HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem BBAGENDA REPORT
DATE: May 14, 2001
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: John B. Bahorski, City Manager
FROM: Stephen G. Badum, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
SUBJECT: RESPONSE LETTER - GRAND JURY REPORT,
°SEWAGE SPILLS, BEACH CLOSURES TROUBLE IN PARADISE-
SUMMARY OF REOUEST:
The proposed City Council action will authorize the City Manager to send the attached
response to the Orange County Grand Jury.
On April 25, 2001, the Orange County Grand Jury publicly released their report titled
"Sewage Spills, Beach Closures — Trouble in Paradise ". The report requires municipal
agencies to respond to the various findings and recommendations by July 25, 2001. In
general, the report discusses the connection between sewage spills and line blockage due
to grease build up from restaurants. The City's draft response letter is attached for your
approval.
It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to send the attached
response to the Oran a County Grand Jury.
Stepken,6. Badum, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
NOTnDAPPR OVE
J B. Bahorski, City Manager
Agenda Item
May 2, 2001
Orange County Grand Jury
C. Robert Jameson
Presiding Judge of the Superior Court
700 Civic Center Drive west
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Subject: City responses to Grand Jury Report
Dear Judge Jameson,
Thank you for this opportunity to respond to the recent Grand Jury Report, "Sewage Spills,
Beach Closures Trouble in Paradise ? ". The City's responses are as follows:
Finding #1
Seventy-four percent of Orange county wastewater collection and/or treatment agencies
require restaurants in their jurisdictions to have grease traps/interceptors installed and
66% have discharge ordinances.
RESPONSE TO FINDING: The City of Seal Beach currently requires all new and remodeled
restaurants to install grease traps. Additionally, the City is pursuing the development of an "in-
lieu" program which will require existing restaurants to retrofit their existing plumbing to install
grease traps or pay a monthly fee to cover their proportional share of special sewer line cleaning
to prevent blockages and spills.
Finding #2
Few wastewater collection and/or treatment agencies(27 %) are using discharge ordinances
as a basis for grease trap /interceptor inspections and maintenance activities and resultant
enforcement actions when restaurants are not in compliance.
RESPONSE TO FINDING: Due to budgetary constraints, the City of Seal Beach does not have
staff with the necessary expertise to perform these type of activities. Additionally, the City feels
that inspection and enforcement by the City is an ineffective use of public funds and would
create a duplicative service since the Orange County Health Care Agency is already performing
inspections and enforcement activities with the necessary expertise to address this problem. The
County inspectors should perform inspections and issue citations as apart of their normal
restaurant inspection activities.
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Response to O.C. Grand Jury
Sewage SpUls, Beach C/wums
Recommendation #1
All Orange County wastewater collection and/or treatment agencies form a coalition for
the purpose of formulating a standardized grease discharge ordinance for use by an
affected wastewater collection and/or treatment agencies. (Finding #2)
RESPONSE TO RECOMENDATION: The City of Seal Beach agrees with this
recommendation. However, this recommendation should be expanded to designate the Orange
County Sanitation District and the Orange County Health Care Agency as co- leaders in this
effort
Recommendation #2
This ordinance should carry enough enforcement power to effectively prevent cooking
grease from being discharged by restaurants and should include a vigorous inspection
schedule, maintenance criteria and clearly defined enforcement procedures and sanctions
where violations are noted. (Finding #2)
RESPONSE TO RECOMENDATION: The City of Seal Beach strongly agrees with this
recommendation.
Recommendation #3
All Orange County wastewater collection and/or treatment agencies should carry out
aggressive grease discharge prevention education and training programs aimed at
individual restaurant owners and staff in their respective jurisdictions. Due to a high
turnover in both restaurant businesses and workers, this effort should be carried out
continually, countywide, throughout the year. (Finding #3)
RESPONSE TO RECOMENDATION: The City of Seal Beach agrees with this
recommendation. However, this recommendation should be expanded to designate the Orange
County Sanitation District and the Orange County Health Care Agency as co- leaders in this
effort. Since these agencies have the expertise and opportunities to work with the restaurant
commtmity, a countywide educational and training program would be the most beneficial. We
agree that turnover is high among restaurants and employees, however, many owners reopen at
other locations and employees move to other restaurants within the area. A single strong
educational message would be more effective if it was consistent across all jurisdictions within
the County.
Recommendation #4
Completion of training programs should be made a condition for wastewater discharge
permit issuance to all new applicants, where discharge permits are required. This
educational program should also contain a component directed toward owners and/or
managers of large housing complexes. (Finding #3)
RESPONSE TO RECOMENDATION: The City of Seal Beach strongly agrees with this
recommendation.
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Response to O,C Gmnd Jury
Snuoge Splits, Beach CIMM4
If you require additional information or clarification regarding the City's responses please
contact Stephen G. Badum, Director of Public Works, at (562)431 -2527.
/Soimn�ely
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