MelissaM
enthusiast
Posts: 215
Reg: 01-02-04
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06-05-14 12:39 PM - Post#168943
In response to asmile4u
What good would it do to call the city to report the city is violating the illegal water restriction rules?
Seems like I remember seeing some communication from the City that said they may have to water some areas outside of the designated days, if the area was too large to cover on a single watering day. Could this be what you are seeing?
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asmile4u
enthusiast
Posts: 909
Loc: Allen
Reg: 04-20-08
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06-05-14 02:42 PM - Post#168948
In response to MelissaM
Nope.
Edited by asmile4u on 06-05-14 02:55 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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SB
enthusiast
Posts: 1551
Reg: 09-07-03
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06-05-14 03:01 PM - Post#168949
In response to MelissaM
Some properties are large with so many irrigation zones that watering can't be accomplished in a single day. Exemptions may be given so these properties may spread their watering over multiple days - including days when watering is prohibited in that section of the city. These properties are still restricted to one day of watering per zone twice a month. There are some other exemptions such as parts of golf courses.
The city can't prevent retail from selling fountains or water toys or cool weather grasses. The city can regulate water use. It is not illegal to do so.
It's good that so many understand the issue and are conscientious enough to abide by the rules. It sucks if one wishes to put something green where there is only dirt now. There is real danger that lake levels could drop below the trigger for stage 4 or even below some intake pumps. All if us will be very unhappy if we reach a point where flushing toilets, or drawing a drink from the faucet, or taking a shower becomes an issue. These are real possibilities for this year and water conservation could postpone or stave this off.
The good folks at the city have probably heard every excuse possible from folks in violation of water conservation rules. I'd wildly guess that for every real excuse there are 100 more that are requests for special treatment or outright lies. So, they are left to strictly enforce the rules. My experience is that very often, rude is really an unwillingness by the "rude" worker to offer special treatment by breaking the rules of their charge.
ETA: DTF, In my comments about rudeness I don't mean to imply that is true in your case. It is just a general observation from my experiences.
Edited by SB on 06-05-14 03:20 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-05-14 03:24 PM - Post#168951
In response to SB
Oh I can bring the RUDE!!
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-05-14 03:25 PM - Post#168952
In response to DrivinTooFast
I've emailed the entire city from city manager to water princess to council and mayor - no response.
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StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 1091
Loc: West Side
Reg: 09-24-04
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06-05-14 04:25 PM - Post#168956
In response to SB
The city can't prevent retail from selling fountains or water toys or cool weather grasses.
This is bunk. Pass a quick ordinance. Doneski!
Also, there's been a lot of free water falling from the sky lately. It's that time of year. Just because you plant something, or want to plant something, doesn't mean you're going to use super-precious Lake Lavon water to irrigate it.
Edited by StacyLynn624 on 06-05-14 04:27 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-06-14 06:04 AM - Post#168963
In response to StacyLynn624
Update on the ticket process.
I called the number provided (214-509-4380) then pressed the # key.
I recommend ALL Allen citizens do this. You will be shocked.
My little AM/PM watering problem is a Class B Misdemeanor. The most common violation is a wrong day watering violation with a fine of $265 + Court costs. Oh there will be court costs my friends.
It is important for you to take Texas Class B misdemeanor charges seriously, because having a misdemeanor conviction in Texas on your criminal record can impact your life in lots of negative ways. For example, you may have difficult time getting the job you want, getting a apartment/rental home, being admitted to an institution of higher education, or even obtaining an occupational license. Texas Class B Misdemeanor charges are considered lesser criminal charges than felonies and are divided into three classes based on the degree of seriousness of the offense and the severity of the punishments.
Other class B misdemeanors include....
Examples of Texas Class B misdemeanors include:
DWI (Driving while intoxicated) first offense
Harassment
Prostitution
Terrorist threat
Criminal trespass
Evading arrest on foot (running from the police)
False report to a police officer and false 911 calls
Child enticement
Failure to pay child support
Indecent exposure
Minor drug possession
Vandalism
So I am on the same judicial level as a pervert that whips out his Johnson, child enticement or failing to pay child support.
Texas Class B misdemeanors are considered more serious than Class C misdemeanors and carry punishments of a fine of up to $2000, and/or a jail sentence of up to 180 days. The court may also impose a maximum of two years of community supervision (adult probation)* or three years of community supervision with an extension.
Really!!!!
So if I just pay the fine and move on I have a Class B guilty verdict on my record roughly $300 + out of my pocket.
Really!!!
Edited by DrivinTooFast on 06-06-14 06:13 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Jay J
enthusiast
Posts: 595
Reg: 11-09-05
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06-06-14 07:06 AM - Post#168965
In response to DrivinTooFast
Wow...They hit you with a class B, as a first offense to watering your lawn at the wrong time of day?
No warning notice before this incident?
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-06-14 08:08 AM - Post#168966
In response to Jay J
None.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-06-14 08:10 AM - Post#168967
In response to Jay J
Wow...They hit you with a class B, as a first offense to watering your lawn at the wrong time of day?
No warning notice before this incident?
My sprinkler system's clock was incorrect due to a power spike. I was watering on the right day just not the right time. AM/PM was switched.
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Cheatham Parent
enthusiast
Posts: 225
Reg: 01-23-11
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06-06-14 08:11 AM - Post#168968
In response to Jay J
I was shocked when you said Class B so I called the number and hit # and the message said Class C not class B. (I listened twice just to make sure) This is essential the same as a traffic violation.
Class B would have certainly been insane for a first offense.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-06-14 08:11 AM - Post#168969
In response to DrivinTooFast
Here is the kicker - I use reclaimed rain water in my sprinkler system not even on the NTMWD water grid for the sprinklers.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-06-14 08:21 AM - Post#168970
In response to Cheatham Parent
I heard Class B and the fines would align with a class B not C.
Maybe the water princess can cut some new audio.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-06-14 08:25 AM - Post#168971
In response to DrivinTooFast
My fine is set at $266 + court costs.
My last water bill was $38.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-06-14 08:26 AM - Post#168972
In response to DrivinTooFast
Now I have to go to the court to determine my plead.
Uhmmm - Not guilty, see you in court.
Examples of Class C Misdemeanor Crimes
The following are examples of common Class C Misdemeanor crimes:
certain types of assault
aiding suicide
leaving a child in a vehicle
criminal mischief
reckless damage or destruction
criminal trespass
theft, if value of property is under $50
issuance of bad checks
illegal recruitment of an athlete
insurance fraud if value of claim is under $50
false reporting of missing child or person
disorderly conduct
Edited by DrivinTooFast on 06-06-14 08:29 AM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 1091
Loc: West Side
Reg: 09-24-04
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06-06-14 10:21 AM - Post#168973
In response to DrivinTooFast
WOW!
All of this is flipping crazy. Good Luck to you. Government overreach at its finest.
Surely you can get off by arguing reclaimed water. I mean, they let well water people slide on water restrictions. Stupidity on the city's part.
And what neighbor turned you in? If I were you, I'd put a sign in my yard that says "I have 8 rain barrels and my sprinklers run off of those, idiots!" LOL
BTW, I have a friend on FB that lives in McKinney. After school yesterday, she posted pics of her kids using a slip n slide on their front lawn. Should I turn her in?  
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vm7mm
enthusiast
Posts: 1527
Loc: Allen Tx usa
Reg: 08-12-04
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06-06-14 12:36 PM - Post#168977
In response to DrivinTooFast
Now I have to go to the court to determine my plead.
Uhmmm - Not guilty, see you in court.
Examples of Class C Misdemeanor Crimes
The following are examples of common Class C Misdemeanor crimes:
certain types of assault
aiding suicide
leaving a child in a vehicle
criminal mischief
reckless damage or destruction
criminal trespass
theft, if value of property is under $50
issuance of bad checks
illegal recruitment of an athlete
insurance fraud if value of claim is under $50
false reporting of missing child or person
disorderly conduct
If you don't like what the end results may be, speak to or hire an Attorney.
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StacyLynn624
enthusiast
Posts: 1091
Loc: West Side
Reg: 09-24-04
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06-06-14 01:45 PM - Post#168979
In response to DrivinTooFast
Now I have to go to the court to determine my plead.
Uhmmm - Not guilty, see you in court.
Examples of Class C Misdemeanor Crimes
The following are examples of common Class C Misdemeanor crimes:
certain types of assault
aiding suicide
leaving a child in a vehicle
criminal mischief
reckless damage or destruction
criminal trespass
theft, if value of property is under $50
issuance of bad checks
illegal recruitment of an athlete
insurance fraud if value of claim is under $50
false reporting of missing child or person
disorderly conduct
Have you looked around at the other NTMWD cities and found out if their fines/violations (whether or not they actually issue them) as as stringent as Allen?
I think even those citizens that want us to shut our water off at the Main to conserve can concede that this punishment in this case is absolutely absurd.
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-06-14 02:57 PM - Post#168981
In response to StacyLynn624
Ah the epic saga of water deviant continues.
I decided I needed to talk to the city manager about this onerous, wasteful, needless process. So I called the City Manager's office and asked for an appointment to discuss the matter....
Here is the response....
From Rebekka Vice Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Good Morning Mr. XXXXXXXXXXXX,
Thank you for taking the time to inquire about our water conservation efforts here in Allen. We work really hard to conserve this valuable resource, and we truly appreciate the efforts and resiliency of our residents to do the same.
If you visit our website, you will be able a great deal of find information regarding general Water Conservation. This link, http://www.cityofallen.org/index.aspx?NID=1080 is a good place to start.
To answer your question more specifically, the City Council adopted the current WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY AND WATER EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN FOR THE CITY OF ALLEN, TEXAS back in 2008. The document can also be found on our website, but for your convenience here is the link - http://www.cityofallen.org/DocumentCenter/Home/V ie... . Please refer to section 11.8 titled “Procedures for Enforcing Mandatory Water Use Restrictions” which outlines the process to which you inquired.
Our Water Conservation Manager, Gail Donaldson, is a tremendous resource for more specific questions regarding water conservation. She can be reached at 214-509-4559 or [email protected] .
Please let us know how else we can be of assistance.
Kindest Regards,
Rebecca Vice, MPA
Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Not good enough. I asked for a meeting with the city Manager not some boiler plate response cut and paste. Really - a Masters in Public Administration and you send boiler plate.
I call Ms. Vice explaining the onerous process, inefficiencies of city resources and the presumption of guilt continuing to insist on a meeting with the City Manager.
The Saga continues.....
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DrivinTooFast
enthusiast
Posts: 1874
Reg: 02-20-08
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06-06-14 03:11 PM - Post#168982
In response to DrivinTooFast
I then received a call from one of the Assistant city managers (didn't catch the guy's name). I once again explained the silly onerous process for water citations to him. He said,"We want it that way"... "We want to make the process difficult so people will not violate the water policy". Etc, Etc Etc.
Oh No you didn't!!
Now the little hairs are standing up on the back of my neck - why? By deliberately creating an onerous, backward process the City Manager (Yes you Mr. Vargas) is presuming you are guilty. That's a big NO NO. It is the job of the executive branch to enforce the law HOWEVER, it is the role of the Judicial arm to determine punishment. It is NOT the job of the city to presume guilt by creating a deliberate circus and hoops for the citizenry of the city to jump through.
What if you are innocent?? You would have had to do this puppet show of a dance before you even got to court. It is also the role of the city manager to make the city efficient and as we have clearly seen this has the efficiency of a 45 year old air conditioner.
The law says that if you do XYZ you may have PDQ punishment. That's the law. It is the overreaching bureaucracy that then creates processes to enforce the laws. This Bureaucracy has created its own circus of rules and hoops to make people jump PRIOR to the determination of guilt. This is bureaucracy problem fostered out of Mr. Vargas's office.
I still want a sit down!!!! When I lived in Frisco, I could meet with George Purfoy any day of the week for coffee. I did not always agree with George, but he was open to dialog with the citizens of the city. Maybe that's why he has a school named after him.
Edited by DrivinTooFast on 06-06-14 03:13 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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