The Utilities Commission on Sept. 4 agreed to carry third‑reading consideration of amendments addressing backflow and fats, oils and grease (FOG) to its October meeting so staff can finish drafting code changes and work through petroleum‑based oil permitting and inspection details.

City staff told commissioners they are not drafting wholly new legislation but will amend existing water and wastewater code sections to shift some permitting duties to the city inspector’s office. Staff said they plan to add related items — including septage and bulk water hauling — to the amendments so the changes can be handled together rather than as separate new legislation.

Staff and commissioners discussed petroleum‑based oils, oil‑water separators and interceptor devices. Staff said some facilities have discharged petroleum products into the system contrary to expectations and that current permitting and registration language is sparse. Commissioners and staff considered options including stronger registration requirements, inspections by the city inspector’s office, or moving oversight under grease/ interceptor rules rather than permitting discharges.

Staff described prior local incidents and said some discharges have caused overflows in the West End; staff noted that discharges to the wastewater plant would violate wastewater rules, and discharges to local waterways would violate stormwater rules. Staff suggested a registration approach that would require facilities to list interceptors on plan submittals so the city can inspect and track them rather than granting broad permissions to discharge petroleum products.

The presenter said they are working with the city engineer (Mister Platt) and other staff (Scott, Dave, Charlie and Aaron were named as discussants) to draft clear code language and to confirm inspection roles. The commission chair said staff will circulate a draft roughly two weeks before the October meeting so commissioners can review in advance. No vote on ordinance language was taken at the Sept. 4 meeting; the item was carried to the October agenda for further review.