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CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
DATE: AUGUST 25, 2026
FROM: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
SUBJECT: ADOPT THE CENTRAL ANAHEIM MASTER PLAN OF
SANITARY SEWERS, ADOPT THE CENTRAL
ANAHEIM SANITARY SEWER FINANCIAL
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, AND AMEND THE
SANITARY SEWER IMPACT AND IMPROVEMENT
FEES FOR THE CENTRAL ANAHEIM AREA
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 29
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, following this public hearing, by Resolution:
1. Adopt the Central Anaheim Master Plan of Sanitary Sewers dated April 2026 and adopt the Central Anaheim Sanitary Sewer Financial Implementation Plan dated April 2026; and
2. Amend the Sewer Impact and Improvement Fees (Fees) for the Central Area of the City of Anaheim and determine such actions are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080 (b)(8) and Guideline Section 15273 (a).
DISCUSSION:
The Department of Public Works has an ongoing Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Program for three primary areas of the City. These are the West Area, the East Area and the Central Area of Anaheim. The current Central Anaheim Master Plan of Sanitary Sewers was completed and adopted in January 2018. The Central Anaheim Master Plan of Sanitary Sewers dated April 2026, and the Central Anaheim Sanitary Sewer Financial Implementation Plan dated April 2026 (Studies) have been updated based on the latest Census data and market pricing and are ready to be adopted.
The Study area for this Sanitary Sewer Master Plan includes both the Central Anaheim and the Platinum Triangle. The Central Anaheim impact fee area is generally bounded by the northern and southern city limits, Euclid Street on the west, and the Santa Ana River, the 91 freeway, and the East Anaheim Master Plan of Sanitary Sewers on the east as shown in Attachment 3. The Platinum Triangle area is located within this Central Anaheim Area and is bounded by the Union Pacific Railroad tracks by Cerritos Avenue Adopt the Central Anaheim Master Plan of Sanitary Sewers, adopt the Central Anaheim Sanitary Sewer Financial Implementation Plan, and amend the Sanitary Sewer Impact and Improvement Fees for the Central Anaheim Area August 25, 2026
on the north, Anaheim Way on the west, the southern City limits on the south, and the Santa Ana River on the east.
The Study incorporates the Anaheim General Plan and Zoning Code Update adopted in April 2025.
This Study and Plan are consistent with Anaheim Municipal Code section 10.12.085.
The Master Plan recommends $43.69 million in improvements for future sanitary sewer capacity needs in the Central Anaheim Area and $9.93 million in improvements for deficiencies in the Platinum Triangle Area. Sewer impact fees are charges collected from developers and used to fund the capital improvements triggered by increased sewer flow estimates for future developments.
The Financial Implementation Plan (FIP), as adopted, explored potential funding sources and concluded that a Sanitary Sewer Impact and Improvement Fee structure is the most practical approach to finance the development-related sanitary sewer needs on an ongoing basis.
The proposed Sewer Impact Fees below will update and replace the current Sewer Impact Fee for both the Central Anaheim Area and the Supplemental Platinum Triangle Sewer Impact Fee for properties not within the Community Facilities District No. 08-1 of the Platinum Triangle, and will be adjusted annually pursuant to the Anaheim Municipal Code. The Supplemental Platinum Triangle Fees and Central Anaheim Fees are independent of each other, so only one fee is applied.
The City has implemented a simplified approach for assessing the impact fees, with the consensus that the sewer improvement projects will continue to provide reliable and dependable sewer service while facilitating development. The Plan identifies pipe sizes based on excess flow in the build-out condition.
The cost for the required pipe size is converted into a $/GPD, and then multiplied by the GPD of the land use unit to give the fee. Compared to the existing sewer impact fee, the proposed fees are lower for residential parcels in general due to the increase in density, where the cost is shared among more residents, and higher for non-residential parcels due to inflation increasing the fee per gallon. For example, single-family sewer fees average $2,112 and will be about $1,600/gpd with the proposed fees; non-residential sewer fees average $682 and will be from $602 to $998/gpd with the proposed fees. The proposed fees are presented in the tables below.
Adopt the Central Anaheim Master Plan of Sanitary Sewers, adopt the Central Anaheim Sanitary Sewer Financial Implementation Plan, and amend the Sanitary Sewer Impact and Improvement Fees for the Central Anaheim Area August 25, 2026
In compliance with California Government Code Section 66016.5, this public hearing provides 30-day notice before adoption of the Study and 14-day notice per Section 66016 for the Fees.
This Plan supports Anaheim’s Strategic Plan Goal A – Maintain Financial Responsibility, Strategy 1.
Identify potential new funding sources/revenue to increase City revenues to maintain and enhance services; and Strategy 3. Modernize development impact fees and Goal C - Invest in Infrastructure and Amenities, Strategy 13. Address deferred and ongoing maintenance needs.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION:
In accordance with CEQA (Public Resources Code Section 21080 (b)(8)) and pursuant to Section 15273(a)(4) of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), the City of Anaheim, as Lead Agency, is required to determine if the Resolution is exempt from CEQA. Upon review of the CCR, staff recommends that the City Council determine the Resolution is Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to paragraph (a) (4), Section 15273 of Title 14 of the CCR which states CEQA does not apply to the establishment, modification, structuring, restructuring, or approval of rates, tolls, fares, and other charges by public agencies which the public agency finds are for the purpose of obtaining funds for capital projects, necessary to maintain service within existing service areas. After determining that the Resolution is Categorically Exempt from CEQA, the City will file a Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk, which starts a 35-day statute of limitations for challenges of the decision.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
If adopted, the proposed Sanitary Sewer Impact and Improvement Fees will become effective sixty (60) days following the adoption of the Resolution.
Adopt the Central Anaheim Master Plan of Sanitary Sewers, adopt the Central Anaheim Sanitary Sewer Financial Implementation Plan, and amend the Sanitary Sewer Impact and Improvement Fees for the Central Anaheim Area August 25, 2026
Respectfully submitted,
Rudy Emami
Director of Public Works
Attachments:
1. Sewer Master Plan and Financial Implementation Plan Resolution
2. Impact and Improvement Fee Resolution
3. Study Area Map
4. Central Anaheim Master Plan of Sanitary Sewers, April 2026
5. Central Anaheim Sanitary Sewer Financial Implementation Plan April 2026