Sunnyvale

GOAL A: ASSURE THE REASONABLE PROTECTION OF BEENFICIAL USES OF CREEKS AND SAN FRANCISCO BAY, ESTABLISHED IN THE REGIONAL BOARD’S BASIN PLAN, AND PROTECT ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSTIVE AREAS.

Policy A.1. Continue to support the identification and development of BMPs suitable for use in the City through participation in the SCV NPS Control Program, American Public Works Association's Stormwater Quality Task Force, the Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association, and similar organizations.

Policy A.2 Comply with regulatory requirements and participate in processes which may result in modifications to regulatory requirements.

Action Statements

A.2a. Conduct internal audits in order to continue to improve environmental programs.

A.2b. Implement appropriate pollution prevention activities for targeted pollutants to comply with regulatory requirements.

A.2c. Review proposed changes in regulatory requirements and comment as appropriate.

A.2d. When evaluating pollutant control measures, consider all potential impacts including effects on the storm drain system, sanitary sewer system, and groundwater.

Policy A.3. Ensure that BMPs are implemented to reduce the discharge of pollutants in storm water to the maximum extent practicable.

Action Statements

A.3a. Inspect industrial and commercial businesses for potential discharges to storm drains as part of industrial pretreatment inspections for the WPCP.

A.3b. Modify Industrial Pretreatment permits to also require BMPs to control the discharge of pollutants to city-owned storm drains.

A.3c. Use the City newsletter and utility billings to disseminate information regarding the proper disposal of waste and to encourage the public to participate in reducing pollutants in storm water runoff.

A.3d. Continue outreach programs to industrial and commercial businesses to educate them on proper disposal of waste to the sanitary sewer and storm drains.

A.3e. Label approximately 1060 municipal storm drainage inlets a year until all inlets are labeled and maintain labels as necessary to educate the public on the fate of material discharged to storm drains.

A.3f. Encourage private property owners to label storm drain inlets.

A.3g. Conduct surveys during public events to track public awareness of the SCV NPS Control Program.

A.3h. Obtain copies and use the Statewide Best Management Practices Manual (to be available around the beginning of 1993 as guidance).

A.3i. Modify new development and re-development permitting procedures to require developers and contractors to implement BMPs before, during, and after construction to minimize pollutants discharged in storm water runoff. The report titled "Storm Water Quality Controls for New Developments in Santa Clara Valley and Alameda County: A Guide for Controlling Post-Development Runoff" will be used as guidance to achieve post-development controls.

A.3j. Continue to participate with the SCV NPS Control Program to hold workshops to notify developers, consulting firms, and contractors of the General Construction Activity Storm Water Permit; to notify industries of industrial NPDES storm water permit requirements and everyone about the requirements of the City's area-wide municipal storm water NPDES permit.

A.3k. Continue to develop and maintain accurate maps of the storm drain system owned and operated by the City.

A.3l. Track existing municipal government activities which remove pollutants prior to discharge to storm drains such as the number of storm drain inlets cleaned, curb miles swept, and amounts of material removed.

A.3m. In addition to sweeping streets for aesthetic purposes, sweep to prevent pollutants from entering storm drain inlets. Similarly, in addition to cleaning storm drain inlets to prevent flooding, clean inlets to remove pollutants from the storm drain system. The "BMPs for Street Cleaning and Storm Drainage Facilities" developed by the Alameda County Urban Runoff Clean Water Program may be used as guidance.

A.3n. Track creek and South San Francisco Bay water quality data collected by the SCV NPS Control Program, WPCP and other environmental monitoring programs, for changes resulting from the implementation of BMPs.

A.3o. Continue to detain storm water runoff in the Pump Station No. 2 basin to settle sediment and associated pollutants prior to discharge to receiving waters.

A.3p. Monitor influent and effluent from the basin to determine percent removal of pollutants in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the detention basin in removing pollutants.

A.3q. Test pollutants in the basins, and develop and implement a maintenance plan to assure that sediment is periodically removed and properly disposed.

Policy A.4. Effectively prohibit illicit discharges and improper disposal into the storm drain system.

Action Statements

A.4a. Encourage all residents, industrial and commercial facilities, and public agencies to report spills and illegal dumping incidents to the WPCP in order to initiate an immediate response and log spills.

A.4b. Perform tests and inspections to discover unauthorized discharges into storm drains.

A.4c. Track reports of spill incidents received at the WPCP.

A.4d. Locate and eliminate illicit connections.

A.4e. Consider possible improvements to ordinances to more clearly spell out the requirements for implementing BMPs and for providing the authority to request monitoring or technical reports that might be necessary from dischargers to the City's storm drainage system.

Policy A.5. Prevent accelerated soil erosion.

Action Statements

A.5a. Require developers and contractors to implement Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) soil erosion control measures.

A.5b. Encourage property owners to maintain vegetative cover.

Maintain Storm Drain System

GOAL B: MAINTAIN STORM DRAIN SYSTEM TO PREVENT FLOODING.

Policy B.1 Maintain and operate the storm drain system so that storm waters are drained from 95% of the streets within one hour after a storm stops.

Action Statements

B.1a. Inspect and clean as necessary all storm drainage inlets at least once a year prior to the rainy season.

B.1b. Clean drop inlets in response to flood complaints.

B.1c. When cleaning storm drain inlets and lines, maximize removal of material at the nearest access point to minimize discharges to watercourses.

B.1d. Inspect storm water pump stations weekly and maintain as needed.

B.1e. Assure proper disposal of all material cleaned from storm drain inlets and lines.

Policy B.2. Respond to storm drain emergencies.

Action Statements

B.2a. Respond to all emergency calls within 20 minutes during storms and within 45 minutes during other periods.

B.2b. Inspect and eliminate unauthorized discharges into the storm drain system.

Recognize Flood Hazard

GOAL C: ENSURE THAT FLOOD HAZARDS ARE RECOGNIZED.

Policy C.1 Operate and maintain the storm drainage system at a level to minimize damages and ensure public safety.

Action Statements

C.1a. Update maps of the storm drain system after new developments and/or redevelopments and storm drainage additions.

C.1b. Maintain records of incidents of local flooding and budget for system improvements.

Policy C.2 Prevent flooding to protect life and property.

Action Statements (primarily from the Seismic Safety & Safety Sub-Element)

C.2a. Encourage the SCVWD to periodically reevaluate the capacity of creeks and channels.

C.2b. Encourage the SCVWD to maintain creeks and channels to remove flow-inhibiting vegetation, debris and silt.

C.2c. Encourage the SCVWD to maintain dikes and levees at least 3 feet above the 1% flood level and to inspect and repair damage caused by burrowing animals.

C.2d. Continue to maintain the flood plain management practices outlined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Army Corps of Engineers.

C.2e. Continue participation in the National Flood Insurance Program.

Policy C.3 Monitor and plan for hydraulic changes due to global warming, earthquakes and/or subsidence.

Action Statements

C.3a. Track sea level elevations at tide gauge locations maintained by the US Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission to monitor changes in sea level.

C.3b. Monitor compaction, water level, and land surface elevation data compiled by the SCVWD for possible land subsidence.

C.3c. Encourage the SCVWD to consider installing tide gates in channels and creeks to prevent flooding during high tides.

C.3d. Budget for and construct additional storm drainage detention and pumping facilities as needed to assure continued ability to discharge surface runoff into the various SCVWD facilities and San Francisco Bay.

C.3e. When designing structures along shorelines, consider future sea level changes.

C.3f. Ensure that private developers adequately plan and construct buildings to protect property in low lying areas.

C.3g. Review FEMA maps when they are updated every 3-5 years, and incorporate information on flood prone areas into future land use plans.

Minimize Pollutants and Runoff from New Developments

GOAL D: MINIMIZE THE QUANTITY OF RUNOFF AND DISCHARGE OF POLLUTANTS TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE BY INTEGRATING SURFACE RUNOFF CONTROLS INTO NEW DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT DECISIONS.

Policy D.1 Consider the impacts on the water quality of surface runoff as part of land use and development decisions and implement BMPs to minimize the total volume and rate of runoff.

Action Statements

D.1a. Study and determine the appropriateness of a particular parcel of land to support selected BMPs for removing pollutants prior to discharge.

D.1b. Assure that all applicable development projects (those disturbing 5 acres or greater of land) obtain coverage under the State Water Board's general construction activity storm water NPDES permit or under a similar Regional Board permit if one is adopted in the future.

D.1c. Assure that a reference list of BMPs and copies of appropriate BMP manuals and/or guidelines are available at City libraries and City offices.

Policy D.2 Consider the ability of a land parcel to detain excess storm water runoff in flood prone areas and require incorporation of appropriate controls.

Action Statement

D.2a. Land use decisions should also consider the ability of a parcel to detain excess storm water in areas prone to flooding through use of oversized collection systems and detention facilities.

Funding

GOAL E: CONSIDER ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF GENERATING REVENUE TO SUPPORT THE CITY’S SURFACE RUNOFF QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES.

Policy E.1. Develop a revenue program that will ensure funding to:

1. implement BMPs;

2. conduct public information and participation outreach activities;

3. inspect and eliminate illicit discharges, and inspect industrial and commercial facilities;

4. meet storm drain operational and maintenance needs to improve surface runoff quality;

5. monitor storm water quality;

6. participate in general SCV NPS Control Program activities; and

7. provide appropriate reserves.

Action Statements

E.1a. Evaluate the ability of the existing sanitary sewerage revenue program to provide adequate support for the City to comply with activities mandated by the area wide municipal storm water NPDES permit and with the other surface runoff control activities included in the SCV NPS Control Program.

E.1b. Review the rate structure annually and consider appropriate changes.

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