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City's Local Emergency Meets Compliance for Mandatory Reductions. With the drought <br /> entering its fourth year, concerns about the community's health, safety and welfare <br /> require the continuation of the City's local drought emergency. <br /> With the return of hot weather, it is recommended that the excess use penalties in the <br /> City's Water Conservation Plan (Municipal Code §9.30.100) be reinstated effective May <br /> 15, 2015. These had been suspended for 90 days from January to April 2015. With <br /> this reinstatement, the 25% reduction would be calculated as a 25% reduction from the <br /> same 60 day billing period from 2013. The comparison and reduction goals would not <br /> be between 2015 and 2014, as most customers did achieve the 25% reductions in <br /> 2014, and the expectation is not for a further 25% reduction on top off reductions <br /> already achieved. <br /> Pleasanton's Stage 3 mandatory 25% reduction (see Attachment 2) meets the broad <br /> requirements of the Governor's April 1, 2015 Executive Order. That order directs the <br /> State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) to: (a) "...consider the relative per <br /> capita water usage of each water suppliers' service area, and require that those areas <br /> with high per capita use achieve proportionately greater reductions than those with low <br /> use."; and (b) "...direct urban water suppliers to develop rate structures and other <br /> pricing mechanisms, including but not limited to surcharges, fees and penalties, to <br /> maximize water conservation...". If the Water Board were to adopt such per capita <br /> restrictions, City staff would return to the City Council to consider appropriate <br /> modifications to mandatory water reductions, as the Tri-Valley does have higher per <br /> capita water usage than some other Bay Area communities (likely due to higher <br /> temperatures and larger landscaped lot areas). Similarly, if the Water Board adopts <br /> regulations for rate structures or pricing mechanisms that are different than the City's <br /> current excess use penalties, City staff would present such regulations and recommend <br /> any necessary City Council action. <br /> Addendum to Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration for Recycled Water Project. <br /> City staff has been in consultation with the State Water Board's environmental <br /> compliance unit regarding environmental review for the City's recycled water project. <br /> After preparation of CEQA documents, in conjunction with consultant SMB <br /> Environmental, the City Council adopted the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration <br /> in September 2014. State Water Board staff subsequently requested further <br /> environmental review after pipeline alignment changes. In response, an Addendum to <br /> the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration was prepare and adopted in January <br /> 2015. A written comment on that Addendum was received from CalTrans. In addition, <br /> discussions have been occurring between City staff, SMB Environmental and the State <br /> Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO). SHPO staff are concerned that small areas of <br /> the pipeline alignment are near areas of known cultural resources / Native American <br /> sites. Therefore, an additional Addendum to the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative <br /> Declaration has been prepared for Council adoption (Attachment 3). <br /> Meanwhile, as the recycled water project involves federal funding through the State <br /> Water Board loan, City staff continues to work with State Water Board staff, SHPO staff <br /> and others to address all federal and state requirements. Currently, federal <br /> requirements (being enforced by the State Water Board) regarding historic cultural <br /> Page 4 of 7 <br />