TUSTIN : City Considering Water-Appeals Panel

The City Council, reacting to a flood of applications for variances to water-use limits, this week discussed creating a water appeals board.

The new limits, aimed at cutting back citywide consumption by 15%, went into effect last month and will show up on water customers’ next bills. Water restrictions are based on the type of user--residential, industrial or commercial--and the time of year.

More than 500 customers have already applied for variances, or exceptions, to the limits.

Debbie Baron, a resident of unincorporated North Tustin, told the council that to meet the new limits, she and her family would have to cut consumption 50% to 80%. She said she will file for a variance as soon as she receives an application in the mail. Residents of North Tustin are served by Tustin’s water system.

“Most of the lots in our neighborhood are larger Tustin homes, and some have up to eight or nine people,” Baron said. “It’s unrealistic to ask them to be doing the same thing as some little old lady with nothing.”

City officials said that customers with larger lots represent most of the requests for variances.

Applications for variances are currently handled by city staff. Appeals would be forwarded to a water-appeals board if the City Council creates one.

On Monday, council members discussed whether to appoint a new board or have members of the city’s Water Incorporation Board assume the duties of handling appeals applications.

“I have some real reservations about asking these people to go to the slaughter for us,” said Councilman Earl J. Prescott. “I would feel more comfortable with a board of nonpolitical staffers who wouldn’t have to turn down their neighbors and friends.

“On the other hand, a staffer might not have as much empathy as a consumer of the water district,” said Councilwoman Leslie Anne Pontious.

Some customers also complained about letters the city sent to explain the new water-rationing plan. They say the letters are contradictory and leave many questions unanswered.

“We apologize for the complexity and confusion of the letters,” said Ronald Nault, the city’s finance director. “Most people are very nice once we explain things to them when they call.”