SR 10-26-2021 7A
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: October 26, 2021
Agenda Item: 7.A
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Acting Public Works Director, Public Works, Water Resources
Subject: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending SMMC 7.04.610
for Sewer Capping
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council introduce for first reading the attached
ordinance to amend Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 7.04.610 for sewer capping
required for construction and demolition projects.
Summary
The Water Resources Division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the
City’s wastewater infrastructure, including over 150 miles of wastewater collection pipes
throughout the City. To support new construction and demolition projects, Santa Monica
Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 7.04.610 details the requirement to cap sanitary sewer
lines leading to the property as a temporary mitigation method during
construction/demolition to prevent debris from entering the sewer collection system.
Water Resources seeks to amend this section of code to provide clarity and include
instructions for sanitary sewer lines that: 1) need to be capped temporarily for
construction and 2) shall be removed at the main sewer line if the sewer lateral(s) are
planned to be abandoned.
Discussion
To maintain the integrity and safety of the City’s wastewater collection system during
construction and demolition projects, SMMC 7.04.610 requires the developer to cap the
sanitary sewer lateral (lateral) within five feet of the property line. To provide ordinance
clarity and address requirements for abandoned laterals, the Water Resources Division
proposes an amendment with the following revisions and clarifications:
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1. A sewer cap must be installed on the lateral at or before the property line, on the
private property side, exclusive of the City-owned line leading to the property.
The capped sewer line is temporary to help facilitate demolition or removal of the
structure only and is intended to be placed back in service once construction is
complete.
2. When a developer wishes to abandon the existing lateral and replace it with a
new lateral, the existing lateral must be removed at the sewer main line. All work
must be inspected and approved by the Building Officer and the Wastewater
Supervisor within the City’s Water Resources Division.
Please refer to Attachment A for redline version of SMMC 7.04.610.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
10/27/20 (Attachment B) Council approved amendment to SMMC 7.04.610
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action.
Prepared By: Thomas Poon, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Code to Clarify Sewer Capping Ordinance
B. City Council Staff Report - October 27, 2020 (Web Link)
C. Written Comments
D. PowerPoint Presentation
7.A
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City Council Meeting October 26, 2021 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA MONICA MODIFYING SECTION 7.04.610 OF THE SANTA MONICA
MUNICIPAL CODE TO CLARIFY SEWER CAPPING REQUIREMENTS
WHEREAS, the Water Resources Division is responsible for the operation and
maintenance of the City’s wastewater infrastructure, including over 150 miles of
wastewater collection pipes throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, to support new construction and demolition projects, Santa Monica
Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 7.04.610 details the requirement to cap sanitary sewer
lines leading to the property as a temporary mitigation method during
construction/demolition to prevent debris from entering the sewer collection system; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Water Resources Division seeks to amend this section of
code to provide clarity and include instruction for sanitary sewer lines that: 1) need to be
capped temporarily for construction and 2) shall be removed at the main sewer line if
the sewer lateral(s) are planned to be abandoned.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 7.04.610 is hereby amended to
read as follows:
7.A.a
Packet Pg. 553 Attachment: Code to Clarify Sewer Capping Ordinance [Revision 3] (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for Sewer Capping (15 mins))
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7.04.610 Sewer capping.
(a) When the Building Officer issues a building demolition and/or moving permit, the
scope of work for that permit shall include capping the sanitary sewer within five
feet of the property line.
(b) An owner or possessor of land shall, within five days after demolition or removal
of any structure upon the land to which a sewer is attached, cause the sewer to
be capped within five feet of at the property line. The capped sewer shall not be
backfilled until inspected by the Building Officer. The capped sewer line at the
property line is temporary to help facilitate demolition or removal of the
structure only and is intended to be placed back in service once the new
structure is completed.
(c) Should the owner or possessor choose to abandon the existing sewer line
and replace it with a new sewer connection to the City’s wastewater main,
the abandoned sewer connection shall be removed from the City’s
wastewater main. The proposed work shall be inspected and approved by
the Wastewater Supervisor within the City’s Water Resources Division and
the Building Officer.
SECTION 2. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices
thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such
inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary
to effect the provisions of this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this
Ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any
court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the
7.A.a
Packet Pg. 554 Attachment: Code to Clarify Sewer Capping Ordinance [Revision 3] (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for Sewer Capping (15 mins))
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remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would
have passed this Ordinance and each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause,
or phrase not declared invalid or unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion
of the ordinance would be subsequently declared invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 4. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage
of this Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the
official newspaper within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become
effective 30 days from its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
JOSEPH LAWRENCE
Interim City Attorney
7.A.a
Packet Pg. 555 Attachment: Code to Clarify Sewer Capping Ordinance [Revision 3] (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for Sewer Capping (15 mins))
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REVISED ORDINANCE 10/25/2021
City Council Meeting October 26, 2021 Santa Monica, California
ORDINANCE NUMBER _________ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SANTA MONICA MODIFYING SECTION 7.04.610 OF THE SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL
CODE TO CLARIFY SEWER CAPPING REQUIREMENTS
WHEREAS, the Water Resources Division is responsible for the operation and
maintenance of the City’s wastewater infrastructure, including over 150 miles of wastewater
collection pipes throughout the City; and
WHEREAS, to support new construction and demolition projects, Santa Monica
Municipal Code (SMMC) Section 7.04.610 details the requirement to cap sanitary sewer lines
leading to the property as a temporary mitigation method during construction/demolition to
prevent debris from entering the sewer collection system; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Water Resources Division seeks to amend this section of code to
provide clarity and include instruction for sanitary sewer lines that: 1) need to be capped
temporarily for construction and 2) shall be removed at the main sewer line if the sewer
lateral(s) are planned to be abandoned.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES
HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 7.04.610 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
Item 7.A 10/26/21
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Packet Pg. 556 Attachment: Written Comments (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for Sewer Capping (15 mins))
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7.04.610 Sewer capping.
(a) When the Building Officer issues a building demolition and/or moving permit, the scope
of work for that permit shall include capping the sanitary sewer within five feet of the at
the property line.
(b) An owner or possessor of land shall, within five days after demolition or removal of any
structure upon the land to which a sewer is attached, cause the sewer to be capped
within five feet of at the property line. The capped sewer shall not be backfilled until
inspected by the Building Officer. The capped sewer line at the property line is
temporary to help facilitate demolition or removal of the structure only and is
intended to be placed back in service once the new structure is completed.
(c) Should the owner or possessor choose to abandon the existing sewer line and
replace it with a new sewer connection to the City’s wastewater main, the
abandoned sewer connection shall be removed from the City’s wastewater
main. The proposed work shall be inspected and approved by the Wastewater
Supervisor within the City’s Water Resources Division and the Building Officer.
SECTION 2. Any provision of the Santa Monica Municipal Code or appendices thereto
inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such inconsistencies and no
further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to effect the provisions of this
Ordinance.
SECTION 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is
for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this
Ordinance. The City Council hereby declares that it would have passed this Ordinance and
each and every section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase not declared invalid or
unconstitutional without regard to whether any portion of the ordinance would be subsequently
declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Item 7.A 10/26/21
2 of 3 Item 7.A 10/26/21
7.A.c
Packet Pg. 557 Attachment: Written Comments (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for Sewer Capping (15 mins))
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SECTION 4. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall attest to the passage of this
Ordinance. The City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the official newspaper
within 15 days after its adoption. This Ordinance shall become effective 30 days from its
adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________
JOSEPH LAWRENCE
Interim City Attorney
Item 7.A 10/26/21
3 of 3 Item 7.A 10/26/21
7.A.c
Packet Pg. 558 Attachment: Written Comments (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for Sewer Capping (15 mins))
Item 7AFirst Reading of Ordinance Amending SMMC 7.04.610 for Sewer Capping
10/26/2021
7.A.d
Packet Pg. 559 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for
Overview of SMMC Section 7.04.610
1%
•Requirement to cap sanitary sewer as a
temporary mitigation method during
construction/demolition to protect the
sanitary sewer system
•Amend ordinance to provide clarity on:
•Sewer capping is a temporary
measure for construction
•Abandoned sewer lateral(s) shall be
removed from the main sewer line
7.A.d
Packet Pg. 560 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for
Amendment of SMMC Section 7.04.610
1%
(a)When the Building Officer issues a building demolition and/or moving permit, the scope of work for
that permit shall include capping the sanitary sewer within five feet of at the property line.
(b)An owner or possessor of land shall, within five days after demolition or removal of any structure
upon the land to which a sewer is attached, cause the sewer to be capped within five feet of at the
property line. The capped sewer shall not be backfilled until inspected by the Building Officer. The
capped sewer line at the property line is temporary to help facilitate demolition or removal of
the structure only and is intended to be placed back in service once the new structure is
completed.
7.A.d
Packet Pg. 561 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for
Amendment of SMMC Section 7.04.610 (Cont.)
1%
(a)Should the owner or possessor choose to abandon the existing sewer line and replace it
with a new sewer connection to the City’s wastewater main, the abandoned sewer
connection shall be removed from the City’s wastewater main.The proposed work shall be
inspected and approved by the Wastewater Supervisor within the City’s Water Resources
Division and the Building Officer.
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Packet Pg. 562 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for
THANK YOU…
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Packet Pg. 563 Attachment: PowerPoint Presentation (4578 : First Reading Ordinance Amendment for