HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/19/2025 Item 8a, Updegrove
Graham Updegrove <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:8/19 City Council Meeting - Item 8A / Sewer Infastructure
Dear Mayor and Councilmembers,
I applaud the Utilities department in their work improving sewer infrastructure and support updating
capacity constrained maps for the City.
As a real estate broker, I also appreciate correspondence from staff in their outreach to achieve city
goals as it relates to wastewater. Increasing the sewer lateral replacement rebate to $4,000 last year is
well received to keep pace with increasing labor and material costs. I support expanding the rebate to all
property types within capacity constrained areas. With typical sewer replacement costs often running
$10,000 or more, every bit the city can do to help offset these costs is beneficial.
Further, the lateral inspection rebate of up to $350 is a great complement to the lateral replacement
rebate. This will help the City gather data on private infrastructure while helping educate owners about
the condition of their own sewer lateral; presumably leading to more owners making repair and/or
replacing their sewer.
A few alternatives to staff recommendations consider requiring sewer lateral replacement when in a
poor/failed condition. I oppose any such requirement for various reasons, including 1) plumbers who are
bonded for work in the City right of way may not have the capacity to take on this additional work, 2) this
will delay the escrow process to complete repairs and put undue financial and mental stress on
buyers/sellers, 3) this would add an additional cost to buyers who are already trying to make ends meet
buying a home in our area (down-payment, closing costs, moving costs, etc).
I support a measured approach with periodic reviews of the existing programs to ensure they are working
as intended. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Regards,
Graham Updegrove
Broker / Owner, Lic #01873454
California Coastal Real Estate I www.ccreslo.com
c: 805.459.1865
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