City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAJOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: APRIL 8, 2025 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR COUNTY SERVICE AREA 152 NATIONAL POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM PROGRAM BETWEEN COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE AND CITY OF RIVERSIDE ISSUE:
Approve the Administrative Services Agreement for County Service Area 152 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Program between County of Riverside County and the City of Riverside.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the Administrative Services Agreement for County Service Area (CSA) 152 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program between County of Riverside and the City of Riverside, for a term of five (5) years with two (2) two-year renewal options, commencing on the date the agreement is fully executed by both the City and County; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Administrative Services Agreement for CSA 152 NPDES program between County of Riverside and the City of Riverside.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Riverside, along with fifteen other local jurisdictions, is a Co-Permittee on an area wide NPDES permit, Order No. R8-2010-0033, NPDES No. CAS 618033, issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Ana Region. The Permit prescribes discharge requirements for urban runoff emanating within the Permittees' jurisdictions. The City is required to develop and manage a variety of programs intended to reduce pollutants entering our local waterways.
As a funding mechanism for NPDES Permit compliance, County Service Area (CSA) 152 was formed and established pursuant to Riverside County Ordinance number 573 in November 1991 to establish a funding mechanism to meet the permit requirements for the unincorporated portions of the County. The City of Riverside and other cities requested inclusion into CSA 152 to help fund their own costs associated with permit compliance (by Resolution No. 18030, July 7, 1992). The County annexed the City of Riverside to CSA 152 on December 1, 1992. The annexation allows the County to levy tax assessments upon parcels within the City and entitles the City to request 100% of the revenue to reimburse costs associated with permit compliance; minus a 6% administrative fee due annually.
This assessment has historically been collected by the County of Riverside through implementation agreements previously approved by the City Council. The most recent implementation agreement is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year. The City is looking to issue a new agreement with the County of Riverside which is commensurate with the previous agreement.
DISCUSSION:
This agreement and relationship between the County of Riverside and the City has historically been mutually beneficial and staff recommend that it continue. The County of Riverside has prepared an updated agreement for a term of five (5) years with two (2) two-year renewal options, commencing on the date the agreement is fully executed by both the City and County. Approval of this agreement by the City Council will allow the County of Riverside to continue collection of CSA 152 revenues on behalf of the City to help support it’s NPDES compliance program.
It is important to note that the Santa Ana Regional Water Board has issued a tentative / draft order that the City team anticipates will be impactful to stormwater mitigation costs in the future. At this time, the full scope of revisions to the existing permit are unknown; however, the City team is fully engaged in commenting on and requesting revisions to the permit that would limit impacts to our residents.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The program described in this report aligns with Strategic Priority 4 – Environmental Stewardship and Strategic Priority 6 – Infrastructure, Mobility & Connectivity and Goals 4.2 and 6.2 as detailed below:
4.2 - Sustainably manage local water resources to maximize reliability and advance water reuse to ensure safe, reliable and affordable water to our community.
6.2 - Maintain, protect and improve assets and infrastructure within the City’s built environment to ensure and enhance reliability, resiliency, sustainability, and facilitate connectivity.
Furthermore, NPDES program implementation aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads:
Community Trust – Developing and managing a variety of programs intended to reduce pollutants in local waterways serves the public interest and supports clean water in the community.
Equity – The NPDES program supports clean water throughout the City ensuring that all residents can enjoy the beneficial uses of local waterways. CSA 152 is a funding mechanism to meet the permit requirements with the end goal of preventing pollutants, trash, and debris from making its way to our local waterways.
Fiscal Responsibility – There is not a new fiscal impact associated with this agreement. The BAU rates were previously established and calculated to provide a quality public service to all residents in a fiscally responsible way.
Innovation – CSA 152 will provide funding for projects and programs that will utilize innovative strategies to meet NPDES permit requirements.
Sustainability & Resiliency – CSA 152 funded projects and programs will contribute to the sustainability of the City’s and region’s local waterways.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this action is annual revenue which averaged $1.7 million in the last two fiscal years. Revenue will be deposited in the NPDES Storm Drain Fund, County Service Area 152 revenue account number 0000260-369001.
Prepared by: Stormy Osifeso, Environmental Analyst
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Jack Liu, Interim City Attorney
Attachment: Administrative Services Agreement for CSA 152 NPDES Program Administrative Services Agreement for CSA 152 NPDES Program ● Page 2