Rad Field & Laura Miller on July 4th

To:  Randy Stalnaker,  Manager of Water Conservation, Water Dept, City of Dallas SUBJECT:  Park and Recreation Department Water Restriction Exemptions Re:  Dallas Morning News, 7-8-02, Water Conservation by Dave Michaels Hello Randy: I wrote to you several weeks ago and indicated that I was "worn" out trying to get anyone at City Hall to agree with me that a "few" of the new water restrictions were nearly impossible to comply with (particularly those relating to overspray on the sidewalk and instantaneous water sensor cutoffs in event of precipitation).  Now I read in the newspaper that exemptions have been issued to the Parks and Recreation Department and some landscaping companies.

Rad Field is a regular contributor to DallasArena.com and a good citizen.  Right now he's on a tear about the ridiculous watering rules the city has imposed.

Perhaps there have been additional exemptions issued (to the Fire Department, golf courses, Arboretum), and others, but how would I know?

What are the exemptions that were issued and to whom (or what category)?  Are exemptions applied for?  How long are the exemptions good for? I've been accumulating photos of restriction violations from all over the City, but it appears that I may have wasted my film as I perhaps have photos of "exempted" operations.

The time of day and months of the year, as well as penalties on excess gallonage are perhaps reasonable, if indeed the City water restraints are as you have explained.  The restrictions that I have discussed with you (above) are just "ludicrous" and should not have been signed off by any reasonable thinking City management personnel, including  any Professional Engineer of Texas.  

For those citizens of Dallas who have not read the new restrictions, many laugh and say, "you've got to be kidding".  I guess that the Parks and Recreation Department discovered that runoff can transpire and that  non-vegetation items tend to get wet when the wind blows.  I am seriously watching to see how they resolve those problems.  I'm not sure the Arboretum will be able to resolve them.  Those "misting" gardens just get water on everything in the area.

I seriously "hope" just a couple of the restrictions would be relaxed to the point where they make common sense.  I'm happy to see that the Dallas Morning News is keeping track of the restrictions.  Ever since I witnessed on television the Water Police enforcer issuing a citation to the woman whose son was having fun on the "slip and slide", my attention has been focused on the topic.

When you have a moment, I would like to have you drop a note to me in response to the questions posed above.  I know you invited me in to meet with the City Water Department management to discuss the subject, but that was before I learned of the current exemption issues.  I continue to decline such a formal meeting, as a note will suffice and save time and expense.

Very truly yours,


Rad Field
P.E. / Texas 
District 11, Dallas