Council hears staff proposal to modernize municipal code chapters on water, sewers, buildings and construction

City public‑works staff presented proposed updates to Redmond Municipal Code Title 13 (water and sewer) and Title 15 (building and construction) at the Oct. 21 meeting, seeking council direction to continue public review and to prepare ordinances for formal adoption in 2026.

Scope and purpose: Staff said the update is part of a broader effort to align code with contemporary public‑works practice, address outdated language and fees, and support the city’s American Public Works Association accreditation. The review will also separate wastewater and stormwater code sections for clarity and remove obsolete sections such as a 1916 water‑conservation ordinance and a latecomer charge no longer applicable.

Notable proposed substantive changes - Terminology and authority: revise references to reflect modern terms ("wastewater" vs. "sewer"), replace outdated role references (city treasurer) and clarify that the Public Works Director and City Engineer references include authorized designees. - Stormwater and wastewater separation: move stormwater rules into a consolidated Title 13.06 and clearly prohibit wash‑water and external building washdown discharges to the storm system. - Fees and penalties: increase select bond and civil‑infraction amounts using CPI adjustments (examples: civil infraction for unauthorized water connection proposed to rise roughly from $500 to about $1,200); update minimum project size thresholds to reflect current costs. - Water meters and exemptions: clarify which structures require meters and add exemptions for rainwater harvesting and reclaimed‑water systems (exempt from water‑use charges but not sewer charges for disposal).

Council feedback and next steps Councilmembers asked whether the use of the term "police power" was necessary and whether changing that wording might create confusion; staff said the city attorney has reviewed the language and the term is legally applicable, but the city will consider clarifying alternatives in staff responses. Councilmembers also asked whether water‑conserving fixture requirements from the recently adopted water system plan should be folded in; staff said they will consider that and return with a response.

Staff outlined a public review plan: publish redlines and rationale, solicit stakeholder comments on the city’s Let’s Connect page, conduct SEPA review where required, and return a consolidated ordinance for council consideration in 2026. Staff recommended regular code reviews every three to four years going forward.

Ending: Councilmembers thanked staff for the work and asked staff to prepare a comment matrix and schedule the formal ordinance process with additional outreach to affected stakeholders.