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Council approves Bay Area water‑supply amendment; staff says cost to Hayward small
Summary
Hayward council voted 6‑1 to approve an amendment negotiated through Bosca/Bay Area agencies that reduces minimum purchase quantities to encourage conservation. Staff estimated Hayward’s share at roughly $280,000 (about $0.30 per customer) and described conservation and regional resilience benefits.
The Hayward City Council voted Dec. 2 to approve a regional water‑supply amendment discussed by Bay Area agencies and coordinated through Bosca. The amendment changes minimum purchase quantities for several agencies to better accommodate conservation and avoid large alternative‑supply projects, Bosca representatives said.
Director Mary and Bosca General Manager Tom Smagel told the council the amendment is the product of a multi‑year consensus process and that the direct, near‑term cost to Hayward is modest relative to the city’s budget: staff estimated an annual impact of about $280,000 (roughly a few cents to a few tenths of a dollar per customer). Bosca argued that by easing constraints on agencies with large conservation programs, the amendment reduces pressure to pursue expensive new supply projects and therefore lowers long‑term system costs.
Public callers and one written commenter (Gustav Gupta) urged the council to pull the item for a fuller public discussion and questioned the underlying cost math. Gupta argued that the staff and Bosca estimates understated the risk and presented larger potential liabilities if partner agencies reduce purchases substantially. Bosca and a Mountain View council representative countered that the package supports conservation, decreases the likelihood of costly projects, and has been vetted across many member agencies.
Councilmembers asked staff for clarifications on what parts of the amendment affect Hayward, how costs were allocated, and whether the city’s existing Hetch Hetchy arrangements are preserved; staff said the amendment does not affect Hayward’s original Hetch Hetchy agreements. The council approved the item with six members voting yes and one no.
The staff report included a later correction noting a missing attachment (Exhibit A) referenced in the packet; staff said the reference would be removed. Councilmembers also asked staff to continue outreach and to provide corrected or clarified cost analyses if available.
Vote: Item 10 passed 6–1 (roll recorded).
