DRAFT 8/19/2026 ____
T-ESD-260083/87978 1
Council Agenda: 9/15/2026
Item No.: 3
RESOLUTION NO. ______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUNNYVALE RENAMING THE DONALD M. SOMERS WATER POLLUTION
CONTROL PLANT TO THE SUNNYVALE DONALD M. SOMERS CLEAN
WATER FACILITY
WHEREAS, the City of Sunnyvale owns and operates the Donald M. Somers Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP), located at 1444 Borregas Avenue, to treat wastewater from local residential, commercial, and industrial sources; and WHEREAS, the WPCP was originally constructed in 1956 and has evolved over subsequent decades into a Grade V tertiary treatment facility; and WHEREAS, the WPCP was named after Donald M. Somers, who was the Public Works Director in Sunnyvale in 1956 when the WPCP was built, and was recognized nationally in 1978 as one of the “Top Ten Public Works Officials;” and WHEREAS, since 2016, the City has been implementing a long-term program for upgrading and replacing aging WPCP infrastructure, which is transforming the WPCP from a traditional wastewater treatment plant into a more advanced facility focused on water quality, resource recovery, environmental stewardship, recycled water, and renewable energy; and
WHEREAS, the name “water pollution control plant” does not fully communicate the broader role of the modernized facility, which includes advanced treatment, recycled water production, renewable energy generation through biogas cogeneration, resource recovery, and environmental stewardship; and
WHEREAS, changing the name to “clean water facility” will reflect the facility's current mission and provide a consistent identity for the modernization effort.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SUNNYVALE THAT:
1. The name of the Donald M. Somers Water Pollution Control Plant is hereby changed to “Sunnyvale Donald M. Somers Clean Water Facility.”
2. References to the Donald M. Somers Water Pollution Control Plant in existing agreements, permits, regulatory documents, financing documents, and all City records shall be deemed to refer to the Sunnyvale Donald M. Somers Clean Water Facility.
Attachment 1
T-ESD-260083/87978 2
Council Agenda: 9/15/2026
Item No.: 3
Adopted by the City Council at a regular meeting held on ___________, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
RECUSAL:
ATTEST: APPROVED:
__________________________________ _________________________________
DAVID CARNAHAN
City Clerk
LARRY KLEIN
Mayor
(SEAL)
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________________________
REBECCA L. MOON
City Attorney
Attachment 1