HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/21/2026 Item 7b, SLO Chamber of Commerce
Rachel Whalen <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Garret Olson
Subject:4/21/2026 Agenda Item 7b SLO Chamber Letter
Attachments:04.21.2026 Item 7b Sewer Lateral_SLO Chamber.pdf
Dear Mayor Stewart and Members of the Council,
On behalf of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, please find the attached letter regarding the
Sewer Lateral Program item on your upcoming agenda.
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss further.
Thank you,
Rachel Whalen
she/her/hers
Director of Governmental Affairs
805.786.2763
rachel@slochamber.org
895 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
1
Garret Olson
President/CEO
��� C�f►'� ��� 895 Monterey St.
San Luis Obispo,
CA 93401
805.786.2761
docham ber.org
April 20, 2026
Mayor Erica A. Stewart and Members of the City Council
990 Palm Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Dear Mayor Stewart and Council Members,
On behalf of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, I am writing to express our support for staff's
recommendation to dissolve the Sewer Lateral Offset Program.
While we recognize the program was developed with the intent of addressing infrastructure needs, in
practice it has proven to be a significant challenge for the development community to navigate and
implement. The logistical complexity and unpredictability of the offset requirements have created delays
and added costs, ultimately serving as another impediment to achieving our shared housing production
and affordability goals.
We strongly support targeted, outcomes -driven solutions that address the City's infrastructure
constraints. Requiring the mandatory replacement of sewer laterals identified as poor or failed within
the capacity -constrained area —triggered through the existing inspection -upon -sale program and
completed within 180 days —is a more practical and effective approach. This ensures that critical
repairs are made where they are most needed, while providing a clear and reasonable timeline for
compliance.
Focusing first on capacity -constrained areas creates a thoughtful, phased approach. It allows the City
to prioritize the most critical repairs while testing and refining the program before considering any
broader, citywide requirements. This measured implementation provides an effective pilot program to
help ensure long-term success.
Importantly, prioritizing the repair of damaged sewer laterals in these constrained areas is essential to
controlling long-term City costs and maintaining system reliability. This proposed approach strikes an
appropriate balance between infrastructure responsibility and economic feasibility.
We respectfully urge the Council to support staff's informed recommendation to dissolve the offset
program and implement this more streamlined and effective path forward.
Thank you for your consideration and continued leadership.
Sincerely,
Garret Olson Rachel Whalen
President/CEO Director of Governmental Affairs