Belmont drops sewer fix, home sale mandate

The point-of-sale mandate, already in effect in several other local cities due to a court decision, was opposed by the San Mateo County Association of Realtors, who claimed the mandate could "kill" the sale of the home.

Fixing a sewer lateral could cost between $7,500 and $25,000.

The point-of-sale options the council considered Tuesday night were:

o No requirement at point of sale;

o Seller disclosure without an inspection required;

o Seller disclosure with inspection and repair (if needed) completed by buyer within 180 days of close of escrow;

o Inspection before close of escrow and repair (if needed) completed by buyer within 180 days of close of escrow; and

o Inspection and repair (if needed) completed before the close of escrow.

The council went with the "seller disclosure without an inspection required" option that was essentially proposed by Councilman Warren Lieberman back in January.

The council also raised the limit for when sewer lateral inspections will be required on home remodels from $50,000 to $200,000.

The city's goal is to reduce the inflow and infiltration from private sewer laterals that can lead to sewage overflows and potential fines for the city.

The city has undertaken a series of measures to reduce inflow and infiltration including a smoke-testing program and FOG program where restaurants and other businesses are made aware of the fats, oils and grease that harm the sewer system.

Some cities in the county already have the mandate but that is due to a court order after pollution watchdog San Francisco Baykeeper sued several cities after excessive sewage waste flowed into freshwater creeks and the Bay. Pacifica, South San Francisco, Millbrae and Burlingame already require the inspections at the point of sale but Belmont is not required to.

The ordinance will come back to the council for a second reading at a future date.

silverfarb@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 106