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In response to Councilmember Narum's inquiry, Director Yurchak confirmed the City will learn <br /> about its groundwater from this study. She noted potable reuse is using highly purified water <br /> which could be used in either groundwater recharge or raw water augmentation with both options <br /> being considered. <br /> In response to Councilmember Narum's inquiries, Director Yurchak confirmed the 2018 Council <br /> vote to continue the potable reuse studies was unanimous. She also confirmed the Council is not <br /> currently voting on potable reuse and merely the continuation of funding for the study. She stated <br /> they are still in the data-collection phase so there is no commitment to potable reuse at this time. <br /> She confirmed the "off-ramp" following the study's completion was agreed to by all partners of the <br /> Tri-Valley Water Roundtable. <br /> In response to Councilmember Narum's inquiries, Director Yurchak confirmed Zone 7 is the State- <br /> designated groundwater manager in the Tri-Valley giving Zone 7 jurisdiction over Pleasanton's <br /> groundwater. <br /> Councilmember Narum stated Zone 7 has been wonderful collaborators with the City in the past <br /> but wanted to note they have the ultimate responsibility for Pleasanton's groundwater. <br /> In response to Councilmember Arkin's inquiries, Director Yurchak confirmed the $300,000 is <br /> entirely for efforts looking forward and not retroactively. She added the estimate specifically for <br /> the Potable Reuse Study is $250,000 and confirmed this study is strictly focused on potable <br /> reuse. <br /> In response to Councilmember Arkin's inquiries, City Manager Nelson Fialho clarified the General <br /> Plan passage cited continues with "which could adversely affect or have potentially negative <br /> impacts, on drinking water, surface water, and groundwater resources." He stated this is what the <br /> study is intending to answer and the logic behind participating in the study. He advised looking at <br /> passages of the General Plan in their full context. He confirmed this study only related to potable <br /> reuse because Zone 7 has jurisdiction for evaluating other supply alternatives. He added Zone 7 <br /> is currently in the process of evaluating other options such as California Water Fix ant the <br /> distinction with potable reuse is it is a local resource controlled by the City in cooperation with its <br /> neighbors which is why the City is so directly involved in potable reuse options as opposed to <br /> others. <br /> Mayor Brown stated her interpretation of General Plan 3.1 differs. In response to Mayor Brown's <br /> inquiry, City Manager Fialho explained the passage is in the staff report but not the presentation <br /> because there are some conflicting programs and policies that are subject to interpretation. He <br /> commented that calling one side out without calling the other side out did not seem like the right <br /> thing for staff to do. <br /> City Attorney Sodergren explained the Council has broad discretion to interpret the General Plan. <br /> He added it is not uncommon for General Plans to have competing policies and goals and the <br /> Council holds broad legal discretion to interpret those competing policies. <br /> In response to Mayor Brown's inquiries, Director Yurchak said the question of water sourcing in <br /> dry summer months has come to Council before and the answer was there is a storage <br /> opportunity albeit a costly one. She added the other consideration is groundwater depletion being <br /> recharged by wastewater for storage. Storage is an important component of the potable reuse <br /> study and confirmed the aquifer is a storage option. <br /> In response to Mayor Brown's inquiry, Deputy Director of Utility Services Daniel Repp stated <br /> storage systems would be a safeguard in case of aquifer contamination. He added the level of <br /> City Council Minutes Page 5 of 12 February 2, 2021 <br />