San Jose council approves sewer‑service increases after business owner warns of disproportionate industrial increases

San Jose City Council on June 3 approved increases to the city's sewer service and use charges and to storm sewer service charges after a contentious public comment period in which a local brewery representative said his business’s bill rose roughly 40% even though typical residential increases averaged around 9%.

Dan Gordon, identified in public discussion with councilmembers as associated with Gordon Biersch, told the council he received a bill reflecting about a 40% increase for his business and asked the city to perform an accounting review under Proposition 218 and to provide calculations and refunds if an error was found. “I was against the proposed rate increase averaging approximately 9%. My bill reflected not a 9% increase, but a 40% rate increase,” he said during public comment.

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