HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTION 2024-013 N.C.S. 02/26/2024 Resolution No. 2024-013 N.C.S. Page 1
Resolution No. 2024-013 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA APPROVING THE 2023
PETALUMA SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD AND THE
REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD
WHEREAS, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted the Statewide General Waste
Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems (General Order) on May 2, 2006; and
WHEREAS, the General Order mandates all public collection system agencies in California that own or
operate collection systems comprised of more than one mile of pipe or sewer lines, which convey untreated
wastewater to a publicly owned treatment facility, are responsible for preparing a Sewer System Management
Plan (SSMP); and
WHEREAS, the City has developed an SSMP and revised the SSMP in accordance with the requirements
of the original General Order and the updates to monitoring and reporting in December 2022; and
WHEREAS, the SSMP must be updated every five years, and approval of the SSMP will satisfy
compliance with the State’s General Order; and
WHEREAS, the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) submitted a report titled “Total
Maximum Daily Load for Bacteria in the Petaluma River” summarizing potential contributors of bacteria to
the Petaluma River watershed and outlining an implementation plan to help reduce bacteria levels; and
WHEREAS, the City’s updated SSMP includes an action plan specifically developed to help reduce levels
of bacteria in the Petaluma River watershed; and
WHEREAS, the environmental review was previously analyzed under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) as part of the City’s General Plan Environmental Impact Report, specifically policy 8-P-
16; and
WHEREAS, this proposed action does not constitute a “project” under CEQA Guidelines Section
15378(b)(4-5) because approving the SSMP constitutes an organizational or administrative activity that will
not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment; and
WHEREAS, implementation of the SSMP is exempt from environmental review under CEQA Guidelines
sections 15301 and 15302 as it applies the already existing sanitary sewer collection systems which may require
the installation of minor sewer system facilities involving either minor alterations to existing facilities, or repair
or replacement of existing facilities involving negligible or no expansion of sewer capacity; and, the adoption
of the SSMP is also exempt from environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 because
it requires the implementation of management operations programs and plans to enhance and protect the
environment by limiting the occurrence of sanitary sewer overflows in the City; and, this action is exempt under
the feasibility and planning studies exemption, CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 as this is a study for future
sewer and water rates and there are no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances, or other factors that would
make the exemption inapplicable pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5A8521C7-756C-464D-8257-7E2C0E1020F7
Resolution No. 2024-013 N.C.S. Page 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Petaluma hereby:
1. Declares the above recitals are hereby declared to be true and correct and are incorporated into this resolution
as findings of the City Council.
2. Finds the proposed action is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) for the following reasons:
a. Environmental review was previously analyzed under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) as part of the City’s General Plan Environmental Impact Report, specifically policy 8-
P-16.
b. This proposed action does not constitute a “project” under CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(4-
5) because approving the SSMP constitutes an organizational or administrative activity that will
not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
c. If this action did constitute a “project” under CEQA, the action would be categorically exempt
under CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 as this is a study for future sewer and water rates pursuant
to CEQA Guidelines Section 15300. Implementation of the SSMP is categorically exempt under
CEQA Guidelines sections15301 and 15302 as it applies to the already existing sanitary sewer
collection systems, which may require the installation of minor sewer system facilities involving
either minor alterations to existing facilities or repair or replacement of existing facilities
involving negligible or no expansion of sewer capacity. The adoption of the SSMP is also exempt
from environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15308 because it requires the
implementation of management operations programs and plans to enhance and protect the
environment by limiting the occurrence of sanitary sewer overflows in the City; and there are no
cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances, or other factors that would make the exemption
inapplicable.
3. Approves the 2023 Petaluma Sewer System Management Plan in accordance with the requirements of the
State Water Resources Control Board and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
4. Directs staff to authorize and execute documents pertaining to the certification of the City’s SSMP and to
process the online SSO database form on behalf of the City of Petaluma in accordance with the State Water
Resources Control Board guidelines.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 26th day of February
2024, by the following vote:
Approved as to
form:
__________________________
City Attorney
AYES: McDonnell, Cader Thompson, Healy, Nau, Pocekay, Shribbs
NOES: Barnacle
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST: ______________________________________________
City Clerk
______________________________________________
Mayor
DocuSign Envelope ID: 5A8521C7-756C-464D-8257-7E2C0E1020F7