City Says Water Lawn; Man Says It’s Dead Issue : Environment: West Covina homeowner maintains his grass was victim of fungus and no amount of moisture will help. Official wants to see the sprinklers moving, or else.

In John M. Connors’ case, the grass really is greener on the other side--and Connors figured that made him a good citizen.

West Covina, however, has told Connors to water his lawn more, or else.

Although Southern California is in its fourth year of drought, Connors, 37, received a city notice last week advising him that he had better pour some water on his East Mardina Street lawn. The penalty for non-compliance could be a rather stiff fine and possibly a term in jail.

“It has come to our attention,” the notice begins, “that you are in violation of the following section of the West Covina Municipal Code”-- to wit: “Failure to maintain landscaping.”

Connors was asked in an addendum to “Please water dry areas of lawn and maintain.”

But Connors says the grass is dead--the victim of a summertime fungus, he thinks--and the floods of Noah won’t bring it back to life.

“I thought it was pretty stupid when I read it,” he said. “I don’t like the way it looks either. (The city) wants a wet, brown lawn instead of a dry brown one.”

Connors said he was a bit surprised by the notice. None of his neighbors have complained about the grass, and besides, he said, some of them have brown spots too.

But Code Enforcement Officer Sheri Gosselin felt Connors’ yard was especially bad.

In mid-October, Gosselin drove by and spotted the parched parcel. She had a violation notice sent, deeming the existing lawn an eyesore.

Gosselin said Friday that she recommended that Connors spread the lawn with grass seed and water it. Gosselin said Connors has until Nov. 30 to sprout green grass.

And if the grass isn’t greener by December, she said, Connors faces prosecution for a landscape violation. Maximum penalty: A $1,000 fine, six months in jail, or both.

Normally, though, Gosselin said things don’t go that far.

Connors said he resents being forced by the city to water his lawn. It’s kind of like being chided by your mom, he said. Besides, he thinks it would be a waste to pour water on dead grass.

Said Gosselin: “Water landscaping is not considered wasting water, it’s considered maintaining your lawn.”