HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2025-07-22_09j Fourth Revision to the Sewer System Management PlanItem 9.j.
MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: Bill Robeson, Assistant City Manager/Public Works Director
BY: Shane Taylor, Utilities Manager
SUBJECT: Fourth Revision to the Sewer System Management Plan
DATE: July 22, 2025
RECOMMENDATION:
1) Adopt a Resolution approving Revision 4 of the Sewer System Management Plan
(SSMP);
2) Authorize the Director of Public Works to certify the completion of the SSMP to the
State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB); and
3) Make findings that approving the Sewer System Management Plan revision is not a
project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) in accordance with
Sections 15301, 15302, 15308 and 15378(b)(5) of the (CEQA) Guidelines.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
A total of $50,000 was budgeted in the Sewer Fund within Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to
formulate and implement the Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) Revision 4.
Approximately 80 staff hours will be required this Fiscal Year to administer the plan.
BACKGROUND:
The City, also known as an “Enrollee” prepared an initial wastewater system plan titled
the “Collection System Management Plan” in 2006 to comply with requirements of the
Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) pursuant to Section
13267 of the California Water Code.
The current SSMP is the third revision to the initial Collection System Management Plan.
The State Water Resources Control Board renamed these plans as Sewer System
Management Plans in 2013, the City’s SSMP was approved by the City Council on
October 14, 2014, and the plan was audited in 2016 and 2018 . The plan was updated in
2019 and 2023. The proposed SSMP Rev. 4 meets the requirements of the 2022 General
Order. Through the 2022 Order, the State Water Board requires an Enrollee to:
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Item 9.j.
City Council
Fourth Revision to the Sewer System Management Plan
July 22, 2025
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Comply with federal and state prohibitions of discharge of sewage to waters of the
State, including federal waters of the United States.
Comply with specifications, notification, monitoring, reporting, and recordkeeping
requirements in the 2022 Order that implement the federal Clean Water Act, the
California Water Code, water quality control plans (including Regional Water Board
Basin Plans), and policies.
Proactively operate and maintain resilient sanitary sewer systems to prevent spills.
Eliminate discharges of sewage to waters of the State through effective
implementation of a Sewer System Management Plan.
Monitor, track, and analyze spills for ongoing system-specific performance
improvements; and,
Report noncompliance with this General Order per reporting requirements.
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
In coordination with City staff, Wallace Group, the City’s consultant, successfully achieved
compliance with the 2022 Order.
The SSMP Rev. 4 documents the City’s Sanitary Sewer System, defines the City’s goals
for improving its sewer system infrastructure, and establishes an implementation plan and
schedule for achieving these goals.
The main goals of the SSMP Rev. 4 are:
Be available and responsive to the needs of the public, and work cooperatively
with local, state, and federal agencies to reduce, mitigate, properly report, and
respond to Spills.
Properly manage and maintain the City of Arroyo Grande public sewer system
lines to minimize Spills.
Identify, prioritize, and continuously renew and replace sewer system lines to
maintain reliability.
Implement regular, proactive maintenance of the sewer system to remove roots,
debris, sand, and Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) in areas prone to blockages that
may cause Spills or sewer backups.
There are eleven (11) elements of the SSMP Rev. 4:
1. Goals, Regulatory Context, Asset Overview and Schedule
2. Organization
3. Legal Authority
4. Sewer System Management Plan Operations and Maintenance Program
5. Design and Performance Provisions
6. Spill Emergency Response Plan
7. Sewer Pipe Blockage Control Program
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Item 9.j.
City Council
Fourth Revision to the Sewer System Management Plan
July 22, 2025
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8. System Evaluation, Capacity Assurance and Capital Improvement Plan
9. Monitoring, Measurement, and Program Modification
10. Sewer System Management Plan Program Audits
11. Communication Program
To continue compliance with the discharge order, a revised SSMP Rev. 4 was prepared
to meet the new requirements, which is mainly the development of Element 6, a new
Sanitary Sewer Spill Emergency Response Plan (SERP). The SERP addresses issues
such as spill response, detection, mitigation, clean-up, investigation, documentation, and
reporting. To achieve full compliance, the City also developed contingency data for each
sewer lift station that provides location and pipeline location information in the event of an
emergency.
SSMP Rev. 4, after approval by the City Council, is required to be submitted to the
SWRCB. The SWRCB does not review the document for compliance , but can audit and
perform inspections if a sewage spill emergency occurs.
The City has been operating the Sanitary Sewer System within the guidelines of the
current SSMP. The revised SSMP Rev. 4 meets the current discharge 2022 Order.
ALTERNATIVES:
The following alternatives are provided for the Council’s consideration:
1. Adopt the Resolution approving the Fourth Revision to the SSMP;
2. Modify the Fourth Revision to the SSMP and adopt the Resolution;
3. Do not adopt the Resolution approving the Fourth Revision to the SSMP, which
may result in non-compliance with the 2022 Order; or
4. Provide other direction to staff.
ADVANTAGES:
Approval of the SSMP Rev.4 ensures compliance with the State certification as
determined by the 2022 Order.
DISADVANTAGES:
None have been identified.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Sewer System Management Plans are primarily plans for the operations and
maintenance of existing sewer systems. The action to adopt this SSMP Rev. 4 is exempt
from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”, Public Resources Code §2100 at
seq.) because it is an action taken by a regulatory agency to assure the protection of the
environment and the regulatory process involves procedures for the protection of the
environment. (CEQA Guidelines §15308; §15378(b)(5)). In addition, the action to adopt
this SSMP Rev. 4 is exempt pursuant to CEQA §15301 and 15302 to the extent that it
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Item 9.j.
City Council
Fourth Revision to the Sewer System Management Plan
July 22, 2025
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applies to existing sanitary sewer collection systems for their operation and maintenance
with negligible or no expansion of use, and to the extent that it results in the repair or
replacement of existing systems involving negligible or no expansion of capacity.
None of the exceptions to the categorical exemptions set forth in State CEQA Guidelines
section 15300.2 have any applicability here. The SSMP Rev. 4 will not impact any
environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern, will not result in significant
cumulative impacts, is not subject to any unusual circumstances that could result in a
significant environmental impact, would not damage any scenic resources withi n a scenic
highway, is not located on a hazardous waste site identified on any list compiled pursuant
to Government Code section 65962.5 and would not impact any historical resource.
For all of the foregoing reasons, the entirety of the SSMP Rev. 4 is categorically exempt
from CEQA.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with
Government Code Section 54954.2.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution including Exhibit A - Sewer System Management Plan Revision 4
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ATTACHMENT 1
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF ARROYO GRANDE ADOPTING REVISION 4 OF THE
SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN
WHEREAS, the City of Arroyo Grande maintains a municipal sewer system for
furnishing sewer service to sewer users in the City of Arroyo Grande; and
WHEREAS, the State Water Resources Control Board adopted Statewide General
Waste Discharge Requirements for publicly owned sanitary sewer systems , Order No.
2006-0003-DWQ, requiring the development and implementation of a syste m-specific
local Collection System Management Plan that documents a comprehensive program
for sewer system operation, maintenance and repair; and
WHEREAS, the State Water Resources Control Board revised the name of the
Collection System Management Plans to Sewer System Management Plans (SSMP) in
2013; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the City’s first SSMP on August 11, 2009 which
was updated in 2014, 2019 and 2023; and
WHEREAS, the State Water Resources Control Board issued an updated general order
under General Order 2022-0103-DWQ in December 6, 2022 (Order); and
WHEREAS, the Order requires owners of sanitary sewer systems to develop and
implement a system-specific SSMP; and
WHEREAS, the SSMP must include provisions to provide proper and efficient
management, operation, and maintenance of sanitary sewer systems, and must contain
a spill emergency response plan that establishes standard procedures fo r immediate
response to an sanitary sewer overflow in a manner designed to minimize water quality
impacts and potential nuisance conditions; and
WHEREAS, the SSMP shall be updated every six years and internally audited every 3
years; and
WHEREAS, the City currently owns, operates, and maintains a sewer collection system
and is subject to the Order; and
WHEREAS, the City did prepare an updated SSMP compliant with the Order; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 SSMP includes significant updates and therefore must be
approved by the City Council for re-certification with the State Water Resources Control
Board.
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RESOLUTION NO.
PAGE 2
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Arroyo
Grande, finds as follows:
a) The City Council finds the facts, findings and conclusions set forth above are
true and correct.
b) That the Sewer System Management Plan (Exhibit A) complies with General
Order 2022-0103-DWQ and the updated SSMP is hereby approved and
adopted.
c) The adoption of the Sewer System Management Plan is catergorically except
from CEQA under sections 15301, 15302, 15308 and 15378(b)(5) of the
CEQA Guidlines.
d) The City Council authorizes the Director of Public Works to certify the
completion of the SSMP to the State Water Resources Control Board and
submit this certification to the State Water Resources Control Board.
e) The City Clerk shall certify as to the adoption of this Resolution.
On motion of Council Member , seconded by Council Member
, and on the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted this 22nd day of July, 2025.
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RESOLUTION NO.
PAGE 3
CAREN RAY RUSSOM, MAYOR
ATTEST:
JESSICA MATSON, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
MATTHEW DOWNING, CITY MANAGER
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
ISAAC ROSEN, CITY ATTORNEY
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Exhibit A
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