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1 RESOLUTION NO. XX-26
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING PAYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE CIVIL
LIABILITY TO THE STATE WATER POLLUTION CLEANUP AND ABATEMENT
ACCOUNT AND AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE IN THE AMOUNT OF $39,000 TO IMPLEMENT A
SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT THROUGH ITS KIDS FOR THE BAY PROJECT PURSUANT TO SETTLEMENT ORDER NO. R2-2026-1003 ISSUED
BY THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD
WHEREAS, on May 26, 2026, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) approved Settlement Agreement and Stipulated Administrative Civil Liability Order No. R2-2026-1003 (“Settlement Order”) involving the City of Richmond and Richmond Municipal Sewer District No. 1, together with West County Wastewater District; and
WHEREAS, the Settlement Order assesses $63,000 in administrative civil liability for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit violations associated with the Richmond Water Pollution Control Plant and West County Common Outfall between January 2025 and January 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Settlement Order requires payment of $24,000 to the State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account; and
WHEREAS, the Settlement Order authorizes the remaining $39,000 of the administrative civil liability to be suspended pending completion of an approved Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP); and
WHEREAS, the Water Board transmitted the final Settlement Order to the City on May 27, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to submit a formal demand letter to Veolia Water, the contracted operator of the Richmond Water Pollution Control Plant, seeking reimbursement of the $63,000 penalty amount associated with the NPDES permit violations addressed in the Settlement Order; and
WHEREAS, the City has selected the Watershed Rangers Program, administered by KIDS for the BAY, a project of Earth Island Institute, as the SEP to fulfill the $39,000 suspended liability portion of the Settlement Order; and
WHEREAS, the SEP will provide watershed education and trash cleanup programming at disadvantaged elementary schools in Richmond, improving community environmental literacy and reducing non-point source pollution; and
WHEREAS, the $63,000 penalty amount will be funded by the Wastewater Enterprise Fund, and no impact to the General Fund is anticipated.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND:
Section 1. The City Council finds and determines that the foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.
Section 2. The City Council hereby authorizes payment of $24,000 to the State Water Pollution Cleanup and Abatement Account pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Order.
Section 3. The City Council hereby approves a contract in the amount of $39,000 with Earth Island Institute for implementation of a Supplemental Environmental Project pursuant to the terms of the Settlement Order. Earth Island Institute will implement the SEP through its KIDS for the BAY project.
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2 Section 4. The City Manager, or their designee, is authorized to execute the contract and to take all necessary and appropriate actions to carry out the intent of this resolution.
Section 5. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage.
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I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held on June 23, 2026 , by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
CLERK OF THE CITY OF
RICHMOND (SEAL)
Approved: Mayor
Approved as to form:
City Attorney
State of California }
County of Contra Costa : ss.
City of Richmond }
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Resolution No. , finally passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting held on June 23, 2026.
Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of Richmond