2003
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 03-1015
      
      
      BY REPRESENTATIVES Wiens, May M., Cadman, Harvey, Lee, McCluskey,
      Rhodes, Rippy, White, Berry, Boyd, Briggs, Brophy, Cloer, Crane, Decker,
      Fairbank, Frangas, Fritz, Garcia, Groff, Hall, Hefley, Hoppe, Jahn, Johnson R.,
      King, Larson, Lundberg, Madden, Marshall, Merrifield, Miller, Mitchell, Paccione,
      Romanoff, Rose, Salazar, Schultheis, Sinclair, Smith, Spence, Spradley, Stafford,
      Tochtrop, Veiga, Vigil, Weddig, Williams S., Williams T., Witwer, and Young;
      also SENATORS Evans, Hillman, Andrews, Dyer, Entz, Isgar, Johnson S.,
      Anderson, Fitz-Gerald, Hanna, Keller, Linkhart, Phillips, Sandoval, Tapia, Taylor,
      Tupa, and Windels.
      
      
      CONCERNING THE ELIMINATION OF LEGAL IMPEDIMENTS
          REGARDING THE USE OF WATER CONSERVATION
          MEASURES. 
      
      
          WHEREAS, The state of Colorado is subject to drought cycles that
      result in water shortages; and
      
          WHEREAS, These drought cycles and water shortages present
      hardships to current water users; and
      
          WHEREAS, Water demands imposed by traditional landscaping using
      nonnative plant species may result in an unreasonable and unnecessary
      burden on future water resources; and
      
          
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
          WHEREAS, Restrictive covenants, municipal ordinances, and county
      resolutions that prohibit or limit the use of xeriscape or that require
      cultivated vegetation to include turf grass may be contrary to the public
      good; and
      
      WHEREAS, Individual homeowners, homeowners' associations,
      municipalities, and other local governmental entities should be encouraged
      to save water through the use of water-saving techniques such as
      landscaping plants, the use of soil enhancements, plumbing fixtures, and
      appliances when the use of such devices is a reasonable alternative as
      determined by such entities; and
      
          WHEREAS, Water retailers and wholesalers should be encouraged to
      promote the sale and use of such water-saving devices through more 
      prominent advertising, in-store displays, and sales; and
      
          WHEREAS, Wise water policies are necessary to extend the existing
      supplies of water within this state; now, therefore,
      
          Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Sixty-fourth
      General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the Senate concurring herein:
      
          That the General Assembly call upon homeowners' associations,
      municipalities, and counties:
      
          (1)  Within the next 90 days, to review their covenants, ordinances,
      resolutions, and procurement codes and contracts to evaluate their effects
      on landscaping and other activities that place a burden on the state's water
      resources; and
      
          
      
      
      
      
      
      
          
      
      
      
      (2)  Within the next 90 days, to revise and implement covenants,
      ordinances, resolutions, or procurement codes and contracts that encourage
      and promote responsible water conservation measures, including
      specifically the use of soil enhancements and xeriscaping.
      
      
      Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to the
      Colorado Municipal League, Colorado Counties, Inc., the Colorado
      Association of Commerce and Industry, and the Rocky Mountain and the
      Southern Colorado chapters of the Community Associations Institute.
      
      
      
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      Lola Spradley                            John Andrews
      SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE                     PRESIDENT OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE
      
      
      
      
      
      
      ____________________________  ____________________________
      Judith Rodrigue                          Mona Heustis
      CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE                 SECRETARY OF
      OF REPRESENTATIVES                         THE SENATE