Saving on water bill may cost homeowner

A Costa Mesa man named Kevin Doane made it perfectly clear to the City Council that he was not going to pay a $400 citation the city issued him for allowing what was once a lawn in his front yard to dry out, die and turn into a dirt patch.

“No. 1, I will not pay that — ever — and you can do whatever you want to do,” the brusque, bearded man told the council Tuesday night.

Although he acknowledges that he’s violating a city ordinance that requires homeowners to landscape their front yards, he says he was encouraged to do so by Councilwoman Wendy Leece, who constantly tells residents from the dais to cut their water usage because of the impending drought.

Leece declined to comment immediately, saying she plans to investigate the matter first.

He brought with him a copy of his previous month’s water bill, which he proudly held up and said was 40% lower than it has historically been.

“I get challenged to do something. Every single meeting Wendy has said 15%, 15%, 15% and she brings up her daughter saying don’t wash the cars you know, pull back … OK. So I’ve done that,” he said in a frustrated voice.

“I’m not going to water my yard. I’m not going to put in grass. I’m not going to do any of that although you maintain that I need to because my citation says that I have to keep it green. If I have to keep doing this and getting pushed, I will get some spray paint and paint my yard green. This is where I’m going to go with this. Or I’ll get some really ugly green rock and put rock on my dirt, which my neighbors have all said, ‘Please, Kevin, don’t do that,’” he continued in a tremulous voice.

Doane’s not an environmentalist. He stopped watering his lawn to save money.

The career contractor lost his job selling construction materials two months ago when the Anaheim-based company that employed him laid him off along with 20% of the workforce because of the slow down in the building industry.

Although his wife is employed, Doane has been looking around for ways to cut costs.

His water bill has dropped from more than $100 a few months ago to $59.

Neighbors in his State Street tract, near TeWinkle Middle School, have mixed feelings about the barren swath of dirt. It’s undeniably well kept, as he is quick to mention, but doesn’t exactly fit in with the surrounding houses, which all have lawns.