
Councilwoman Wilbanks felt that the most immediate action
that the City needs to take is to declare that the City has an
emergency situation. This information needs to be transmitted to
the local newspaper so that the full story can be explained. As
soon as the Council can have another meeting, the Council will
take the next step.
Councilwoman Wilbanks moved for adoption of the ordinance;
Councilwoman Caffey seconded the motion.
The Administration explained that the ordinance prohibits
the use of water for the purpose of sprinkling, watering or
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Minutes of the Emergency Meeting - June 3, 1980
irrigating the shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, ground covers,
plants, vines or flowers. It provides that the Mayor has the
authority to enforce the provisions of this ordinance by discon-
tinuance of water service in the event of violation. It also
indicates that the ordinance shall be in force and effect until
amended or repealed by the Mayor or until repealed by the City
Council of the City of Baytown.
Councilwoman Wilbanks inquired if the ordinance allows the
option for watering vegetable gardens. Mr. Lanham requested an
opinion from the City Attorney who ruled that the way the present
ordinance is written, watering of vegetable gardens would not be
an option unless the ordinance was amended by the Mayor or
Council at some point.
Mayor Pro Tempore Cannon inquired what action by Council was
effected last year because that was a great deal of concern then?
He also inquired if this permits the washing of cars. Cdr. Lanham
explained that the ordinance permits the washing of cars because
it was determined last year that to include washing of cars would
hurt business.
Mayor Pro Tempore Cannon inquired if it is necessary that
the City go this far or should an alternate be considered. He
suggested that different sides of the streets could alternate use
of water each day. One day the even side can water and the next
day, the odd side can water. Mr. Lanham felt that this will not
meet the immediate crisis and also in many cities where this has
been tried, this method has failed.
Mr. Lanham felt with the situation that the City is in at
the present time, Council should prohibit any extra use and if
the water pressure improves, other options can be sought.
Mr. Lanham explained that the minutes from last year reflect
that when the ordinance was adopted, it was with the proviso that
the wording was to be changed to exclude vegetable gardens.
Mayor Pro Tempore Cannon stated this provision will help
citizens who have put in a great deal of effort with their
vegetable gardens.
Councilwoman Wilbanks amended her motion to include the ex-
ception of the vegetable garden. This was agreeable with Coun-
cilwoman Caffey who had seconded the motion. The vote follows:
Ayes: Council members Simmons, Caffey and Wilbanks
Mayor Pro Tempore Cannon
Nays: None
ORDINANCE NO. 2906
AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING CERTAIN USES OF WATER FROM THE CITY
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM NOT ESSENTIAL TO THE PUBLIC WELL- BEING;
AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO TERMINATE WATER SERVICE FOR VIOLATION;
AND DECLARING THE PRESENCE OF AN EMERGENCY.
Adjourn
With no further business to be transacted, Mayor Pro Tempore
Cannon adjourned the meeting.
7) Q NA P
Ka a Pe ru, Deputy City Clerk
APPROVED:
Eileen P. Hall, City Clerk