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The Livermore City Council voted unanimously Monday to adopt a resolution certifying environmental documents and approving ballot initiative language to extend sanitary sewer service beyond the urban growth boundary to serve wine country uses.
The initiative, proposed by the Tri-Valley Conservancy (TVC), aims to improve groundwater quality and enhance the economic viability of agriculture and viticulture in the South Livermore Valley area, according to city staff.
On May 23, the council expressed unanimous support for the initiative but directed staff to prioritize clarity in the finalized version of the language with consideration to suggestions from the community and stakeholders.
During Monday night's regular meeting, Mayor Bob Woerner and Councilmember Trish Munro shared comments thanking city staff for their efforts in preparing the materials. Following their remarks, the council voted to certify the environmental report and approve the initiative language.
Munro also lauded the cooperation that took place between the city and the community to move the initiative forward.
"We don't always get collaboration but it's one of the things I really love when Livermore really works hard to make that happen," she said.
A number of public speakers also shared their support for the initiative, including representatives from project stakeholders like the citizen group Friends of Livermore, TVC, Visit Tri-Valley, the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association as well as chamber of commerce CEO Dawn Argula and former mayor John Marchand.
The initiative would modify South Livermore urban growth boundary policies enabling the city to extend sewer service and property owners to receive municipal services. The sewer project would be constructed in phases and within existing rights-of-way. Connection to the line would not be required but would be available at the request of individual property owners and subject to an out-of-area service agreement or annexation into the city.
The land-use restrictions put in place by the South Livermore Valley Area Plan and Measure D — passed two decades ago to protect open space — would remain in effect with the sewer line expansion. However, because the sewer line would cross the voter-approved South Livermore urban growth boundary, voters would need to approve the sewer line expansion for the plan to move forward.
The supplemental environmental impact report (SEIR) certified by the council was prepared by city staff and Rincon Consultants, Inc.
Based on the results of an initial study, the project’s potential impacts to biological and cultural resources, geology and soils, noise, and tribal cultural resources were found to be less than significant with mitigation. Mitigation measures include monitoring and halting work for species, cultural, tribal, archaeological, and paleontological resources and implementing noise reductions from construction activities, city staff said in its agenda report.
Upon further evaluation, the SEIR concludes the project’s potential impacts to hydrology and water quality, and utilities and service systems would be less than significant and no mitigation would be required.
The proposed ballot question reads as, "Shall the ordinance amending the South Livermore Urban Growth Boundary policies in the City of Livermore’s General Plan to allow the City to extend sewer service to permitted uses within the South Livermore Valley Area Plan Planning Area be adopted?"
If approved by voters, the extended sewer line would protect the groundwater from contamination and allow a limited expansion of wine country-related businesses in the area, according to TVC.
The cost of construction would be split between Alameda County, which would contribute $6.5 million — 80% of the funds needed — and commercial and residential properties that choose to connect to the new sewer line. City staff said it would conduct community outreach and engagement opportunities later this year for residents to learn more about the construction process.
The measure would need to receive above 50% of the votes in favor of it in order to pass, according to city attorney Jason Alcala. The resolution to place the initiative on the Nov. 8 general election ballot will go before the City Council for a vote at its next regular meeting set for July 25.
A complete recording of the July 11 council meeting is available here.
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