April 23--REPORTING FROM SACRAMENTO -- Alarmed that some cities have fined residents for allowing their lawns to turn brown during the drought, the state Assembly stepped in Thursday to prohibit penalties for failing to water grass.
Assemblywoman Cheryl R. Brown (D-Rialto) said she has received reports of fines or threatened fines in cities including Glendale, Upland and San Bernardino, even though Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency because of the years-long drought in California.
"If California is going to manage its water resources efficiently and sustainably, then we cannot allow municipalities to penalize individuals for conserving water by not regularly watering their lawn," Cheryl R. Brown said after the Assembly voted 74 to 0 to approve her AB 1.
The measure, which next goes to the Senate for consideration, prohibits cities and counties from imposing fines for failure to water lawns during times then the governor has issued a proclamation of a state of emergency based on drought conditions.
City and county fines for violating "maintenance" ordinances can range from $100 a week to a flat fee of $500.
Gov. Brown recently issued an order requiring that urban consumers statewide cut their water use 25% by the end of February 2016.
Assemblyman Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) voted for the measure even though he doubted using less water to maintain lawns is going to solve California's water problem because, he said, most water is used in other ways and supply is a bigger issue.
