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<br />REPORT <br /> <br />6.3A <br />Pa ~e 1 of 3 <br /> <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the Olty Manager <br /> <br />June 23,2008 <br /> <br />SUBJECT <br />Ordinance amendment to redefine the City's sewer service area <br /> <br />RECOMMENDA liON <br />Introduce an ordinance amending Sections 27.50.5 and 27.50.7 of the Municipal Code <br />to redefine the City's sewer service area as all premises located within the City's sphere <br />of influence. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />The Municipal Code currently defines the City's sewer service area as all premises <br />located within the City's boundaries, and disallows sewer connection permits issued to <br />serve any premises located outside the City boundaries, with the exception of instances <br />when Council finds "exceptional or extraordinary conditions". In the past, conditions that <br />have qualified as "exceptional or extraordinary" have been largely potential risk to the <br />public health as a result of septic system failures. <br /> <br />Owners of various parcels along Edgewood Road have a need or a desire for sewer <br />service. These parcels are outside City limits, within the jurisdiction of San Mateo <br />County, but not within any area currently served by County maintained sewer districts. <br />These parcels are identified by the San Mateo County Local Agency Formation <br />Commission (LAFCo) as being within Redwood City's "sphere of influence". LAFCo <br />defines "sphere of influence" as "the plan for the boundaries of agencies." In other <br />words, these parcels are designated for future annexation to Redwood City, even <br />though annexation may not be imminent. <br /> <br />Sewer connections for some of these parcels had already been approved by the City <br />after past findings of "exceptional or extraordinary conditions". On July 25, 2005, <br />Council approved sewer connections for nine additional parcels on Edgewood Road <br />providing that the "exceptional or extraordinary conditions" justifying approval exists at <br />the time when request is made for physical connection. However, as these parcels are <br />subdivided, the newly created parcels do not qualify for sewer service as an exception. <br />Securing sewer service for these recently subdivided parcels is difficult. Ownership can <br />seek annexation to the City, but annexation is difficult if the parcel is not contiguous. <br />Securing sewer service for these parcels from other agencies is a challenge as well <br />because LAFCo has determined that the parcels are within the City's sphere of <br />influence, and LAFCo's expectation is that the City will extend sewer service. <br /> <br />A redefinition of the City's sewer service area as "premises located within the City's <br />sphere of influence" will allow the City to extend sewer service to those parcels <br />designated for eventual annexation to Redwood City. Up to 22 new sewer connections <br />may be approved as a result of the proposed redefinition of sewer service area. This <br />estimate includes parcels that are currently served by septic systems and assumes all <br />parcels are eligible for subdivision. One residential connection is estimated to require <br />270 gallons per day (gpd) of sewage capacity and the anticipated 22 new sewer service <br />