§ 98-202. Purpose and intent.

(a)

This article is adopted pursuant to Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution which authorizes the city to exercise its police power to protect and promote the public health, safety and general welfare. While stormwater runoff is one step in the natural cycle of water, human activities, including, but not limited to, agriculture, construction, manufacturing and the operation of an urban infrastructure, may result in undesirable discharges of pollutants and certain sediments. Such discharges may accumulate in local drainage channels and waterways and eventually may be deposited in the waters of the United States. The purpose of this article is to protect and enhance the water quality of watercourses, water bodies and wetlands within the city in a manner consistent with the Federal Clean Water Act, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and Municipal Discharge Permits #CA0082597 and #CAS0085324 together with all subsequent amendments and renewals by controlling the contribution of urban pollutants to stormwater runoff which enters the city stormwater conveyance system.

(b)

It is the intent of the council in adopting this article to provide the city with the legal authority to accomplish the following goals:

(1)

To benefit the people and environment of the city by protecting water quality in waters of the state;

(2)

To reduce the discharge of pollutants in stormwater to the maximum extent practicable;

(3)

To effectively prohibit nonstormwater discharges into the city stormwater conveyance system;

(4)

To comply with the requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act, the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act and NPDES Municipal Stormwater Discharge Permits #CA0082597 and #CAS0085324 together with all subsequent amendments and renewals as they apply to the discharge of pollutants into and from the city stormwater conveyance system;

(5)

To fully implement the city's comprehensive stormwater management program as approved by the regional board;

(6)

To protect the physical integrity and function of the city stormwater conveyance system from the effects of pollutants and materials other than stormwater;

(7)

To prevent the contamination of groundwater as a result of pollution migration from the city stormwater conveyance system;

(8)

To promote cost effective management and beneficial use of sediments in the city stormwater conveyance system;

(9)

To protect the health and safety of maintenance personnel and the public who may be exposed to pollutants in the city stormwater conveyance system;

(10)

To provide for the recovery of regulatory costs incurred by the city in the implementation of its comprehensive stormwater management program, including, but not limited to, enforcement activities, inspections, investigations, sampling and monitoring; and

(11)

To establish appropriate enforcement procedures and penalties for violations of the provisions of this article.

(Ord. No. 2004-08, § 1, 9-22-2004; Ord. No. 2018-001, § 8, 7-12-2018)