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THE CITY OF CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT 20 pLEASANTONc June 7, 2016 Operations Services Department TITLE: UPDATE ON THE DROUGHT EMERGENCY AND ADOPT URGENCY ORDINANCE TO AMEND MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 9.30 TO RENAME AS "WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN" AND ADD DEFINITION OF LOW WATER USER, AMEND PROCESS FOR EXCESS USE PENALTY SUSPENSION AND MODIFY CONSERVATION MEASURES SUMMARY On May 18, 2016 the State Water Resources Control Board (SWB) adopted a new standard for statewide water conservation methodology that replaces the prior cumulative percent-reduction based approach that the City has been following the last two years. In anticipation of the local impact of these new regulations, Staff recommends that a voluntary Stage 1 Water Shortage be declared with a conservation goal of 10% relative to baseline 2013 usage, and associated stage specific conservation measures be implemented. Furthermore, Staff identified additional need to amend PMC Chapter 9.30 [renamed Water Management Plan in this modification], to incorporate and refine how the Chapter has been implemented over the past two years. These amendments include: providing the City Manager authorization to both declare and suspend a water shortage emergency, incorporation of the "low water user" definition and its use, inclusion of the mechanism by which excess use penalties are suspended, a requirement that recycled water use for construction activities under a Stage 1 declaration, and refinement to selected conservation measures in response to water conservation achievements and definition of use. All amendments are considered minor; no changes have been proposed to the excess use penalty structure. This report provides an update on the overall drought condition, water conservation efforts, SWB requirement changes, and recommended actions. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City Council: 1) Continue the local Drought Emergency Declaration; 2) Adopt a Stage 1 Water Shortage with a water conservation level of 10%; 3) Adopt the attached urgency ordinance amending.Municipal Code 9.30 (Water Management Plan). An urgency ordinance requires a 415th vote. FINANCIAL STATEMENT No financial implications.