MOUNTAIN VIEW  (AP) — Mountain View has declared a water shortage emergency as the San Francisco Bay Area city faces the statewide drought.

The San Jose Mercury News reports (http://bit.ly/Odep9K) the City Council voted unanimously Tuesday for a “Stage 1” declaration, the lowest emergency level.

It authorizes city staff to ramp up efforts to educate the public about conservation programs. Nonessential water uses — such as serving water in a restaurant except upon request — are prohibited.

Before the vote, Councilman Mike Kasperzak noted that while it was raining outside, it would do little to make up for the region’s severe water shortages.

The newspaper says the Sierra Nevada snowpack, a critical source of water, was 32 percent of average Tuesday, the lowest level on April 1 since 1988.

Gov. Jerry Brown declared a drought state of emergency in January.