McKinleyville board advances food‑truck wastewater rules and approves first readings on ADU connection fees

The McKinleyville Community Services District board on Oct. 7 voted to adopt a permit and first‑reading ordinance aimed at reducing fats, oils and grease discharges from mobile food trucks, and separately approved first readings of two ordinances to update sewer and water connection charges for accessory dwelling units.

General Manager Pat Kaspari explained the proposed Regulation 24 updates and a companion application and permit for mobile food trucks, saying the district currently has no permit mechanism for food trucks that specifies where they discharge cooking waste. ‘‘We don’t have any mechanism to even walk up to their door and ask them,’’ Kaspari said, describing the intent of the application: to document each vendor’s cooking practices, approved discharge location and records of disposal so the district’s fat, oil and grease inspection program can include mobile sources.

Under the proposed application, a food‑truck operator would list the approved facility where grease and wastewater are deposited; the district would inspect and require documentation that the receiving facility (for example, an authorized commercial kitchen or a permitted disposal site) accepts the waste. Staff noted Humboldt Sanitation and other regional facilities already accept cooking greases and that vendors operating from incubator sites often use those hookups.

During a lengthy discussion directors raised enforcement and jurisdiction questions, saying county public‑health permitting also covers food‑truck operations. Staff responded the district’s role would focus on protecting sewer infrastructure and educating vendors; enforcement initially will be administrative and educational while the district develops inspection cycles and vendor lists.

The board moved, seconded and approved the ordinance first reading and the permit procedure. Separately, the board approved first readings of two related ordinances: Regulation 21 (sewer connection charges) and Regulation 5 (water service application) to conform with California Government Code section 65852.2 for accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Staff said the sewer ordinance removes a $225 development intensity charge and adds an administrative fee (an $85 baseline indexed to cost‑of‑living adjustments) to cover staff review time.

Board members asked staff to compile a vendor list, coordinate with county public health and provide follow‑up briefings on enforcement mechanics and likely workload for the district inspections team.