Protect and preserve canyons and open space throughout District 6 by revising grading ordinances, enforcing existing ordinances and implementing City- Wide Canyon Sewer Maintenance Task Force recommendations.

Revise and enforce grading ordinances The community has expressed their concerns about grading issues. Steep slopes, whether manmade or natural, are often very visible in the community. In many areas, these slopes form or define the perceived open space of a community.

Councilmember Frye is currently working with City staff to coordinate the improvement of controls and enforcement of grading. The Neighborhood Code Compliance Department (NCCD), the Park and Recreation Department, the Office of the City Attorney, Development Services Department (DSD), and Engineering and Capital Projects are participating. The group is focusing on three areas: improved enforcement options, improved coordination among departments, and education outreach.

Enforcement Options
1.Increase Administrative Civil Penalties limit from $100,000 to $250,000.
2.Expand Hearing Officer pool to include Hearing Officers who have environmental expertise.
3.Add factors for determining Administrative Civil Penalties.
a.Nature and seriousness of violations.
b.Whether the violations impacted environmentally sensitive lands.
c.Willfulness of violator's conduct.
d.Violator's net worth, assets and liabilities.
4.Recovery of costs for restoration and remediation.
5.Prohibition of future development permits until enforcement has concluded.
6.Extend enforcement to contractors, subcontractors, and equipment operators.
a.Project plans and permits shall be maintained at the work site for review by City officials.
b.Immediately report violating contractors to the State Contractors Licensing Board.
7.Develop after hours reporting system.

Coordination Options
Create a Grading Violation Assessment Team (G-VAT). This team will consist of a Land Development Investigator, Biologist, Civil Engineer, and Deputy City Attorney.

Outreach and Education
1.Develop an informational brochure and video.
2.Add grading information to the City's web site.
3.Articles in local newspapers on grading and development in sensitive areas.
4.Outreach to equipment rental companies and home improvement stores. In addition, staff recommends distributing the brochure to engineering firms, surrounding cities, and to agencies that routinely perform grading activity in San Diego (e.g., CalTrans, County Water Authority, etc).

Read the City Manager's Report on "Grading Activity on Sensitive Habitat and Canyons." (Report No. 01-274)

City Wide Canyon Sewer Maintenance Task Force
The City of San Diego has approximately 320 miles of sewer mains existing in canyons, most of which are inaccessible to city crews. The mission of the City Wide Canyon Sewer Maintenance Task Force is to assist the City in evaluating alternatives and developing a citywide policy for operating, maintaining, and accessing sewer facilities where environmental health and public safety are protected and impacts to canyons are minimized.

The City Wide Canyon Sewer Maintenance Task Force made the following recommendations:

• Redirect sewer flow
• Install individual sewer pumps
• Improve access, repair and maintenance in canyons and other environmentally sensitive lands.

Read the City Manager's Report No. 02-015 on this subject.

Find out how you can help in the Canyon Watchers Program!