REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Waive First Reading and Introduce an Ordinance Amending and Restating in its Entirety Chapter 13.20 (Storm Drains and Discharges) of Title 13 (Public Services) of "The Code of the City of Santa Clara, California" to Enable Compliance with Regional Water Resources Control Board Requirements and Update Administrative Language
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure, and Promote Sustainability and Environmental Protection
BACKGROUND
The City is regulated by the Municipal Regional Stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (MRP) issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region, under which the City is a permittee. In 1994, Council adopted Ordinance No. 1655 to prevent stormwater pollution from urban runoff that flows to creeks and channels, eventually discharging in the San Francisco Bay. The requirements in Ordinance No. 1655 are laid out in Chapter 13.20 entitled "Storm Drains and Discharges" in the Santa Clara City Code.
The requirements in the MRP have been updated over the years, most recently with MRP 3.0, which took effect in 2022. MRP requirements for new and redevelopment projects to install and maintain low impact development (LID) control measures, active construction site inspections, trash load reduction on private property parcels, and monitoring and reporting of stormwater discharges were not contemplated when Chapter 13.20 was developed in 1994. Chapter 13.20 needs to be updated to enable the City to comply with MRP 3.0 requirements.
DISCUSSION
The Department of Public Works engaged a consultant that specializes in stormwater compliance to assist in updating the code language of Chapter 13.20, "Storm Drains and Discharges." The summary below provides an overview of the significant changes to Chapter 13.20.
13.20.030 Discharges into City storm drains
Section 13.20.030 previously stated th...
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