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to $250; CII and multi-family customers with dedicated potable irrigation meters $0.50 per square foot up to 50 percent of cost, up to $3,000.3 Since the start of the WEL Rebates, the Water Conservation Program has provided guidance and outreach to the community on the utilization of sustainable/green practices that can be used as an environmentally-friendly method of lawn "removal". Specifically, the method referred to as sheet mulching as an alternative to traditional approaches that may include heavy herbicide application, and/or the removal of nutrient rich topsoil to scrape off the lawn as well as the root zone, which is then hauled off as waste. Historically, through the City's partnership with StopWaste, lawn conversion programs have been supported with outreach educational materials as a way to achieve multiple environmental benefits. Sustainable practices have not been a requirement of our combined WEL rebates eligibility to date. Recently East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD), which has had a long-standing lawn conversion rebate, has begun to offer a "super rebate" to its lawn conversion rebate. This super rebate allows for an increased rebate maximum if rebate participants utilize four best practices (sheet mulching, adding compost, selecting a majority of California native plants, and cool season planting). This super rebate is a way to encourage a multi-beneficial landscape transformation approach, which is broader than just water-savings alone. With the recent Zone 7 increase to its Zone 7 WEL Rebate offers, and in alignment with the City's current Draft Climate Action Plan (CAP 2.0) primary actions, the Water Conservation Program staff is proposing a change to the City's WEL Rebate to incorporate elements of the super rebate best practices into the City's eligibility requirements, thereby incentivizing customers to select a lawn conversion project that offers multiple environmental benefits, many of which are outlined in CAP 2.0. DISCUSSION To assist in defining the selected direction to the City's WEL rebate, two potential options are outlined below: Option 1. Maintain Current City WEL Rebate with Sustainable Practices Encouraged Under Option 1 , the method of lawn removal will remain up to the applicant's selection (including traditional methods) and staff would continue to educate applicants on alternative sustainable lawn transformation practices. The City WEL Rebate offer available to water customers would remain at the amounts outlined in Table 1 and total budgeted program dollars would remain at $25,000 per year. This unadjusted offer is considered an equitable way to slightly enhance the Zone 7 WEL Rebate for Pleasanton water customers, which would roll right into the City WEL Rebate participation since eligibility for participation is similar, and the increased Zone 7 WEL Rebate has provided added incentive to participate in lawn conversion projects. Note that the Zone WEL Rebate is cost based and the City's WEL Rebate is per square footage based. Page 4 of 6