Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003 | 11:17 a.m.
Water fountains at two office parks and at the Fremont Street Experience will continue operating for at least 30 more days, the Las Vegas City Council decided Wednesday as it considered its first requests for exemptions from valley-wide restrictions on water use.
The only vote against allowing the fountains to continue operating came from Mayor Oscar Goodman, who called on the council to hold the line and stay consistent with the ordinance. But Ward 4 Councilman Larry Brown wanted more specific guidance on the ordinance, which covers all local political entities in the Las Vegas Valley.
"(The rules are) based on good intentions but not enough dialogue among the member agencies," Brown said. "I don't mind if we as a council say no exceptions. But across Sahara in the county or in Henderson or North Las Vegas we have to make sure we as a region build in enough consistency in this criteria.
"As far as other members of the authority, my intent today is to make sure we're consistent as a regional body. It would do a disservice if we start ping-ponging back and forth."
The rules are part of the region's drought management plan, and call for most fountains that are not part of a home's landscaping to close, with the exception of those deemed a "core economic function." This "Strip exemption" is meant to recognize the role fountains play in spurring delighted tourists -- dazzled by the dancing waters of the Bellagio and other attractions -- to open their wallets.
What constitutes a core economic function, however, could be a matter of interpretation. For example, Diane Marcroft, who represented Rebeiro Company Wednesday in its request to allow fountains at its Quail Park office complexes, said water features are one of her group's selling points. "The tenants are used to having it there," she said. "We feel it will have an effect."
Also unclear is the impact the restrictions and exemptions have on water savings. Brown said that the city's rules take into account only the judgment as to economic necessity -- not such issues as the source or the amount of water used in fountains.
Those are issues with which the region must grapple, said Goodman, who noted that drought management is new to the valley.
"This is the beginning. We've never faced this before," he said. "We've got to crawl before we can walk."
The Southern Nevada Water Authority -- which is comprised of seven local jurisdictions -- created the restrictions, which provided a blueprint for individual entities to work with. With minor variations between differing jurisdictions, the restrictions began in stages for most of the valley starting Aug. 1. Restrictions on lawn watering kicked in Sept. 1. Other restrictions regulate car washing, lawn watering and outdoor misting systems.
The goal is to cut water use by 25 percent in the valley, which is adding about 20,000 homes a year despite the worst drought on record. Watering restrictions for Boulder City, the lone exception to rapid expansion in the valley, take effect Sept. 17. North Las Vegas will consider drought restrictions at the Sept. 17 City Council meeting. If passed, those restrictions would take effect Oct. 1.
These rules mark the first stage of drought response. It's likely that next year will bring more restrictions, said Southern Nevada Water Authority spokeswoman Amy Kremenek. Beyond that, she said, an advisory committee is finishing recommendations for emergency measures, and those could be introduced as early as the next meeting at the end of the month.
Although the ordinance has been accepted by each of the local jurisdictions, there are some differences. The Boulder City town council limited fountains and new grass at commercial buildings, but rejected a ban on misting systems at commercial buildings and postponed a decision on restricting water use at city golf course.
And when it comes to enforcement, Henderson has its own water enforcement team, while unincorporated Clark County and Las Vegas use the Las Vegas Valley Water District's team of a dozen inspectors. Kremenek said inspectors from the district gave out 145 warnings Tuesday and perform 1,500 to 2,000 investigations a month.
She said there also are about a dozen exemptions pending with the city and two dozen with Clark County.
The first approval came Wednesday as Clark County allowed Caesars Palace to continue using its fountain, said county spokeswoman Stacy Welling. She said that the Caesars request was the first of about 20. A second request, for Park Towers at Hughes Center, was postponed for two weeks, she said.
She said the county agreed that consistency was key to making the drought restrictions work.
"We're looking for the definition of core economic function also," she said. "It's important for us to develop a regional approach to the drought, and to make sure whatever guidelines we adopt are in accordance with other jurisdictions as to what justifies exemptions."
She said that could be accomplished with "dialogue" between officials, and that any changes to the ordinance would be voted on by individual entities such as the county and city.
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