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Public Works
DATE: October 21, 2025
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, PE, Director of Public Works
Robert Armijo, PE, Deputy Director of Public Works / City Engineer
Hillal Hamdan, PE, Senior Civil Engineer
Subject:
Cooperative Implementation Agreement with Caltrans for
Multi-Site Trash Capture Projects
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total cost of the project is $10,250,000, which will be fully funded by Caltrans under the C. No City matching
funds are required. Upon approval, Caltrans contribution will be appropriated to the Public Works Department’s
Stormwater Program budget.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City of Richmond and the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) propose to enter into a
Cooperative Implementation Agreement for the design
and construction of four stormwater trash capture device projects to support compliance with the City’s Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit (MRP) Provision C.10 trash
load reduction requirements for which the City is currently out of compliance. The proposed projects will also
provide compliance benefits to Caltrans by treating runoff from portions of the State highway system.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution and AUTHORIZE the City Manager
to execute a Cooperative Implementation Agreement with
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) for
four multi-site trash capture projects and to ACCEPT and APPROPRIATE Caltrans funds in the amount of
$10,250,000 into the Public Works Department’s
Stormwater Program budget – Public Works (Hillal
Hamdan 510-621-1612/Robert Armijo 510-620-5477).
AGENDA
REPORT
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DISCUSSION:
Background
The City of Richmond is a member of the Contra Costa Countywide Clean Water Program (CCCWP), a joint powers agency that supports member agencies in complying with the Municipal Regional Permit (MRP, version 3.0) issued by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). MRP 3.0 Provision C.10 (Trash Reduction) requires the City to implement trash load reduction control measures, including full trash capture systems, to achieve 100 percent trash load reduction or ensure no adverse impact to receiving waters. Provision C.10 also sets specific trash load reduction benchmarks and compliance deadlines.
The City is currently out of compliance with its C.10 trash reduction requirements.
Additional trash capture capacity is necessary to meet permit obligations and avoid potential enforcement actions, fines, or mandated corrective measures from the RWQCB. Without additional treatment capacity, the City risks continued non- compliance, which could result in regulatory enforcement actions.
Partnership with Caltrans
The City has been coordinating with Caltrans District 4 to design and construct large trash capture devices and explore partnership opportunities (Attachment 1 and 2). The California Water Board and Caltrans has agreed to partner with the City to implement trash capture facilities within City rights-of-way that also treat Caltrans highway runoff, contributing to compliance for both agencies’ permit obligations (Attachment 3). The City has successfully partnered with Caltrans on similar projects in the past.
Proposed Multi-Site Project
The multi-site stormwater capture project targets the removal of trash, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and mercury from runoff before it discharges to the San Francisco Bay. The project includes four locations (Attachment 4):
Burlingame & Monterey St.
S 51st St. & Bayview Ave.
700 W Cutting Blvd.
7th St. Gross Solids Removal Device (GSRD)
The project will treat approximately 498 acres, including 411 acres of City property and 67 acres of Caltrans right-of-way, 50.5 of which are designated as Significant Trash Generating Areas (STGA). Three new large trash capture devices will be installed, and the existing 7th St. GSRD will be repaired and secured to prevent vandalism. All sites and storm drainpipes are owned by the City.
The project supports regulatory compliance under the MRP and Caltrans NPDES Permit and may generate alternative compliance credit for Caltrans. Design, permitting, and construction are scheduled through 2027, with preliminary costs estimated at $10.25 million and funding encumbrances extending through 2031.
Funding and Responsibilities
Caltrans will fund the design and construction of the facilities, while the City will assume
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responsibility for long-term operation and maintenance. This cost-sharing model reduces the City’s capital burden while leveraging state resources to address critical compliance requirements.
Recommendation
Given the City’s current non-compliance status, proceeding with this agreement is essential to close the trash load reduction gap and demonstrate proactive compliance efforts to the RWQCB.
City staff recommend that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to:
1. Execute a Cooperative Implementation Agreement with Caltrans for the construction of trash capture device projects at the four locations in Richmond (Attachment 5).
2. Accept and Appropriate Caltrans funds in the amount of $10,250,000 into the Public Works Stormwater Program budget (Attachment 6).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 - Letter of Intent
Attachment 2 - Scope Summary for Multi-Site Trash Capture Projects Attachment 3 - Conceptual Approval of Multi-benefit Cooperative Agreement Attachment 4 - Potential Device Locations
Attachment 5 - Cooperative Implementation Agreement with Caltrans for Multi-Site Trash Capture Projects
Attachment 6 - Resolution