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Antioch approves joining Contra Costa regional stormwater compliance JPA
Summary
Council voted 5–0 April 28 to join the Contra Costa Regional Alternative Compliance JPA (RAC), enabling off‑site green stormwater infrastructure credits and use of a CFD for long‑term O&M funding; staff estimated roughly $270k–$280k per treated acre for current projects and noted grant opportunities.
The Antioch City Council voted unanimously April 28 to approve participation in the Contra Costa Regional Alternative Compliance (RAC) joint powers authority, a regional system that allows local projects and developers to buy or sell compliance units for green stormwater infrastructure (GSI).
Beth Baldwin, senior watershed planner for the Contra Costa Clean Water Program, outlined how the RAC provides a credit‑banking framework and a centralized administrator to certify transactions, collect payments, and ensure long‑term operations and maintenance. The system pairs completed off‑site GSI projects that generate compliance units (treated impervious area) with buyers — private developers or public agencies — that need mitigation for new or redevelopment projects subject to the municipal stormwater permit.
Key council questions focused on cost and timing. Presenters cited one completed public project that yields a rough price of about $270,000–$280,000 per acre when capital plus 20 years of O&M are included; staff also said an anticipated EPA grant could fund construction of projects to help Antioch meet its 5‑acre retrofit target. The city currently has treated roughly 0.4–0.5 acre against a 5‑acre target required by the regional permit. Council discussed the possibility that demand for compliance units could exhaust available sellers and the importance of the grant pipeline.
Under the approved structure the RAC JPA will also pursue formation of a community facilities district (CFD) to provide a sustainable funding source for long‑term O&M; the CFD formation initial cost would be covered by a grant if the CFD is established in the grant window. Initial JPA administrative costs were estimated at several thousand dollars per member (roughly $2,850 as a one‑time share under a 10‑member scenario) and annual JPA costs around $1,300 per member, with owners ultimately responsible for ongoing CFD transaction costs.
Council approved the staff recommendations and the joint powers agreement, appointed a city representative to the JPA, and authorized related actions to proceed. Staff said they aim to finalize JPA formation and circulate CFD terms by the end of October so the first unit exchanges could occur in fall 2026.
