Troutdale holds public hearing on tighter grease-control rules; second reading set for April 14

Troutdale city staff presented a proposed revision to Chapter 12.07 of the Troutdale Municipal Code on Feb. 24, saying the changes would give clearer requirements and enforcement steps to reduce fats, oils and grease (FOG) that staff link to ‘‘nocardia’’ foam appearing in the collection system and wastewater plant. The council held a public hearing on the ordinance introduction and did not vote; it scheduled the ordinance's second reading for April 14, 2026, and directed staff to notify affected restaurants and return with cost information.

Ryan Largura, city staff presenting the proposal, showed photographs from recent camera work and plant inspections and said the foam has intensified over the past 12 to 18 months and can cause odor problems, reduce sludge settling and create sanitary overflows that risk violating the city's NPDES discharge permit. "It's been causing odor issues. It's been causing some overflow at our basin walls in the aeration basin," Largura said while describing…