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Council reviews utilities budget: PFAS cleanup, sewer rate study and battery incentives on agenda
Summary
City staff briefed the council on environmental and utility-service priorities including PFAS remediation at the old fire-training site, a proposed sewer cost-of-service study, enhanced street‑sweeping pilots and battery and DC fast‑charging programs to support clean energy goals.
The City Council on May 7 examined environmental and utility-service priorities in the 2026–27 proposed budget, with staff outlining remediation work, service pilots and energy programs.
Jeff Provenzano, director of Environmental Services, said the CSA covers potable and recycled water, wastewater, stormwater, solid-waste collection and the city’s energy programs. He told the council the wastewater system is operating below a summer discharge cap and the city’s landfill-diversion rate remains above the state goal.
On longstanding contamination, Provenzano said the city retained remediation responsibility after transferring the former fire‑training property and that staff are actively removing PFAS from groundwater. “That work is underway right now and, should be done in the next couple years,” Provenzano said.
Proposed budget items included a sewer cost‑of‑service study, PFAS cleanup funding at city-owned training facilities, a full‑time solid‑waste enforcement position and an enhanced street‑sweeping pilot coordinated with the Department of Transportation.
Deputy City Manager Manuel Pineda said the city’s partnership with PG&E has improved project-tracking and interconnection coordination; staff are exploring modifying the current agreement to include projects in the 5–20 megawatt range to help local industrial and manufacturing development.
Laurie Mitchell, director of the energy department, described demand-side programs the city will scale in the coming year. “We currently have a battery incentive program for our customers, focused particularly on those customers that have installed solar,” Mitchell said, and added that the program is not fully subscribed and staff plan expanded marketing. Mitchell also announced a DC fast‑charging pilot of five sites, with construction to start later this year and operations expected in 2027, targeted to East-Side charging gaps.
Councilmembers asked about nonprofit cleanup partnerships for creek work, data showing where vehicles are towed by district, and whether the city can help expedite federal Superfund timelines; staff said they will provide additional information to council offices and will look into the EPA site timetable.
No votes were taken; staff said they will return with a manager’s budget addendum and memos covering junk-pickup coordination with Beautify San Jose, citation/tow data by district, and further details on PFAS and energy programs.
