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In addition with the community's ongoing conservation efforts, on September 1, 2014, <br />the State released a 5% allocation of available water which would provide some <br />temporary relief allowing the City to switch to surface water supply in an effort to save <br />groundwater for the 2015 season. We will return to Council as things develop and make <br />recommendations to our program as needed. <br />In view of the community's progress in meeting the Stage 3 goal of a 25% reduction in <br />water usage, the release of additional water from the state and the impact that the fall/ <br />winter season on overall water usage, staff seeks the Council's authorization for <br />administrative reductions to the penalties for excess water usage set forth in Municipal <br />Code §9.30.100. Staffs particular focus is that while the drought may continue, water <br />usage will fluctuate with (hopefully) the cooler weather will lead to reduced outdoor <br />water use overall. As such, there is a certain confidence that with continued community <br />involvement we will meet our overall conservation target for the entire calendar. As a <br />result, the modified penalties provide some relief for average water users and will <br />maintain our overall conservation focus. A comparison between existing penalties and <br />the recommended changes is as follows: <br />Stage 3 Existing and Recommended Temporary Excessive Use Penalties <br />Stage 3 <br />Exceed 1 Time <br />Exceed 2 Times <br />Exceed 3 Times <br />Exceed 4 Times <br />Existing <br />Penalties <br />$4 per unit used <br />in addition to the <br />normal rate plus <br />$50 <br />$8 per unit used in <br />addition to the <br />normal rate plus <br />$100 <br />$12 per unit used in <br />addition to the <br />normal rate plus <br />$250 <br />$16 per unit used <br />in addition to the <br />normal rate plus <br />$500 <br />Recommended <br />Penalties <br />$4 per unit used <br />in addition to the <br />normal rate plus <br />$50 for <br />customers who <br />use more than <br />40 units of water <br />per billing cycle <br />$4 per unit used in <br />addition to the <br />normal rate plus <br />$100 for customers <br />who use more than <br />40 units of water <br />per billing cycle <br />$4 per unit used in <br />addition to the <br />normal rate plus <br />$250 for customers <br />who use more than <br />40 units of water per <br />billing cycle <br />$16 per unit used <br />in addition to the <br />normal rate plus <br />$500 <br />As indicated, the two important changes is consistency of $4 per unit for 1st, 2nd and 3rd <br />time excessive use and the application of the excess flat rate penalty only for customers <br />who exceed 40 units per billing cycle. Staff identifies the 40 units as the appropriate <br />amount based on the averages for the next billing period starting in mid - September. <br />Staff envisions that when water supply and climatic conditions support a penalty <br />reduction, it will administratively modify billing software to adjust the excess use <br />penalties using the criteria outlined above. As such, staff anticipates this new criteria <br />beginning with the new billing period in September. If water supply and weather <br />conditions warrant further reductions or if they raise concern regarding usage, staff <br />would return to the City Council with revised recommendations. Further, if staff <br />observes that conservation efforts are lagging, it would again reconsider the reduced <br />penalties. <br />In addition to the above, staff intends to provide a brief presentation at the September <br />16th meeting. <br />Page 3of4 <br />