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Mr. Smith presented the portion of the staff report related to the recycled water project, beginning with a <br /> CEQA addendum to the initial study/mitigated negative declaration for the project. He noted that the <br /> addendum was not distributed with the staff packet but is available on the dais. He also explained that <br /> the addendum is identical to the addendum approved earlier this year but that the state required an <br /> additional comment period as part of the loan the city is obtaining for the project. During the comment <br /> period, a different department of CalTrans from that which commented earlier issued a letter stating the <br /> belief that the project sits within the CalTrans easement along El Charro Road. The city responded <br /> indicating that this is not the case and that this has already been communicated to the specified <br /> member of their staff. The state nonetheless required the city to file another notice of determination on <br /> the addendum, which staff will file once certified by the Council. <br /> Staff is also recommending the introduction of ordinances adding Chapter 14.06 and Chapter 14.20 to <br /> the Municipal Code. 14.06 relates to Regulation of Recycled Water Use and compliance with state <br /> requirements. The chapter discusses the permitting process, organization, inspection of customers and <br /> the permit fee. He noted that the permit fee of $75 is about half that for a potable system. Chapter <br /> 14.20 is in response to the state law requiring agencies with recycled water systems to have a "must <br /> use" ordinances. In short, the ordinance requires irrigation users located adjacent to the system to use <br /> the system unless they qualify for one of the state exceptions. He noted that all 130 customers of the <br /> city's recycled water system voluntarily signed up prior to the ordinance even being drafted. <br /> Vice Mayor Brown said a citizen recently asked her if the city intends to offer residents any sort of <br /> education series or workshops on low water consumption retrofitting options. <br /> Mr. Smith confirmed. He explained that staff had refrained from planning anything specific until more <br /> information was released on the state's requirements. Now that this is available staff is preparing a <br /> workshop schedule similar to what was offered in 2014 and will be focusing on presenting new <br /> information including that related to the Governor's new rebate program. <br /> Vice Mayor Brown said she read a recent news article reporting that Pleasanton would be increasing its <br /> drought penalties, which seems to disagree with the information presented this evening. <br /> Mr. Smith confirmed that there is no change to drought surcharge and again stressed that the goal is to <br /> incentivize conservation rather than punish consumption. He explained that the confusion with the <br /> media seems to be based on the assumption that the city utilizes a tiered rate system, which it does <br /> not. <br /> Mayor Thorne opened the item for public comment. <br /> William Rose shared his objection to the use of 2013 as the benchmark year as it fails to account for <br /> those who began conserving prior to that. He explained that he reduced his water consumption by 40% <br /> between 2011 and 2013 but only an additional 12% between 2013 and 2014. He asked that staff find <br /> some way to accommodate users like him so that they do not have to apply for an exemption each <br /> billing period. <br /> Mr. Smith acknowledged that this issue is not limited to Mr. Rose but said there are several tools that <br /> staff can use to address this. These include the threshold of 30 units, which the Council ultimately <br /> raised to 40 units later in 2014. The Council also authorized staff to look at a users 3-year history to <br /> establish whether an ongoing effort at conservation has been made and to compare users to <br /> comparably sized properties and billing groups. He explained that staff is very careful to examine all of <br /> the tools outlined when examining an appeal. While he could understand the concern with having to file <br /> an appeal each period he could not see a way around that process. <br /> Michael Grossman stated that in 1999 Zone 7 prepared a proposal to install two dual-purpose ASR <br /> wells known as Mocho 3 and 4 at Santa Rita and Stoneridge Drives. The wells were intended to both <br /> City Council Minutes Page 6 of 11 April 21, 2015 <br />