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15 THE CITY OF - - CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT pL£ASANTON October 5, 2021 Operations Services TITLE: ADOPT AN URGENCY ORDINANCE DECLARING A LOCAL DROUGHT EMERGENCY; AND ADOPT A RESOLUTION DECLARING A STAGE 2 WATER SHORTAGE AND MANDATE A 15 PERCENT REDUCTION IN WATER USAGE SUMMARY California is experiencing its second dry year in a row. The Governor's expanded drought emergency proclamation issued July 8, 2021, calls for a 15 percent reduction in water compared to 2020 use by all Californians. In response, the City of Pleasanton, other Tri-Valley retailers, and Zone 7 Water Agency (Zone 7) requested customers to conserve 15 percent voluntarily. Both City and Tri-Valley-wide water reduction has fallen short of this reduction target. On September 1, 2021, the Zone 7 Board of Directors declared a state of drought emergency within its service area and a Stage 2 water shortage, which includes mandatory conservation from their retailers of 15 percent compared to 2020 use. In compliance with Zone 7's declaration and the City's Water Shortage Contingency Plan, staff is recommending that City Council adopt an urgency ordinance declaring a Local Drought Emergency and adopt a resolution declaring a Stage 2 water shortage mandating 15 percent water reduction compared to 2020 use over the equivalent time period and conservation measures applicable under Stage 2. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council (1) adopt the attached urgency ordinance declaring a Local Drought Emergency; and (2) adopt the attached resolution declaring a Stage 2 water shortage and mandating that Pleasanton water customers reduce their potable water usage by 15 percent. FINANCIAL STATEMENT Mandatory conservation will reduce water purchases from Zone 7; however, it is too early to tell what the extent of purchasing and selling less water will have on the City's water enterprise fund. Staff will monitor the financial impact and return to Council with information. Additionally, to support the community in responding to mandatory conservation, staff recommends hiring part-time temporary employees to staff the drought call center, control assistance program, and respond to reports of leaks, water waste, and general non-compliance. Funding will be requested as part of the City's FY 2021-22 mid-year budget process.