Committee backs ordinance changes renaming infrastructure terms, expanding shutoff fee authority and tightening backflow enforcement

The Climate and Infrastructure Committee voted to recommend city council approval of ordinance amendments that revise water service terminology, broaden shutoff fee authority and update cross‑connection and backflow enforcement language.

Annika Bankston, director of water treatment and distribution services, said the proposed changes fall into four categories: inclusive language (replacing the term “manhole” with “maintenance hole”), plain‑language changes (renaming the industry term “curb stop” to “water service shutoff valve”), clarifying fee authority for shutoffs and technical updates to cross‑connection control and backflow prevention that align ordinance language with current plumbing codes.

Bankston said the ordinance change would allow the city to charge a shutoff fee “due to any violation, not just for delinquency,” and would clarify notice requirements specific to delinquency. She also said the proposed changes enable penalties rather than only administrative fines for noncompliance with backflow requirements and could add those penalties to water utility bills.

Committee members thanked staff for the work; Council Member Chavez noted the changes advance a broader push to eliminate gendered language across the municipal code. The motion to recommend approval passed by voice vote; the chair recorded no rolls call tally in the meeting excerpt.