Law and Legislation Committee Meeting – July 19, 2022

On July 19, 2022, the Sacramento City Council's Law and Legislation Committee met via teleconference to discuss the Onsite Water Reuse and Dual Plumbing Study, including findings and preliminary recommendations. The committee also approved the consent calendar unanimously. After hearing public testimony and committee deliberation, members directed staff to convene stakeholders and return within one month with a work plan addressing near-term job transition strategies for plumbers and pipefitters affected by the building electrification ordinance, as well as longer-term technical and policy questions.

Consent Calendar

• Law and Legislation Log (File ID 2022-00192): Approved unanimously.
• Legislative Advocacy Correspondence (File ID 2022-00194): Received and filed.
• Law and Legislation Committee Meeting Minutes (June 21, 2022): Approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Daphne: Requested additional information on black water reuse, separation of systems in subdivisions, chemicals used in treatment, and public access to the study report. Expressed interest in understanding how systems would reflow into the main process.
• Paul Trudeau (District 4 resident, member of 350 Sacramento and chair of Sacramento DSA's labor committee): Expressed support for dual plumbing but argued the timeline should not lag behind the building electrification ordinance. Recommended including residential properties, noting the small cost increase and potential water savings. Reported minimal maintenance experience with gray water systems.
• Kate Wilkins (350 Sacramento): Echoed concerns about timing and job transition, noting that the 100,000-square-foot threshold would not generate enough job opportunities. Advocated for expanding the ordinance to lower square footage and including residential buildings.

Discussion Items

• Onsite Water Reuse and Dual Plumbing Study – Findings and Preliminary Recommendations (File ID 2022-01264): Staff presented a two-phase approach. Phase 1 would require dual plumbing in new commercial buildings ≥100,000 sq ft for gray water reuse (already permitted under California Plumbing Code). Phase 2 would address on-site treatment requirements for gray, black, and rainwater, aligning with state SB 966 regulations expected December 2022. The study found an average cost of $2.88/sq ft to install dual plumbing (0.34% increase in total project costs) and only 13 commercial buildings ≥100,000 sq ft built in the last 12 years. Committee members raised several concerns:
  • Councilmember Guerra: Questioned whether the 100,000 sq ft threshold was too high; suggested studying lower thresholds (50,000, 75,000 sq ft) and examining other cities' models. Also asked about the city's existing gray water rebate program and fee deferral incentives used in San Francisco.
  • Councilmember Valenzuela: Emphasized the need for a just transition for workers, noting that the primary goal was job replacement for plumbers/pipefitters (estimated 20% reduction in demand). Wanted a more aggressive approach, including expanded building types, existing building retrofits, and a parallel stakeholder process to address immediate job strategies. Suggested the city take a leadership role in influencing state regulations.
  • Councilmember Harris: Argued that many unknowns (treatment costs, SB 966 requirements, job loss numbers) make it premature to mandate dual plumbing. Proposed a voluntary pilot program for a multi-unit residential building to gather real-world data. Noted that untreated gray water for drip irrigation would likely clog emitters and that residential irrigation is limited to drip, not spray.
  • Chair Schenirer: Summarized that the committee largely agreed on direction: staff should meet with stakeholders, especially UA 447, and return with a work plan addressing both near-term job transition strategies and longer-term technical/regulatory questions. Stressed the importance of moving quickly but carefully to avoid costly mistakes.

Key Outcomes

• Committee direction to staff: Reconvene with stakeholders (including plumbers/pipefitters, developers, and other interested parties) and return to the committee within approximately one month with a work plan. The work plan should:
  1. Address immediate job transition strategies for workers affected by the building electrification ordinance.
  2. Outline a roadmap for the longer-term dual plumbing and on-site water reuse ordinance, including pilot projects, analysis of lower square footage thresholds, treatment costs, and coordination with SB 966.
  3. Consider pilot programs (e.g., voluntary multi-unit residential project) to gather data on construction and operational costs.
  4. Explore fee deferral or incentive structures similar to San Francisco's program.
  5. Leverage Sacramento's position as state capital to influence upcoming state regulations (SB 966) and building standards.
• Staff will keep committee members informed of progress and may request additional resources (staff, consultants) as needed.
• No formal vote on the study was taken; the committee's direction was unanimous.