County of Los Angeles v. City of Los Angeles

*648 Opinion

This matter involves the City of Los Angeles’s (City) attempt to install a sewer line outside of its territorial limits in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County (County). The County sought a writ of mandate and declaratory relief against the City to halt construction of the proposed sewer line. The trial court granted the County’s writ petition, enjoining the City from proceeding without first obtaining the County’s consent or a judicial determination of the terms and conditions and location for the use of the County street. We conclude the trial court misinterpreted the applicable statutory framework and employed the wrong standard of review. Accordingly, we reverse and remand with directions.

FACTS

Sewage from coastal areas of the City is pumped to the Hyperion Treatment Plant in Playa del Rey via the Venice pumping plant. The Venice pumping plant is the largest wastewater pumping plant in the City and its existing 48-inch diameter force main sewer line can only handle about 60 percent of the flows coming from the plant. The 48-inch sewer pipe has been in continuous operation since it was built in 1958 because it is the only feasible way to convey sewage…