LAKEPORT — A presentation by attorney Travis Engstrom, an advisor to the city of Lakeport, detailed a new sewer ordinance at a Tuesday council meeting that will require implementation of a Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) program to eliminate FOG related sewer spills?a state requirement that must be in place in the city by Nov. 2, 2009. The program will require certain users of the sewer system who use fats, oils or grease in their business?such as a restaurant?to install grease traps and take other measures to ensure their sewer pipes stay clean.
The council, acting as City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District, approved the ordinance enabling fines to be issued to any user that is identified as the source of a sewer blockage or overflow. A second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for March 4.
Also approved is a new way to regulate “influx and infiltration” or “I and I.” The city has long had problems with I and I in which standing water and lake water seep into deteriorating sewer lateral lines on private property. Influx and infiltration led to sewage spills in 2006 that in turn resulted in a sewer cease and desist order that is in place in the city. The cease and desist order does not limit new hook-ups to the city”s sewer system, but required more than $1 million in unanticipated repairs this summer and fall to the system.
“During the spill in 2006, we had extreme I and I levels,” Utilities Superintendent Mark Brannigan said. “When we find people who have a clear I and I problem, that”s when we address it.”
Currently, the city conducts tests and when a problem is found, the user is notified in writing and given a year to fix it. “If they don”t fix it in a year, we take them to court, it isn”t an efficient way of dealing with the problem. With this ordinance, we”re going to be doing the same thing, except we have enforcement measures?if they don”t comply they could have fines,” Brannigan said.
Under the new FOG program, if the city determines a restaurant or business needs a grease interceptor, a permit will be issued. “If they don”t have one we work with them to get one installed. Typically any business that has food prep?really hot food prep is what we”re looking for?this is to protect the lake from grease-causing spills,” Brannigan said.
For minor FOG violations, fines range from a first offense of $50 for failure to submit records to $1,000 for a fourth offense failure to pump grease and submit records. Major violation fines range from $500 for a source of minimal sewer blockage to a fine of $25,000 for a maximum source of sanitary sewer overflow.
In other agenda business, the council approved a schedule to ensure compliance with Lakeport Disposal”s existing garbage franchise agreement with the city, implementing 10 percent garbage-hauling franchise fees that Lakeport Disposal must pay to the city. A franchise fee of 10 percent for curb side recycling was removed from the schedule after the Butcher family?owners of Lakeport Disposal?made their case to city council.
“We pay Timberline to get rid of green waste, so we”re asking for you to get rid of that 10 percent fee,” Joe Butcher said.
In addition, Lakeport Disposal asked the city to negotiate with the county for emergency use of the Lakeport dump center. Because the center has a broken “ram” or garbage compactor?they have “locked Lakeport Disposal out” Butcher said.
As a result, Lakeport Disposal hauls Lakeport”s garbage to Clearlake twice a week, at a cost of about $1,000 per month.
“It hasn”t gone before the Board of Supervisors yet whether they want to fix the ram. If they don”t fix it, then there”s a good chance the Butchers will always have to haul to Clearlake?maybe we can talk to Kim Clymire (director of Lake County Public Services) and get some sort of emergency status so they can dump and not have to go to Clearlake at increased costs,” councilman Bob Rumfelt said.
City Manager Jerry Gillham was directed to meet with county officials to discuss Lakeport Disposal”s need to use the Lakeport dump.
Contact Elizabeth Wilson at ewilson@record-bee.com.
