Valerie Arkin was clearly not listening when she said she didn’t hear residents offer alternatives or suggestions. She said no increase is not an alternative. Interesting comment since no one said no increase was the answer, residents agree increases are necessary but not the outrageous ones suggested. Many residents had suggestions, apparently she is still tone deaf to the residents. The biggest suggestion was to calculate what it will mean to enterprise fund when 22000+ people start to pay for their 1-20 unit usage, which has been free up to now. Do the math, it’s a staggering amount of money.

SimpleArkin proves again that she does not have the competence nor the intelligence to understand the issues and alternatives. Pleasanton and our water supply will be better when she is voted out in 2024.

I guess we left out the part when Mayor Brown called to have two uniformed police officers stand at the back of the room.

Note to Council…residents are allowed to state their opinion during public comment and your job is to say thank you for your comment, not give a rebuttal.

Yes, I'm confused. Are the 20% and 12% increases on the original paid amount? If so it is a 62% increase. If they are increasing the new amount you pay after the 30% percent increase by 20% and then that amount by 12% this is in no way a 62% increase. Do the math. If this is what they are doing it shoots their "transparency" to bits.

Way to go City Council, follow in your predecessor's footsteps and kick the can down the road. Our water transport system and PFAs levels can wait until you figure out how to communicate what the right amount of rate increase will be and what it will be used for. In the meantime, residents will keep their lawns lush whilst we continue to suck our ever dwindling water supply dry.

"Increasing rates is not something I take lightly. We are all residents here too ... I have a pool, I have a garden, I get it," says Arkin.

How elitist and out of touch can you get? There are people and families who are struggling to make ends meet where a substantial increase in water rates could mean serious trade offs of affording basic needs. Her impact is that her water bill will increase by refilling her pool and then she has to fly coach to Europe next time.

Sorry, 125, but that can needs to be kicked a little further this time. The council has not been presented with enough accurate data to accept an increase of this magnitude, and enough people told them so they really had to take a step back. As to how we're using water, consumption in Pleasanton has decreased steadily since mandatory reductions from 2020 use. We're actually good until 2035 reductions are put into place. According to city staff, 18% in 2023. That's because many folks are using high efficiency laundry equipment, dishwashers, low-flush toilets, and getting rebates from both the city and Zone 7 for smart controllers for their landscaping. And new construction rules require low water/drought tolerant landscaping, so there is really no huge increase anticipated.