City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: OCTOBER 9, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: MICHAEL MOON, INTERIM DIRECTOR, TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Introduction and First Reading. Consideration. AN ORDINANCE to amend and reordain Section 5-6-229.10 (PENALTIES) of Division 4 (FATS, OILS, AND GREASE (FOG), FOG MANAGEMENT), Article B (SEWAGE DISPOSAL AND DRAINS) of Title 5 (TRANSPORTATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended.
BODY
ISSUE: Consideration of proposed amendments to Section 5-6-229.10 of the City Code.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council:
1. Introduce and pass on first reading Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the ordinance (Attachment 2) amending City Code section 5-6-229.10 to modify the penalties section in order to be in accordance and compliant with what is allowed by the Code of Virginia.
2. Set the ordinance for public hearing and final passage on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
BACKGROUND: The discharge of fats, oils and grease (FOG) into the City's sanitary sewer collection system causes and contributes to sanitary sewer blockages, obstructions, and sanitary sewer overflows. In September 2020, City Council amended Title 5, Chapter 6 of the City Code to update the existing sewage disposal ordinance related to the discharge of FOG from food service establishments (FSEs), with an effective date of July 1, 2021.
DISCUSSION: Findings from FOG inspections completed to date indicate that while most FSEs have proper FOG control, a small number do not have grease control devices installed to address FOG discharges, as is required by the City Code. Following FOG inspections, staff sent letters to those FSEs that did not have proper grease control equipment stating that a follow-up inspection would be conducted, and that civil penalties would be issued if they had not...
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