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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 00603 -2 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 00603 -3 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