For City Council Meeting June 10, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Tanya Williams, City Manager
AUTHOR: John Rossi, interim Utilities Director
Toyasha Sebbag, Assistant to the City Manager
Title
Request City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board set a Public Hearing for July 22, 2025, to receive public comment on the 2025 Public Health Goals Report as required by the California Health and Safety Code § 116470(b).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority Board set a Public Hearing for July 22, 2025, to receive public comment on the 2025 Public Health Goals Report as required by the California Health and Safety Code § 116470(b).
BACKGROUND
The California Health and Safety Code Section 116470(b) requires public water systems serving more than 10,000 service connections to prepare a Public Health Goals (PHG) Report every three years. This report must identify any detected constituents in the drinking water supply that exceed non-enforceable PHG’s established by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and explain the associated health risks, estimated costs of treatment, and whether any actions have been taken to reduce the constituent levels.
PHGs are not regulatory standards. The PHG Report must be made available to the public and presented at a formally noticed public hearing to allow for community input.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION
Rialto Utility Authority (RUA) has prepared the 2025 PHG Report, which covers calendar years 2022, 2023, and 2024. The report identifies any drinking water constituents found above OEHHA’s PHGs or U.S. EPA Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) in RUA’s water distribution system.
PHGs are extremely conservative health-based goals, often set at levels far lower than enforceable regulatory limits and are intended to inform the public of possible health risks associated with long-term exposure. Although RUA’s water meets all enforceable federal and state drinking water standards, the PHG Report is required when any levels exceed the PHGs.
To comply with state law, a Public Hearing must be held to present the report and allow residents and interested stakeholders an opportunity to provide comments. California Health and Safety Code Section 116470(b) requires that public notice of the hearing be provided at least 10 days in advance. Staff recommends that the Public Hearing be scheduled for the regularly scheduled July 22, 2025, City Council/RUA Board meeting.
This item was presented to the Water Subcommittee on May 29, 2025. It will be presented to the Utilities Commission at its regular July meeting. The Water Subcommittee feedback was that the item be brought forward to the City Council/RUA Board for consideration.
Following the public hearing, the final report will be available on the City/RUA and Rialto Water Services (RWS) websites. Printed copies will be available upon request at City Hall and RWS.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The proposed action is not a “Project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Pursuant to Section 15378(a), a “Project” means the whole of an action, which has the potential to result in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. According to Section 15378(b), a Project does not include (5) Organizational or administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY
This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3 in the General Plan: “Our City government will lead by example and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business”.
The action also supports the following General Plan goals and policies:
Public Safety Element - Goal PS1: Protecting Public Health and Safety. “Protect the public from natural and man-made hazards”.
Public Facilities and Services Element - Policy PF 2.3: Water Quality Monitoring. “Continue to monitor and improve the quality of the City’s water supply to meet or exceed state and federal water quality standards”.
Conservation and Open Space Element - Goal CO 4: Water Resource Protection. “Protect and enhance the quality of surface and groundwater resources”.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's Office has reviewed the staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Operating Budget Impact
The proposed action will have no impact on the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact
The proposed action will have no impact on the Capital Improvement Budget.
Licensing
This action does not require a business license.