BIG UPDATE — WE NEED EL CAJON RESIDENTS TO SHOW UP TOMORROW!

BIG UPDATE — WE NEED EL CAJON RESIDENTS TO SHOW UP TOMORROW!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8 at 3:00 PM, the El Cajon City Council will hear the staff report on the City’s sewer lateral policy — the issue we have been fighting to get formally reviewed. The meeting is at El Cajon City Hall, 200 Civic Center Way.

Back in July, the Council voted 5–0 unanimously to direct staff to evaluate the current policy and bring options back for discussion. Tomorrow is that meeting.

The staff report lays out five different policy options, including one where the City could assume responsibility for the lower lateral located in the public right-of-way. Staff’s own research estimates this could involve roughly 9 repairs per year in El Cajon, and acknowledges that repairs beneath the public right-of-way are often more complex and costly.

However, staff is currently recommending no change to the existing policy — even though the report also states that formal cost estimates have not yet been prepared for the alternatives.

That’s why tomorrow matters.

I am not asking the City Council to blindly adopt a new policy tomorrow. I am asking them to continue the work they started and direct staff to fully analyze the financial, legal and operational feasibility of sharing responsibility for sewer laterals beneath our public streets before deciding the status quo is the best answer.

If you signed the petition, shared my posts, followed this story, own a home in El Cajon, or simply believe residents deserve a fair and thoughtful review of this policy — PLEASE COME.

Having residents physically sitting in those seats matters. It shows the Council that this issue is bigger than one homeowner and one broken pipe.

Tuesday, September 8 — 3:00 PM
El Cajon City Hall
200 Civic Center Way
Agenda Item 15 — Sewer Lateral Policy and Policy Options

We got this issue to the table. Now we need to make sure the conversation doesn't stop here.

Please share.