LAKEPORT – In the wake of a recent cease and desist order from the state, the Lakeport City Council is considering a new connection policy for the city's sewer system.

The policy is contained in draft Resolution 2294, which the council will discuss at its meeting today at 6 p.m.

The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board formally issued the cease and desist to the city last month for an April 2006 incident, in which several million gallons of treated wastewater ran off the City of Lakeport Municipal Sewer District (CLMSD) site.

The regional water board did, however, lift a sewer connection ban it had placed on the city Jan. 18.

At the same time, the regional water board is requiring that the city increase its sewer system capacity through such projects as a 90-acre expansion of the city's spray irrigation facilities, according to acting City Manager Richard Knoll.

By completing the required projects, the city will reportedly have 77 residential unit equivalent connections. However, Knoll said the city must have these projects completed by Nov. 1 in order to avoid further action by the regional water board.

The regional water board is allowing the city to allocate those 77 new connections before Nov. 1, according to the draft resolution going before the council tonight.

Knoll said Monday that the resolution isn't a regional water board requirement. Rather, he said it's an attempt to make sure the connections are allocated fairly and to discourage hoarding of sewer connection permits. He said it's also meant to require the city's sign-off on all building permit applications for connections to CLMSD, whether inside or outside of the city limits.

The policy created by the draft resolution applies specifically to the south CLMSD area, including areas within the county that are served by the city's wastewater plan, the document says.

The resolution states that the connections will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis on projects which have submitted a valid and complete building permit application.

The city's Community Development Department will be responsible for administering, tracking and permitting the connections, the resolution states. The county is to refer all building project applicants who require connection to CLMSD to the city for approval before issuing permits.

County Community Development Department Director Rick Coel could not be reached Monday for comment on how this might affect county procedures.

The draft resolution states that the city will reassess the policy in October to determine if it needs revising or amending.

Priority will be given to proposed development projects that include low-income housing units, the draft resolution states, according to government code requirements.

Once a sewer connection permit has been granted, an owner/builder will have 180 days to “commence and proceed with construction to the point where the structure is framed and closed in, with doors and windows installed, and the building is in a lockable-secure condition. Construction shall progress to the point of completion.”

The City Council meets at 6 p.m. at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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