DATE: 01/21/2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Honorable President and Board Members
FROM: Utilities Department
2026-26
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
CORONA UTILITY AUTHORITY ACTION
SUBJECT:
REQUEST TO WAIVE MASTER RECOVERY FEE FOR THE COMMUNICATIONS SITE
LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH WESTERN MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report requests that the City Council waive the Master Recovery Fee associated with the Communication Site License Agreement (Fee Reference Number LRM-010) with Western Municipal Water District to facilitate the installation of radio equipment necessary for data transmission from the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council approve the request to waive the Master Recovery Fee for the Communications Site License Agreement with Western Municipal Water District in the amount of $2,346 for the Grapehill communication site.
That the Corona Utility Authority review, ratify, and to the extent necessary, direct that the City Council take the above action.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) consisting of the cities of Norco and Corona, Jurupa Community Services District, Home Gardens Sanitary District, and Western Municipal Water District (WMWD). WRCRWA has a capacity to treat 14 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater. As part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational efficiency and data integration, WMWD has proposed installing radio equipment at the Grapehill communication site within Corona’s jurisdiction.
This equipment will enable real-time data transmission from WRCRWA to WMWD, supporting improved coordination and system reliability. The installation is consistent with WRCRWA’s mission to promote regional collaboration and infrastructure optimization.
ANALYSIS:
The standard Master Recovery Fee for Communication Site License Agreements (Fee Reference Number LRM-010) is $2,346, as listed under Legal and Risk Management in the Master Fee Recovery Schedule (page 29 of 91). However, given the regional benefit of the proposed installation, and the City’s active participation in WRCRWA, staff recommends waiving this fee.
The waiver would:
Support regional data sharing and operational coordination. Reinforce the City’s commitment to WRCRWA and its member agencies. Avoid unnecessary financial burden on a partner agency working toward shared infrastructure goals.
Recent WRCRWA Board meetings and internal budget discussions have emphasized the importance of interagency collaboration and cost-effective solutions. The proposed waiver aligns with these priorities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended action to waive the Communication Site License Agreement Fee (Fee Reference Number LRM-010) will result in a revenue loss of $2,346 to the General Fund. However, the long-term benefits of enhanced regional data integration and operational efficiency outweigh the short-term financial impact.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This actions are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Action (CEQA), as the actions are not a “project” as defined by CEQA (PRC Section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines Section 15378), guidelines which define a “project” as the whole of an action which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or reasonable foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and that is an activity directly undertaken by any public agency including public works construction and related activities. This action involves authorization to waive fees related to executing a communication site license agreement with another governmental agency.
Therefore, no environmental analysis is required at this time.
PREPARED BY: AFTAB HUSSAIN, ASSISTANT UTILITIES DIRECTOR REVIEWED BY: TOM MOODY, UTILITIES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENT:
1. Exhibit 1 – Master Recovery Fee Schedule