At the forefront of the meeting was the issue of water restrictions necessitated by recent low flow levels. Commissioners were faced with the challenge of addressing these constraints and their impact on residents. Members expressed a need to explore potential policy adjustments in future meetings to mitigate the impact of such restrictions while ensuring compliance with environmental guidelines.

Closely related to the water restrictions was the technical review of water systems regulations. The commission anticipates receiving insights from the review, which could inform future decisions regarding water flow management and infrastructure improvements. This topic also tied into the ongoing elderly rate discussions, particularly in terms of eligibility for ADUs.

The meeting also tackled legal obligations concerning water supply for new developments. There was a strong emphasis on ensuring that developers are responsible for proving adequate water flow and pressure for new connections. Commissioners acknowledged the necessity of developing a defensible policy to address these responsibilities and planned to draft a proposal for further discussion at the next meeting.

In addition to these major topics, the commission addressed the issue of unpaid water bills. As of the current week, 80 accounts remained unpaid since the June due date, prompting the treasurer’s office to send final notices of impending utility shut-offs. The plan is to coordinate efforts to address these unpaid bills in September. This issue is compounded by ongoing backflow inspections aimed at safeguarding the water supply.

Attention was also given to a long-standing issue concerning a water withdrawal permit modification. This matter has been ongoing for several years, with efforts focused on identifying infiltration credits and accurately calculating water volumes. The commission stressed the importance of resolving this issue, which has lingered for four years, and recognized the need for decisive action.

The meeting concluded with updates on the elderly rate application process, which now includes a residency requirement of at least 180 days per year. There was a proposal to streamline the application process for both water and sewer services by merging them into a single form, incorporating a fillable PDF version for online submissions. This change aims to enhance efficiency and ease of access for applicants. The commissioners expressed support for these updates, acknowledging their potential to simplify the application process.