February 29, 2000

The Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element of the General Plan was last adopted by Council on November 22, 1983. Since that time, changing community conditions and environmental regulations have re-shaped the nature of some of the City’s Sanitary Sewer activities. These changes provide an opportunity to review and update the City vision in this sub-element. Staff recommends that Council approve the work program proposed in this report to update the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element.

The Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element was considered at the December 9, 1999 annual Council Study Items and Budget Issues Workshop and was identified as a study priority for calendar year 2000 (see Attachment A). This Sub-Element focuses on policies related to the collection, transportation and treatment of sewage and industrial waste in the City. The current Sanitary Sewer Subelement was adopted in November of 1983. Since that time, significant changes have occurred in the City’s population, business mix and in the realm of environmental law. The provision of sanitary sewer services continues to play a critical role in human and environmental health and economic development of the City.

Since 1983, the City has accomplished many of the goals, policies and action statements outlined in the 1983 Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element (see Attachment B - Table of Contents and the Goals and Policies). However, since the 1980’s, community conditions and environmental regulations for many functions described in this sub-element have changed considerably. As a consequence, the socioeconomic framework for the sanitary sewer services covered by this sub-element is in need of revision to reflect current practices, long range forecasts and regulatory requirements.

The review of the sub-element will also be an opportunity to ask whether the 1983 community conditions, Community Condition Indicators, goals and policy statements reflect the business the City is in today as well as what type of services the City anticipates providing in these areas over the next twenty years.

The scope of the sub-element update is outlined in Attachment C. Tasks and activities include:

• Describing the various sanitary sewer services in the Sub-element, particularly since 1983 as well as the progress in meeting the goals and policies identified in the 1983 Sub-element

• Reviewing and updating the Community Condition Indicators

• Identifying major, long-term emerging service issues

• Reviewing changes in environmental regulations and their impact on services

• Identifying goals, policies and action statements to address the identified issues and needs for the next twenty years.

Council will review this sub-element for final adoption at its December 12, 2000 meeting. The timeline for preparing the document to meet that deadline is contained in Attachment D.

Staff anticipates that citizens will be invited, as appropriate, to review and comment on draft sections of the document. In general, citizen input will most likely include:

• The use of one or more citizen and business focus groups.

• Formal public hearings by the Planning Commission and the City Council; and

A staff team will be formed to assist with data collection activities, issues and needs assessments and review of the document. The staff team will consist of representatives from the Community Development Department as well as the following divisions within Public Works:

• Environmental
• Administration
• Field Services

This team will periodically meet throughout the updating process. Team members will also participate in the public review process. The services of one or more consultants may also be utilized to project future sewer system requirements.

The Project Management Team will be responsible for the coordination of research and analysis activities, participation of staff and public in the review process and preparation of the sub-element document.

In addition, the City’s Planning and Economic Development Review Committee (PEDR) which consists of the Assistant City Manager, City Attorney, the Directors of Employment Development and Community Development, Planning Officer and Economic Development Manager will be reviewing the sub-element.

An estimated 200-400 hours of staff time will be required to complete this project over the next ten months. The total cost to update the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element is estimated at $110,000 during fiscal years 1999/2000 and 2000/2001. Costs include staff hours, consultant and contract services, including the editing and graphic design of the approved document and publication costs. The estimated cost also includes a $90,000 sanitary sewer engineering study which was approved by Council in June 1999 (capital project 821030) . The estimated $20,000 in other costs has already been provided for within currently budgeted operating programs and capital projects.

Publication and posting of Council Agenda. Reports are available in the Library and on the City’s internet home page.

Council has three possible courses of action:

1. Approve the proposed work program to update the Sanitary Sewer Subelement
2. Modify, then approve the proposed work program.
3. Defer revision of the Sanitary Sewer Sub-Element at this time.

Staff recommends alternative #1: approve the proposed work plan.

Prepared by:

Lorrie B. Gervin
Environmental Division Manager

Approved by:

Marvin A. Rose
Director of Public Works

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager

Attachments:

1. 2000 Council Study Issue Paper
2. 1983 Legislative/Management Table of Contents and Goals, Policies and Action Statement s
3. Scope of Work
4. Work Plan Program