Council approves sewer rehab contract, updates cross‑connection rule, expands merchant online‑payment fees and extends Christ Cathedral event hours

The Garden Grove City Council, Sanitary District and related bodies approved a package of operational items during the meeting, including a sewer system rehabilitation planning contract, the introduction of an updated cross‑connection control ordinance, increases to geotechnical on‑call contracts, adoption of a merchant fee approach for online payments and an extension of event hours for Christ Cathedral.

Sewer system rehabilitation plan: The Sanitary District board awarded a professional services contract to Somas (staff used the name Sumas in the report) to prepare the 2025 Sewer System Rehabilitation Plan — Phase 3. Deputy director Sam Kim said the Phase 3 area lies south of Orange Avenue, west of Ninth Street, north of Lamson Avenue and east of Beach Boulevard and that the negotiated professional services agreement totals $1,908,747. Staff said the work is included in the adopted fiscal year sewer capital improvement budget and that there is no general‑fund impact. The district board voted to award the contract; the transcript records a 7‑yes vote.

Cross‑connection control ordinance and cost share: The council introduced and passed first reading on an ordinance updating the city’s cross‑connection control program. Deputy Director Sam Kim said the update would replace a reference to Title 17 of the California Code of Regulations with the Cross Connection Control Policy Handbook and recognize the State Water Resources Control Board as the governing body for the handbook. Kim said local agencies must develop a cross‑connection control plan by July 1, 2025; the city’s cost share in a countywide consultant agreement is about $6,200, funded from the water enterprise fund. The council passed the ordinance to second reading and authorized the city manager to execute the cost‑sharing agreement by a recorded 7‑yes vote.

On‑call geotechnical contract amendments: The council approved amendments to the city’s on‑call geotechnical services agreements with Associated Soils Inc. and GMU Geotechnical Services Inc. Staff explained that a third firm, GeoCon West, failed to meet Community Workforce Agreement compliance; to preserve capacity staff recommended redirecting that firm’s remaining funds to the two compliant firms and increasing each contract by $150,000 (from $150,000 to $300,000). Staff said there is no impact to the overall project budgets and no additional appropriation needed. The council approved the amendments by a 7‑yes vote.

Merchant services / convenience fee: The council approved staff’s recommendation to have Point and Pay LLC charge customers a negotiated convenience fee for credit/debit/digital wallet transactions, rather than the city implementing a user fee. Patricia Song said staff negotiated a rate of 2.2% of the transaction amount with a $2 minimum per transaction for card and wallet payments; electronic check transactions would remain a 20¢ fee that the city will absorb. Staff said absorbing e‑check costs would amount to roughly $20,000 annually based on historical volume (≈100,000 e‑checks). Under the chosen option, customers see and pay the convenience fee directly to the vendor and the city avoids merchant costs on its general fund. Council voted 7‑0 to approve the vendor‑charge option.

Christ Cathedral event‑hour extensions: The council approved a written request from Christ Cathedral Parish, Diocese of Orange, to extend operating hours and exempt the events from the city’s standard noise hours for three events: the annual Marion Days (July 11–12, 2025) and two conferences (October 17–18, 2025 and November 14–15, 2025). Staff reported the Marion Days event previously drew about 20,000 attendees over two days and said the police department will be reimbursed for personnel services. The council approved the extension; a council member confirmed no recusal was required for parishioner members.

Proclamations and consent items: On the consent calendar the council adopted proclamations recognizing April as Black April Memorial Month and April as Arab American Heritage Month; both passed without discussion as part of the consent calendar (7 yes votes recorded). Other procedural consent and minutes items were also approved.

Votes at a glance - Sanitary District: Award contract to Somas for 2025 sewer system rehabilitation plan phase 3 — $1,908,747. Vote: 7 yes, 0 no. (No general‑fund impact; funded in sewer CIP.) - City Council: Introduce and pass first reading of the cross‑connection control ordinance; authorize city manager to sign cost‑sharing agreement (~$6,200). Vote: 7 yes. - City Council: Amend Associated Soils Inc. and GMU Geotechnical contracts — increase to $300,000 by reallocating GeoCon West funds. Vote: 7 yes. - City Council: Approve Point and Pay vendor‑charge approach (2.2% / $2 minimum; city absorbs 20¢ e‑check). Vote: 7 yes. - City Council: Approve Christ Cathedral event‑hour extensions and noise‑ordinance exception for three 2025 events; police to be reimbursed for personnel. Vote: 7 yes. - City Council: Adopt proclamations recognizing Black April Memorial Month and Arab American Heritage Month. Vote: consent, 7 yes.

Staff and department contacts included Deputy Director Sam Kim (Public Works/Utilities), Director Patricia Song (Finance/IT and payment services), Deputy Director Janet Palayo (Community Services/Events), and the city attorney’s office, whose staff advised that parishioner attendance did not create a disqualifying financial conflict.