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Council introduces ordinance and policy to align residential water‑shutoff rules with SB 998
Summary
City council introduced an ordinance and companion policy to implement SB 998 protections: a minimum 60‑day delinquency before residential shutoff, multilingual notices, payment-plan options and tenant protections; staff will post translated materials and begin door‑hanger notifications ahead of reconnection procedures.
Council members on Wednesday introduced an ordinance to amend the municipal code and adopted a proposed Residential Discontinuation of Water Service policy to comply with California’s SB 998 (the Water Shutoff Protection Act).
Staff explained the changes are intended to codify practices already used operationally but not consolidated in the municipal code. The policy requires multiple notices, multilingual communications, payment-plan options, appeal rights and explicit protections for low‑income households and residents with documented medical needs. Under the proposed procedure a minimum of 60 days of delinquency would be required before residential service may be discontinued, extending the prior practice of 30 days in some circumstances.
Staff also described tenant protections: if a tenant can show the landlord is responsible for unpaid water bills, the city can establish a separate account for the tenant so the tenant is not held responsible for prior delinquencies. Officials said commercial accounts are not covered by SB 998 and remain subject to existing procedures.
The ordinance was introduced on first reading and scheduled for a second reading on Feb. 4; staff said the policy would be posted and translated and that door hangers would be placed on properties with active delinquent accounts beginning in early February with a due date of Feb. 28. Council voted to introduce the ordinance on first reading.
City staff emphasized the policy includes administrative appeal procedures and authority to make adjustments where warranted, and staff said they will continue outreach to delinquent customers to offer payment plans and avoid shutoffs where possible.
