West Valley Stormwater Authority asks Campbell commission to help pilot 'Adopt a Storm Drain' program

Sheila Tucker, manager of the West Valley Stormwater Authority, asked the Campbell Youth Commission to help promote a one-year "Adopt a Storm Drain" pilot that launched last summer and now shows 14 adopters on the program map.

Tucker told commissioners the authority is a joint powers agency that represents multiple cities and focuses on stormwater pollution prevention. "Our meetings are public. They're governed by the Brown Act. We have to follow the Public Records Act," she said, adding meetings follow Robert's Rules of Order. She described the authority's outreach work in Campbell, including trail signs and a mural created via an artist request-for-proposals.

The pilot uses an ArcGIS map where residents enter an address, click a drain to "adopt" it, and complete a brief liability waiver. "You will click on the drain you wanna adopt. This little box comes up and it asks you to name the drain for fun. You don't have to — you can be anonymous," Tucker said. The authority intentionally excludes major arterial drains from volunteer work and asks adopters to clear only surface debris; "you do have to sign a waiver that you're — you understand that you could get hurt," she said.

Tucker said supplies such as hand grabbers, gloves and vests are available on request but are limited. She also described modest incentives the authority has provided in the past — gift cards for contest winners and small advertising buys — and said the authority could consider funding limited supplies or outreach if commissioners present concrete ideas and budgets.

Commissioners pressed on youth participation and incentives. One commissioner asked whether the program could count for high-school service hours; another suggested parental waivers could enable minors to participate. Tucker confirmed parental consent is used where appropriate and recommended more frequent work during the rainy season. "We have 14 lonely adopters," she said, noting the pilot's modest uptake so far.

Tucker asked the commission to consider promotion through subcommittee social channels, school outreach, and small incentives to increase adoption. She offered to return with materials and said staff can provide supplies and a dashboard to measure participation if the commission helps with outreach.

The commission did not take a formal vote on the program; Tucker said no decision was required at the meeting and left the floor for commissioners to consult their subcommittees and Slack channels.

Next steps: Tucker will make materials available to commissioners and the authority awaits proposals for promotion ideas; commissioners suggested adding a short ad to the life-skills committee's next social post and exploring ties to school volunteer-hour programs.