CCMIN 10052021 - Laserfiche WebLink

Director Yurchak advised the City can reach out directly to high-volume water users. Staff believes 15% is an achievable conservation benchmark with outdoor irrigation being the simplest way to conserve. She confirmed the City partners with Zone 7 often on rebates. She highlighted several rebate programs funded either by Zone 7 or the City. She advised the City dedicates $25,000 to its rebate programs and noted there is not a specific rebate for converting from spray to rotary head sprinklers. The best conservation is through lawn conversion. In response to Councilmember Balch, Director Yurchak reported the State dictated 2020 be the comparison year and not 2014. The people who maintained their 2014 water reduction measures are typically not the ones the City is targeting to further reduce now. She confirmed the City will be rolling out monthly comparisons from 2020 and 2021 on the water bills. In response to Councilmember Arkin, Director Yurchak clarified if there is a future need to impose excess use penalties staff would return to City Council for authorization. Staff is not asking City Council to make this vote now although the allowance penalties in the future are included in the resolution. In response to Councilmember Arkin, Director Yurchak explained with the City's automated meters staff has more insight into water usage than in the past and can make recommendations accordingly. She confirmed there will be more targeted outreach to high-consumption businesses. She noted the City Council can consider increasing the dollar amount for rebates offered by the City and advised not much of the $25,000 set aside has been expended so there are funds available for residents to access. Councilmember Testa advocated for increasing the $250 rebate for residential lawn conversions, including a collection of sample yards for residents to follow. In response to Councilmember Testa, Director Yurchak advised part of the WSCP is to keep the residential benchmark of 30 units when City Council enacts excess use penalties. The target of 30 units is also tied to the City's senior discount program. She confirmed moving to Stage 2 includes the one watering per week requirement but advised the City will look to align its irrigation schedules with fellow retailers which can have different schedules. She advised it is a challenge for the City's parks at this level and clarified that, per the Ordinance, watering the parks just one day a week will be required. City Manager Fialho explained the Ordinance will not result in fines or punitive action. Staff will come back to City Council to harmonize the frequency of irrigation with regional neighbors and noted they all rely on the same water supply. The City will continue to irrigate its parks in a manner that maintains the infrastructure, but the City will be conserving 15% across the board. In response to Councilmember Testa, City Manager Fialho confirmed the 15% conservation is in the Ordinance because it was adopted in the City's WSCP at the last City Council meeting. He explained the City will assess what DSRSD and the City of Livermore are doing. Councilmember Testa commented the standard is not realistic to maintain either the City's infrastructure or residential lawns. City Attorney Sodergren clarified the irrigation number is part of the Pleasanton Municipal Code (PMC). To change it, they would have to bring back an amendment to the PMC. In response to Councilmember Balch, City Attorney Sodergren confirmed the stages were just adopted by the City Council as part of the Urban Water Management Plan but they did not affect what was already in the PMC regarding the one day per week provision. Director Yurchak stated if City Council adopts an amendment to the Ordinance changing the stages staff would have to contact the State to discover the resubmittal process. City Council Minutes Page 5 of 12 October 5,2021