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Mr. Smith confirmed, citing the exchange with Contra Costa Water District and purchase from Yuba <br /> County's irrigation district as two examples. The liaison committee is encouraging Zone 7 to continue to <br /> examine options like this, though they are not always realistic or prudent. <br /> Councilmember Olson asked and Mr. Smith confirmed that a fixed rate can be negotiated as part of the <br /> purchase contract. <br /> Councilmember Narum asked how staff plans to communicate both the suspension of penalties and the <br /> continued restrictions. <br /> Mr. Smith stated that a press release has been drafted notifying people of the changes, reminding them <br /> of the prohibitions that are still in place, reminding them that 2013 continues to be the benchmark year, <br /> and encouraging them to continue their conservation efforts because mandatory reductions will likely <br /> resume in April. The website will also be updated with this information. <br /> Councilmember Pentin said he supports the temporary penalty suspension but is particularly concerned <br /> that the public may misread it as an excuse to relax their efforts. He stressed that they are by no means <br /> out of the woods yet, noting that there was no snow to be found during his recent visit to Lake Tahoe. <br /> He asked if access to Zone 7's 10,300 acre feet of carryover water is guaranteed. <br /> Mr. Smith said "yes," provided the Delta remains open though did acknowledge that the state is not <br /> without the authority to change those rules during a drought. <br /> Councilmember Pentin asked if there is any concern that state may say that water, nor the 15% <br /> allocation, is available come April. <br /> Mr. Smith did not think so based on current conditions. He estimated that if it continues to stay dry <br /> between now and April, we would likely see 25-30% mandatory reductions in effect throughout the <br /> year. <br /> Councilmember Pentin asked if Zone 7 has been able to recover the paper water sent south to other <br /> agencies in prior years. <br /> Mr. Smith explained that that is exactly what those 10,300 acre feet represent. <br /> Councilmember Pentin said he wanted to be very clear for the benefit of the public that the next 90 <br /> days will be very carefully scrutinized and at any sign of concern, the penalties will be reinstated. <br /> Mr. Smith concurred, stating that staff has no intention of jeopardizing the hard work the community has <br /> made thus far. Throughout the process the public was promised that the penalties would be relaxed if <br /> the situation changed, which staff is recommending, but they will be reinstated at the first indication that <br /> those efforts are endangered. <br /> Vice-Mayor Brown requested an update on the Smart Meter program. <br /> Mr. Smith said that as an almost fully funded and Council prioritized program, it is his goal to implement <br /> the program this year. He explained that the drought workload and fast tracking of the Recycled Water <br /> Program, which were not anticipated, have set that project back some but that it is still a very high <br /> priority. <br /> MOTION: It was m/s by Pentin/Narum to approve a 90-day suspension of the current City drought <br /> emergency declaration mandating 25% water reduction with the understanding that the City Council will <br /> reevaluate the declaration at its April 21, 2015 meeting. Motion passed by the following vote: <br /> City Council Minutes Page 4 of 12 January 20,2015 <br />