Brentwood council directs staff to stop utility extensions outside urban‑limit line, citing voter intent

At its Jan. 13 meeting the Brentwood City Council voted unanimously to direct city staff not to approve utility extensions outside the city limits or the city’s urban‑limit line.

Staff introduced the item as an opportunity to provide policy guidance for out‑of‑service‑area requests for enterprise services (water, wastewater, solid waste). Casey Weicker, director of public works, said the city has one existing out‑of‑service agreement from 2019 for up to 120 acre‑feet of recycled water and that staff sought council direction on whether to adopt a general policy for similar future requests.

Public comment was heavily weighted against permitting extensions outside the urban‑limit line: several residents said Brentwood voters had rejected measures that would allow premature expansion (speakers referenced Measures F and L), and attendees urged the council to resist setting precedents that would encourage development beyond the urban boundary.

Vice Mayor Pearson moved that the council adopt a policy direction to decline utility extensions outside the urban‑limit line and outside city boundaries; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call. Councilmembers said they wanted a clear, written directive so that future staff decisions could not be interpreted as enabling growth that voters had rejected.

Staff clarified the mechanics: the discussion centered on enterprise services (potable/non‑potable water and sewer) rather than solid waste pickup in the near term, and staff said prior out‑of‑service agreements had gone through LAFCO and council approval.

What council decided: staff will prepare and return a policy that prohibits providing utilities outside the urban limit line and outside city bounds, unless the council directs otherwise. The motion is policy direction to staff — not an immediate ordinance change — and staff committed to drafting written policy reflecting the council’s direction.

Speakers referenced in the meeting record: Vice Mayor Pearson; Council member Mendoza; Council member Orleman; Council member Maloney; public commenters opposed to extending utilities beyond the urban limit line.

Next steps: staff will draft the policy language and return it to council for formal consideration and possible codification.