Did you get a fine for excessive water use? Your wallet will want to hear this

The Fresno City Council during a special meeting on Thursday unanimously passed a moratorium on water fines retroactive to Oct. 1.

The vote came after city leaders Tuesday acknowledged residents’ confusion and anger when thousands received fines in October for excessive outdoor watering.

A new automated meter reading system and a city pilot program done in conjunction with the University of Chicago that ended Sept. 30 sparked thousands of violations and citations, subsequently flooding city staff with too many calls and messages to answer and return.

District 2 Councilman Steve Brandau said Thursday the fines and lack of response from the city broke trust between the city and residents. “It was never about fines. Fines are not important to the city of Fresno,” he said. “It was about conservation.”

The council will halt the fines — and credit anyone who already paid them, Brandau said. Then, the council in January will review a report on the pilot program and consider how to move forward.

Residents still will be notified if they exceed water use, but they will not be issued a fine.

Mayor Lee Brand, who voiced support for the moratorium, said the state and its Sustainable Groundwater Management Act requires the city to have a water conservation program.

District 7 Councilman Clint Olivier, who originally voted against the pilot program back in May, said he warned city leaders this would happen. He suggested the city allow additional watering days, saying overuse should be met with consequences on water bills.

“To me, the check on someone wasting water is the bill,” he said.

Grace Solis, who lives on a county island, told the council during public comment that nearly everyone she knows received a fine. She suggested the city move from a regulation limiting water use to 300 gallons per hour to an average monthly use. She noted many low income residents water their yards by hand, and the water schedules that limit outdoor watering may be difficult for everyone to comply.

Some council members suggested moving to a two-day watering schedule, saying Clovis residents could water more than Fresnans. But starting Tuesday, just like Fresno residents, Clovis moves to a one day schedule.