City staff to discuss water supply at Coffee with the City

Paso Robles residents will get a chance next week to hear directly from the city's top water official about where their water comes from, how much the community uses, and whether the supply can keep pace with growth.

The City of Paso Robles will host its recurring community forum, Coffee with the City, at 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 28, at California Coast Beer Company's Patina Room, 1346 Railroad St. in downtown Paso Robles. The hour-long session will feature Utilities Director Christopher Alakel, who will present an overview of the city's water supply — including its sources, current demand, and the outlook for meeting existing and future needs, according to the Paso Robles Daily News.

The event comes at a fitting moment for a community whose identity and economy have long been tied to water — from the hot springs that gave the city its name to the groundwater basin that sustains its renowned wine industry.

What to Expect at the Aug. 28 Session

Coffee with the City, formerly known as Coffee with the City Manager, is a community meeting series designed to keep residents informed about current issues, projects, and initiatives the city is working on. Each session typically focuses on a single topic and pairs a presentation by city staff with an open question-and-answer discussion over the course of about an hour.

Friday's program fits that format. Alakel is expected to walk attendees through the basics of Paso Robles' water portfolio: where the water comes from, how much the community consumes, and whether the supply is sufficient to serve both today's customers and the city's future growth.

Attendees are encouraged to share ideas, ask questions, and offer feedback directly to city staff. Coffee will be provided, preregistration is not required, and all community members are welcome, the Daily News reported.

Why Water Matters in Paso Robles

Water is never a casual subject on the Central Coast. The Paso Robles Groundwater Basin has been a flashpoint for more than a decade, as vineyard expansion, rural development, and repeated drought cycles drew down aquifer levels and prompted landmark local action, including a county ordinance restricting new planting that relies on the basin and, ultimately, the formation of a groundwater sustainability agency under California's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

The city itself draws on a mix of supplies, including groundwater and surface water, and has invested in recycled water and other projects in recent years to diversify its portfolio — context that makes a plain-language briefing from the Utilities Department valuable for residents trying to understand how their taps, their water bills, and the region's growth are all connected.

Alakel's department covers a broad mandate. The Utilities Department provides solid waste and recycling services, water resources, wastewater treatment, and utility engineering for the city — meaning Friday's discussion could touch on everything from supply reliability to infrastructure planning.

A Forum Built for Conversation

The rebrand from "Coffee with the City Manager" to "Coffee with the City" reflects the series' evolution into a broader informational program, bringing in department heads and topic experts rather than focusing solely on the city's top administrator.

That format has made the series a useful venue for residents who want more than a press release — a chance to ask follow-up questions face-to-face over coffee. Past sessions have tackled individual projects and policy topics one at a time, and the water supply discussion is among the most consequential subjects the series has taken on.

Holding the event at California Coast Beer Company, a downtown staple on Railroad Street in the city's spring corridor, also underscores the informal, drop-in nature of the forum. Organizers have kept the barrier to participation low: no RSVP, no fee, just show up at 7:30 a.m.

What Comes Next

For residents who attend, the takeaway will likely hinge on Alakel's answer to the central question of the presentation: can Paso Robles' supply meet existing and future needs? That question carries weight as the city continues to grow and as the region's groundwater sustainability planning moves forward.

Residents who can't make Friday's session can follow the city's Utilities Department for future engagement opportunities, and the Coffee with the City series is expected to continue covering other municipal topics in the months ahead.

The details, for those planning to attend: Coffee with the City, 7:30 a.m., Friday, Aug. 28, Patina Room at California Coast Beer Company, 1346 Railroad St., downtown Paso Robles. Coffee is provided and preregistration is not required.

This article is based on reporting by the [Paso Robles Daily News](https://pasoroblesdailynews.com/city-staff-to-discuss-water-supply-at-coffee-with-the-city/223085/).