Don Norton, identifying himself as the owner of Schott's Coffee, used public comment time to ask the Rio Del City Council to review and reclassify his business’s sewer-strength category under “resolution 15 36 dash 20 22.” Norton said his shop’s wastewater primarily results from beverages sold to customers and therefore does not have the high organic load typical of full-service restaurants.

Norton told the council his coffee shop “does not operate a garbage disposal or produce significant food waste” and that “roughly half of our total water usage goes directly into beverages that are sold to customers and do not enter the sewer system.” He said the city’s classification table distinguishes coffee shops with dishwashers or disposals from those without, and that Schott’s should be classified as medium or low strength, not high. Norton offered to provide monthly water-use records and a beverage-sales ratio to substantiate the request.

Norton also referenced the city’s rate-setting constraints and a ballot provision referenced in the public comment (transcribed as “prop 2 18”), arguing that utility rates must reflect proportional cost of service. Council members discussed whether such a change would be a staff-level review and noted that the city’s engineering discretion under the cited resolution could be used to reassess classifications. One council member said directing staff to review the classification would be the appropriate next step; no formal motion to direct staff was recorded in the transcript.

Clarifying details Norton offered for verification included monthly water-usage records, beverage sales ratios showing the majority of water leaves the premises, and other documentation the city’s engineering staff could use to recalculate EDU (equivalent dwelling unit) factors. The council did not take formal action at the meeting to change the classification; the record indicates the request will be handled through staff review rather than an immediate council directive.

The matter may return to a future agenda if staff’s technical review or an applicant request requires formal council action.