July 7, 2026
Public Works
DATE: July 7, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, Director of Public Works
Tawfic Halaby, Deputy Director of Public Works
José Valenzuela, Junior Engineer
Subject:
Ordinance Modifying Chapter 12.19 of the Richmond
Municipal Code entitled “Onsite Wastewater Treatment
Systems.”)
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with adopting this ordinance. Any future expenditures related to
implementation would be funded through the approved
Wastewater Enterprise Fund budget (Account String:
40322631-400201).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
January 18, 2022
March 1, 2022
February 21, 2023
April 4, 2023
February 18, 2025
April 1, 2025
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City currently prohibits new sewer connections to the Keller Beach Sanitary Sewer, halting new development in the area. To allow limited projects to proceed while
long-term solutions are developed, City staff proposes
amending the Richmond Municipal Code to permit the
use of temporary sewage holding tanks.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
INTRODUCE an ordinance (first reading) amending
Chapter 12.19 of the Richmond Municipal Code entitled
"Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems" to establish
temporary sewage holding tank construction standards
and a permitting process for properties unable to connect to the sanitary sewer system – Public Works Department
(Daniel Chavarria 510-620-5478/Tawfic Halaby 510-620-
AGENDA
REPORT
July 7, 2026
5482/José Valenzuela 510-620-6955). This item was
continued from the June 16, 2026, meeting.
DISCUSSION:
The Keller Beach Sanitary Sewer (KBSS) Moratorium was enacted due to limited sanitary sewer capacity and infrastructure constraints within the Keller Beach area. The moratorium restricts the issuance of new sewer connections to protect public health and prevent overloading of the existing wastewater system while long term infrastructure solutions are evaluated and implemented.
As a result of the moratorium, certain properties within the affected area are unable to connect to the City’s sanitary sewer system, which has constrained development, redevelopment, and in some cases continued lawful occupancy. Temporary sewage holding tanks have been identified as a viable interim wastewater management solution in circumstances where permanent sewer service is unavailable, provided such systems are designed, installed, operated, and monitored in a manner that protects public health and the environment.
The proposed Temporary Sewage Holding Tank Construction Standards and Permitting Process establish a clear, enforceable framework for the temporary use of sewage holding tanks within the Keller Beach moratorium area. These standards allow development or continued use of properties to proceed on a limited and controlled basis while maintaining strict safeguards, including design requirements, setback criteria, alarm and monitoring systems, operational permits, and mandatory transition and abandonment requirements once permanent sewer service becomes available.
Although the immediate need for these standards is driven by the Keller Beach moratorium, the proposed action is intentionally structured to apply City-wide. Sanitary sewer capacity constraints, emergency conditions, or other infrastructure limitations may arise in other areas of the City in the future. Adopting uniform standards and a permitting process currently ensures the City is prepared to address similar circumstances consistently, transparently, and defensibly without requiring ad-hoc or project specific policy decisions.
Importantly, adoption of these standards does not lift or weaken the Keller Beach moratorium, nor does it guarantee approval of development projects. Each application for a temporary sewage holding tank will continue to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for compliance with the adopted standards, applicable Municipal Code provisions, and all other City requirements. The standards function as a regulatory tool that allows limited interim wastewater solutions while preserving the City’s authority to enforce the moratorium and require ultimate connection to permanent sewer infrastructure.
July 7, 2026
By adopting the proposed standards and permitting process, the City establishes a consistent regulatory framework that balances the need for limited development flexibility with the City’s responsibility to protect public health, environmental resources, and wastewater infrastructure both within the Keller Beach area and throughout the City
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Ordinance (RMC Code Chapter 12.19)
Attachment 2 – Ordinance (RMC Code Chapter 12.19 with proposed additions) Attachment 3 – Proposed Temporary Sewage Holding Tank Standards Attachment 4 – Proposed Temporary Sewage Holding Tank Permitting Process