The Board of Trustees finds that during protracted periods of
high temperature, atmospheric dryness and excessive use of water for
outside uses unrelated to domestic, household and sanitary purposes,
fire protection or reasonably necessary commercial and business uses,
it may be necessary and appropriate that the Board of Trustees hold
a public hearing to determine if a water conservation emergency does
exist.
Whenever the Board of Trustees, after a public hearing, shall
find that the Village water supply has lessened to such degree that
such condition warrants the imposition of prompt and reasonable precautions
to conserve the existing water supply and to prevent the excess use
and waste of water in the interest of the health, safety and welfare
of the Village residents, the Board of Trustees shall have the authority,
after a public hearing held on not less than five days' prior notice,
to formally proclaim that an emergency exists with respect to the
water resources of the Village water system, requiring certain measures
("emergency regulations") to conserve water for domestic, household
and sanitary uses, commercial and business uses and for fire protection.
The emergency regulations shall become effective immediately
upon the issuance of a proclamation by the Board of Trustees, which
shall be in writing and shall remain in effect until rescinded by
the Board of Trustees.
Immediately upon issuance of the proclamation, the Mayor shall
direct that notice of the proclamation be given to users of the Village
water supply. Notice of the proclamation shall be published in the
official Village newspaper and shall further be posted in three public
places.
Notwithstanding and in addition to the other provisions of this Article
III, the Board of Trustees hereby authorizes and empowers the Mayor to take such action as the Mayor deems necessary and appropriate, by proclamation or otherwise, to restrict the usage of water whenever the Mayor determines that an emergency exists which requires immediate action. Such action by the Mayor shall be in full force and effect immediately and shall remain in full force and effect for a period not to exceed 30 days or until ratified, amended or rescinded by the Board of Trustees, whichever first occurs.
A person, firm or corporation failing to comply with the restrictions of the proclamation and emergency regulations thereunder shall, upon conviction, be subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter
1 of the Code of the Village of Ocean Beach, General Provisions §
1-14.