01 - Laserfiche WebLink

Department of Water Resources has initiated the EIR process for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Mayor Hosterman questioned the impacts to Pleasanton and confirmed the City would have a 35% water allocation if the current weather pattern continued. Supplies can be carried over in years the City does not use it to move it into the system, and Ms. Namath estimated that they will be able to meet supply needs with surface water. She said what the ruling does for Pleasanton in the near-term is it forces Zone 7 to rely on drought supplies into the future in a way they had not anticipated and water conservation would need to be instituted by the community through an additional 10%. There are many small ways to conserve water such as checking toilet tank leaks, watering during the cool parts of the day, low flow toilets and shower heads, high efficiency washing machines, and they are looking at tools to irrigate more efficiently. Public Works Director Wilson said the City will have on its website a water conservation guide and said staff is also working with the Tri-Valley Water Retailers Group and will put out a joint message to talk about conservation efforts. Councilmember Cook-Kallio referred to the quality of water and pharmaceuticals and questioned how this impacts the City's water supply. Ms. Namath agreed she would follow-up with the General Manager to answer the question. Councilmember Sullivan referred to the Wanger ruling and the 30% cut-back for one year and confirmed with Ms. Namath that they will learn more this year as to what impacts the reduction in pumping have for the fish, but she did not believe there was a lot of confidence in the fish rebounding during the next year due to the complexity of the science of fish, their habitat and water quality. She further discussed the peripheral canal and evaluation of the needs of fish species. Councilmember Sullivan said the DWR was starting a 30-month study on the peripheral canal which he confirmed was the required environmental review process associated with the conservation plan. Vice Mayor Thorne voiced concern when the courts begin making policies that they should be based on sound science. Ms. Namath agreed this was the challenge; the conservation planning process is meant to deal very explicitly with some of the scientific uncertainties so research can be done that really matters for the fish, and so that actual decisions can be made to stabilize the water supply and recover the fish. Councilmember McGovern questioned if there were additional measures the City could require to conserve water, such as encouraging drought tolerant plantings versus installation of lawns, landscaping, low flow toilets for remodels, or others. Mr. Wilson said conditions could be reviewed, staff has not been active in enforcing landscaping conditions, removal of lawns, but low flow toilets were already a standard, as well as low flow shower heads and believed the City was very active in offering incentives of commercial and industrial conversions of their landscape systems. She believed the City should re-consider this and questioned whether it was time to look at utilizing recycled treated wastewater. Mr. Wilson said the City is currently contributing its effluent water outside the city which is used for landscaping, but does not utilize it within its city limits. Staff could review the CIP because the City does not have existing infrastructure/pipes to provide it to parks and large landscaped areas and an in-ground system would need to be installed. City Council Minutes 5 March 18, 2008