The Santa Cruz City Council is expected to meet next week to consider the first step towards approving water rationing. The city’s Water Commission has voted to recommend increasing a Stage-1 water alert, that has been in effect for nine months, to a Stage-3 Water Emergency. The new limits would increase customer water limits along with impose financial penalties if exceeded. Conservation will increase from a voluntary 5% to mandated levels of up to 25%. Landscape and golf course irrigation would see the greatest reduction in water delivery. The council plans to meet on February 11th.