Sanitary district adopts sewer master plan after debate over $13M trunk line and contamination

The East Palo Alto Sanitary District board on July 29 approved a long‑term sewer system master plan that lays out priorities for capital improvements, including a modeled, high‑priority trunk line estimated at roughly $13 million.

Board member and councilmember Lincoln raised multiple concerns about the document’s scope: he said the draft lacked detailed analysis or financing plans for the trunk line and relied on flow data from 2011–2012. “There's supposed to be a second trunk line constructed… a $13,000,000 trunk line? Is that has that been addressed?” Lincoln asked. District engineer Hamza Javed said the master plan is intended as a prioritization roadmap rather than a construction package and that the trunk line has been identified by modeling as a category‑1 priority to be led by the district once the plan is adopted. Javed said detailed design, construction specifications and hazardous‑waste handling will be addressed on a project‑by‑project basis and brought back to the board for budgeting and approval.

Board members and public commenters pressed for clearer financing and fair‑share arrangements for developers. Javed described existing options: developer credits against impact fees, fair‑share agreements to repay initial builders once future projects materialize, and potential district financing or bonds in specific cases. He acknowledged one outstanding comment from Sand Hill Properties that staff had resolved through follow‑up correspondence.

Board members approved the master plan on a roll‑call vote with one member voting no (Board member Lincoln), and supporters said adopting the plan enables the district to pursue grants, financing and prioritized work. The board also heard public testimony calling for an audit of prior parcel classifications and billing computations before charges go to the tax roll. The board will return individual projects to the board for specific financing and design decisions.