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to change the situation. What does that mean to Zone 7 and what can it do to respond to that direction. For the long term, there will be an answer with the South Bay Aqueduct expansion, but in the short term an action will affect a level of service somewhere. She asked how level of service is defined. She would be more comfortable with the environmental issues if the Department offish and Game were involved more actively. We are guessing at the impacts. Ms. Michelotti wanted to work with Zone 7 to find solutions before another agency like LAFCo gets involved and dictates certain actions. Ms. Ayala did not feel this had to be an adversarial process with LAFCo. Mayor Pico explained that there is new state law and the agency has new and significantly expanded responsibilities. His concern is that there is a massive environmental disaster with flora and fauna dying. He did not want to wait a year or more for the Fish and Game Department to be involved. He wanted to work on all approaches to keep the arroyo alive now. He read from his proposed letter to LAFCo. "It is my belief that the action by Zone 7 to eliminate the year-round flow is a material change of function or class of service provided." Under the Guidelines, Policies and Procedures adopted May 2002, section 10.13 (District Latent Powers) provides "No new or different function or class of service shall be provided by any existing district, except upon approval of the commission." The question is whether there is a material change in the service. He wanted the LAFCo Board to review that question. Ms. Michelotti felt that if the LAFCo Board agrees with Mayor Pico's opinion, then it would be telling Zone 7 it can no longer withhold water. Mayor Pico felt if the Hansens had decided to continue to operate the quarry, we would have had flow to the Arroyo del Valle and would have reduced to a certain extent the amount of recharge to the groundwater basin, although that is debatable because the quarry discharge to the arroyo is the surface water and the potable comes from deeper levels. He felt we might lose 15- 20% of the water and the cost of pumping, but if we can continue water to the arroyo there might be an "angel" or outside source willing to pay the cost of pumping. In that way we can continue the water this year while trying to find a long term solution. Ed Cummings, Assistant General Manager of Zone 7, expressed condolences on the passing of Randy Lum. He has worked with him on many issues and felt that anyone who worked with Randy became his friend. He explained that the Zone's capacity in the South Bay Aqueduct is used up in July and August for meeting its delivery obligations to its customers. He said the Zone will be recharging the groundwater again in September or earlier if capacity becomes available. The only local source of water is to pull from the groundwater or the quarry pits. Zone 7 has no control over either of those actions. They are working on the flood control master plan which reviews all elements of stream flows in the arroyos and it is hoped there will be a community plan that balances all interests. Them are some environmentalists who say the stream should go dry and others that say it should stay wet. He is an engineer, not a biologist. Zone 7 hopes to have facilities in place to meet the needs of the community, whatever the final decision is. He referred to the Hansen operation and indicated that when the quarry is finally shut down, the facility will become the property of Zone 7. So whatever discussion the City has Pleasanton City Council 14 07/09/02 Special Meeting Minutes