Council approves letter-of-intent support for connecting Sutter County Fire Station No. 8 to nearby potable line

The Yuba City City Council on Tuesday voted to authorize staff to sign a letter of intent indicating the city's willingness to serve Sutter County Fire Station No. 8 with potable water, provided Sutter County completes Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) and other required approvals.

City staff said the fire station, located just outside Yuba City limits south of town, currently relies on a well with limited yield and has struggled to meet apparatus-filling needs. Staff described a recently completed, grant-funded water line that runs along Railroad Avenue and Berry and noted that the line is owned and maintained by Yuba City Unified School District.

"We currently try not to use the well because we get maybe 30, 25 to 30 gallons a minute," Battalion Chief Carlos Del Rio of Sutter County Fire said of the station's well. "We end up having to go to Stewart School to fill up our engines. We have had our water tender sit there for over 8 hours 1 time, so it's not feasible at all." Del Rio added that the well nearly ran dry in the past.

Staff told council the process would require Sutter County to pursue LAFCO approval because the station is outside the city's sphere of influence and to coordinate with Yuba City Unified, the line's owner, on any connection and maintenance terms. Staff also said Sutter County would be expected to pay connection and extension fees and perform any on-site work.

City staff outlined metering options: the existing 4-inch main is metered at the corner of Berry and Stewart; the school site is sub-metered for landscaping and domestic water. Moody said a small domestic meter (for showers and drinking water) plus a larger meter for hydrant or engine-filling use could be installed if the connection proceeds.

Council members pressed for indemnification language and contractual clarity. Mayor Dave Shaw and other council members said it is important that the city not be left exposed if the state or grant administrator later questions the original grant that paid for the school line. Staff replied that the grant is closed out and that any extraterritorial service would be covered by a specialized agreement among Yuba City, Yuba City Unified and Sutter County that would include billing and maintenance terms.

There was no public comment on the item. The council approved a motion to accept staff's recommendation and authorized the public works director to sign a letter of intent to serve the fire station, contingent on LAFCO approval and formal agreements with the school district and Sutter County.

Council directed staff to include indemnification language in the future extraterritorial agreement and to require Sutter County to coordinate with Yuba City Unified on the permitted use of the line.

Ending: Staff will respond to LAFCO with the council's position and work with Yuba City Unified and Sutter County on a formal extraterritorial service agreement should LAFCO approve the request.