City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 3 July 28, 2026
Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 4.11
DATE: July 28, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joan Malloy, City Manager
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Approving an Increase in the Fiscal Year 2026- 2027 Annual Clean Water Program Contribution by $120,000 in the Clean Water Fund (Fund 258) for Payment of Costs Associated with the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program for the Services of Larry Walker Associates
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution approving an increase of $120,000 to the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Annual Clean Water Program Contribution within the Clean Water Fund (Fund 258) for payment of costs associated with the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program (“ACCWP”) to provide continued technical and regulatory support through Larry Walker Associates (“LWA”). The additional funding will be paid to the City of Fremont, which serves as the Fiscal Agent for the ACCWP, and will support the City's ongoing compliance with the Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES Permit (“MRP”). The proposed resolution would authorize the City Manager to execute all agreements necessary in an amount not to exceed $120,000.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
This agenda item is aligned with the following:
Goal D: Create a healthy, sustainable community and maintain and improve the City’s Infrastructure.
BACKGROUND
On January 24, 2012, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 4257-12 approving the Agreement Providing for Implementation of the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program (“Agreement”). Originally established in 1991, the Agreement enables the cities within Alameda County, the County of Alameda, the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, and Zone 7 Water Agency to collaboratively implement regional activities required under the Municipal Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit.
Agenda Item No. 4.11
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The City of Fremont serves as the Fiscal Agent for the ACCWP and administers consultant agreements on behalf of the participating agencies. Larry Walker Associates currently provides technical, regulatory, and program management support to the ACCWP. Program costs are allocated among participating agencies in accordance with the Agreement.
On May 11, 2022, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted Order No. R2-2022-0018, commonly referred to as Municipal Regional Permit (MRP) 3, replacing the previous countywide permit. The permit was subsequently amended in October 2023 through Order No. R2-2023-0019. MRP 3 includes expanded regulatory requirements related to stormwater quality, trash load reduction, reporting, and asset management.
On March 24, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2026-029 approving additional funding for supplemental consultant services provided by LWA during Fiscal Year 2025-2026. Those services focused primarily on achieving compliance with the Trash Load Reduction provisions of MRP 3 through completion of Private Land Drainage Area inspections and On-Land Visual Trash Assessments (OVTA). The adopted Resolution increased the Annual Clean Water Program contribution by $126,200 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026; however, year-end expenditures totaled $76,998.44, approximately $49,000 less than the requested supplemental program increase.
DISCUSSION
During Fiscal Year 2025-2026, LWA assisted the City in implementing new compliance requirements associated with the Trash Load Reduction provisions of MRP 3. The consultant analyzed the City's ArcGIS Online (AGOL) mapping, identified private properties that discharge directly to the municipal storm drain system, established inspection protocols, conducted field inspections and outreach, documented inspection results, and updated the City's AGOL database. Through this effort, 49 Private Land Drainage Area sites and six On-Land Visual Trash Assessment sites were evaluated, enabling the City to meet the Regional Water Board's June 30, 2026 compliance deadline.
While these initial inspections have been completed, compliance with MRP 3 is an ongoing regulatory obligation requiring continued technical support. For Fiscal Year 2026- 2027, LWA will assist with implementation of the City's Clean Water Program, including regulatory compliance planning and coordination, trash reduction program implementation, annual reporting and cost reporting, asset management support, GIS database maintenance, response to regulatory requests, and other technical services necessary to maintain compliance with MRP 3.
LWA serves as the technical consultant for the ACCWP and provides specialized regulatory expertise that supports all participating agencies. Utilizing a countywide consultant allows member agencies to maintain consistent implementation of permit requirements, leverage regional technical expertise, and avoid the higher costs of procuring separate consulting services.
The proposed fund increase of up to $120,000 represents Union City's allocated share of the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 supplemental work program administered through the Agenda Item No. 4.11
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ACCWP. Only services provided will be paid. The funds will be paid to the City of Fremont, which administers the consultant agreement on behalf of the participating agencies.
Approval of the requested funding will allow the City to continue receiving the technical assistance necessary to satisfy ongoing MRP requirements. Failure to approve the additional funding could reduce the City's ability to maintain compliance with permit obligations, prepare required regulatory reports, and respond to Regional Water Board requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City's annual contribution to the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program is budgeted within the Clean Water Fund (Fund 258). The requested supplemental contribution of $120,000 for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 is also funded through the Clean Water Fund. It will be paid to the City of Fremont for consultant services provided by Larry Walker Associates of up to that amount.
There is no impact to the General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution approving an increase of $120,000 to the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Annual Clean Water Program Contribution within the Clean Water Fund (Fund 258) for payment of costs associated with the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program (ACCWP) to provide continued technical and regulatory support through Larry Walker Associates (LWA).
Prepared by: Diana Cangco, City Engineer
Submitted by: Marilou Ayupan, Public Works Director
Attachments
1. Attachment 1 – Letter Agreement from Larry Walker Associates
2. Draft Resolution
3. Exhibit A – Agreement Providing for Implementation of the Alameda Countywide Clean Water Program (C3463)