TITLE:
title
ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER III OF TITLE 15 OF THE COSTA MESA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PUBLIC WORKS - DRAINAGE
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DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT / ENGINEERING DIVISION
PRESENTED BY: RAJA SETHURAMAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
CONTACT INFORMATION: SEUNG YANG, P.E., CITY ENGINEER, (714) 754-5335
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council give second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2026-05, to be read by title only, approving revisions to Chapter III of Title 15 of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code (Public Works-Drainage) to incorporate updated drainage impact fees, revise administrative provisions for fee collection, and align City code language with current state law and the City's adopted Storm Drainage Impact Fee Nexus Study.
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BACKGROUND:
On October 15, 2024, the City Council reviewed and accepted Phase 1 of the Storm Drain System Master Plan Update, which included an "Existing Conditions Assessment Report" (ECAR) and the "Proposed Drainage and Water Quality Improvements" report.
On March 17, 2026, the City Council opened a public hearing and continued an introduction and first reading, by title only, of an ordinance amending Chapter III of Title 15 of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code relating to drainage to the April 7, 2026, City Council meeting.
During its regularly scheduled City Council meeting on April 7, 2026, the Council, while approving the proposed staff recommendation, requested minor revisions to the proposed ordinance to clarify the appeal process for drainage fee adjustments. Specifically, the requested revisions establish that appeals based on increased site permeability, including permeable surfaces, bioswales, or other stormwater infiltration features, shall be subject to final review and approval by the Public Works Director.
The requested revisions are incorporated into the ordinance presented for adoption and explained in the ANALYSIS section below.
All information regarding the St...
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