CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

gy�NSA o� City Council Regular Meeting - Submit your written public ~� e" comment Op''NNED COCity of Pleasanton Full Name Email (this entry is disclosable if included) First Name: Steven Last Name: Pait Submitted On: Oct 7, 2025, 12:24AM PDT Agenda Item Number 13 Comments Dear Mayor Balch and Members of the Pleasanton City Council, I am a Pleasanton resident writing to express my concern about the steep water rate increases over the past two years and the proposed future adjustments. While I understand the City's need to maintain water security, the pace and scale of these increases are becoming difficult for many residents to afford. According to the City's plan, Pleasanton's water rates increased by 30% in 2024 and are scheduled to rise another 12%. These compounded increases create a significant burden for households across our community. I appreciate that Pleasanton already provides discounts for seniors. However, even with these discounts, many residents on fixed/low incomes are still struggling to keep up with rising utility costs, especially when combined with inflation in food and healthcare. Water is a basic necessity, and affordability must remain central to all rate - setting decisions. I respectfully urge the Council to phase in future increases more gradually, expand outreach and accessibility to existing discount programs so eligible residents can benefit, and ensure transparency about how rate revenues are used to improve reliability and efficiency. In addition, I would like to propose a feasibility study into connecting Pleasanton to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) water system. In 2016, the City purchased 3.18 acres of land from SFPUC for $4.2 million to build a park across the Alameda County Fairgrounds, yet the opportunity was never pursued. The SFPUC system provides some of the highest quality water in the nation, sourced from the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which is naturally drinkable at the source. It also benefits from large, resilient reserves that offer greater protection from drought -related price spikes which have been a problem in the past. Many Bay Area cities already receive SFPUC water through the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), gaining stable supply and predictable rates. Many Bay Area cities benefit from SF water. Exploring this option could provide long-term cost savings and improved water quality for Pleasanton residents. I urge the Council to fully evaluate this potential alternative. Our community deserves a comprehensive look at all options to ensure a sustainable, fair, and affordable water future. Thank you for your time and for your service to our city.