City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: January 21, 2025
From: Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works
Department: Public Works
Submitted by: Rosemary Lozada, Management Analyst
Subject
Ordinance No. 1305 Amending Chapter 13.24 of the Vernon Municipal Code Regarding the Sewer System
Recommendation
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review, because it is general policy and procedure-making activity that is unrelated to any specific project, which must undergo separate CEQA review, and that will not result in direct physical changes or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical changes in the environment, and therefore does not constitute a “project” as defined by CEQA Guidelines Section 15378; B. Introduce and conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 1305 amending Vernon Municipal Code Section 13.24.050 (Definitions) and adding Section 13.24.101 regarding responsibility for the sewer system pipes; and
C. Direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption for the February 4, 2025 City Council meeting.
Background
Chapter 13.24 of the Vernon Municipal Code (VMC) contains regulations and provisions governing the Sewer System. The Public Works Department is requesting modifications to existing VMC language to incorporate definitions of the City’s sewer main line and sewer lateral and clarify the differences between the separate and distinct pipelines. Proposed revisions will also identify the responsible owner for the various pipelines associated with the Sewer System.
Staff recommend adopting said changes to prevent any discrepancies and potential disagreements moving forward, as policy clarification will ensure a consistent practice is implemented and responsibilities of service provider and customer will be concisely delineated.
VMC Section 13.24.050 does not currently define the sewer main line and sewer lateral. The sewer main line is the main pipeline that collects and carries wastewater from properties to a treatment plant; and the sewer lateral is the private pipe extending from a given property or parcel conveying wastewater to the City’s sewer main line. The current code language does not include a section that specifies responsibility for maintenance and repair of the main sewer line (which is owned and maintained by the City) and lateral sewer lines (which are owned and maintained by respective property owners). Many surrounding municipalities and utility agencies clearly define the sewer main line and sewer lateral, their ownership and, accordingly, who is responsible for their maintenance. Amending the VMC will ensure there is no question as to who is responsible for the maintenance and repair of sewer lines.
The proposed changes to the VMC that would be accomplished through adoption of Ordinance No. 1305 are summarized below.
Amending VMC Section 13.24.050 of Chapter 13.24 to add the following definitions:
“Sewer main line” means the principal public pipeline that collects and carries wastewater from multiple properties or parcels to a wastewater treatment plant. “Sewer lateral” means the private pipe extending from a property or parcel conveying wastewater to the City’s sewer main line.
Adding Section 13.24.101 to Chapter 13.24 (Sewer Systems) of the VMC to read as follows:
Maintenance of Sewer Main and Lateral
The sewer main line is owned and maintained by the City. The sewer lateral between the property and the sewer main line is owned, and shall be maintained, by the owner of the property served by the lateral.
Staff recommends that Council introduce and conduct first reading of Ordinance No. 1305 on January 21, 2025 and direct staff to schedule second reading and adoption of the Ordinance for February 4, 2025.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Ordinance No. 1305