STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of September 8, 2026
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Patrick Tang, Interim City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Michael Roberts, Interim Public Works Director/City Engineer SUBJECT: Adoption of the June 2026 Sewer System Management Plan RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve a Resolution adopting the June 2026 Sewer System Management Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City’s Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) provides the City’s current programs and procedures for managing its sanitary sewer in compliance with the Statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order. The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) mandates the preparation and regular updates to SSMPs and approval by City Council. The June 2026 SSMP is an update to the City’s 2019 SSMP. Staff recommends adoption of the SSMP.
BACKGROUND:
The City’s SSMP provides a plan and schedule to properly plan, manage, operate, and maintain all parts of the sanitary sewer system. The City’s 2026 SSMP is a regulatory compliance document that describes the City’s existing sewer system management, operations, maintenance, spill response, monitoring, and reporting practices. It is a comprehensive update to the 2019 SSMP and reflects current City organizational structure and system information. It does not recommend capital improvement projects or provide plans for future improvements. It was prepared in conformance with updated State Water Board requirements.
In brief, the goals of the SSMP are:
To properly manage, operate, and maintain the City's sanitary collection system through proper planning and implementation; To provide adequate capacity to convey flows by analyzing, identifying, and monitoring areas of the collection system that are or could be considered insufficiently sized; To minimize the volume and frequency of sanitary sewer spills (Spills) through a proactive inspection and maintenance program of the City's sanitary collection system; and To mitigate the impact of Spills through quick response times, thorough cleanup, and public notifications.
The State Water Board requires all public agencies owning or operating more than one mile of sanitary sewer pipeline to prepare and regularly update an SSMP under Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems Order No. 2022-0103-DWQ, reissued from Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ. The revised Order expanded spill reporting categories, modified SSMP content requirements, and established new requirements for SSMP updates and audits.
The SSMP must be updated every six years, approved by the agency's governing body at a public meeting, and certified in the California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) database by the City's Legally Responsible Official.
ANALYSIS:
The SSMP is intended to be a working document that evolves over time. The City's SSMP was last formally updated in 2019, making this update timely to formally incorporate the requirements of the State Water Board's reissued Order and to capture changes to the City's sanitary sewer system and management practices that have occurred since that time. It was comprehensively revised from the 2019 SSMP through the assistance of West Yost, the City’s wastewater consultant. Maintaining a current SSMP positions the City well in the event of a State Water Board audit.
Staff will provide a high-level presentation on the SSMP at tonight's meeting, outlining the components and benefits of the plan, which is recommended for adoption.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
The SSMP is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (“Existing Facilities”) because it applies to an existing system and does not propose or approve construction or expansion of existing facilities. Further, the SSMP is exempt from CEQA review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 because it is an action taken to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment at the direction of the State Water Board.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adopting the June 2026 Sanitary Sewer Management Plan presents no direct cost to the City.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Attachment 2 - June 2026 Sanitary Sewer Management Plan Presentation