City Manager Christian Clegg told the Bakersfield City Council on April 23 that staff will recommend rescinding the Proposition 218 notice proposing sewer-rate changes and return with a revised notice after more community outreach.

Clegg said, “staff will be recommending that we rescind the proposition 2 18 notice at this time. We'll bring back this, we will bring back to this council a revised proposition 2 18 notice after further outreach with the community.”

The announcement followed more than a dozen public comments concentrated on the proposed rate increase. Speakers described the proposal as too large and urged the city to explore alternatives, tiered rates or additional funding sources. Jacqueline Aguilar, speaking for the Young Democratic Leaders of Kern County, said a “300% increase in sewer rates from $239 to $950 a year isn't just a financial adjustment for working families, for young people trying to stay in the city, for seniors on fixed incomes. This is a crisis.”

Other speakers raised specific concerns. Rafael Lopez and Robert Hooks said seniors and renters would be hit hardest; Roman Matera and JC Yamas criticized the city's communication and asked for greater transparency; Johnny Olaguez suggested technology options such as anaerobic digesters to offset costs; Eric Oriana, who serves on a state advisory group for water funding, urged the city to pursue low‑interest loans from the State Revolving Fund and other funding alternatives.

Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur Coeur thanked the city manager and said the council was “pausing and reevaluating the proposed rate and increase” to give the public and council more time to discuss options. Council members from across the dais emphasized the need for better outreach and data in advance of any final action.

City officials repeatedly framed the problem as aging infrastructure needing investment: Council member Smith noted the treatment plant “was built in 1958” and said funding shortfalls accumulated over decades. Council member Coleman said staff “do know this, water sewer thing inside out” but agreed the city failed to communicate earlier.

The staff direction is procedural: Clegg will return a revised Proposition 218 notice as a deferred business item at a future council meeting so the council can take formal action to rescind or modify the notice. No formal vote on rescission occurred at the April 23 meeting.

The council also received an offer from Supervisor David Couch of Kern County to bring city staff to the county board for additional public briefings and asked that county public works be included in further deliberations.

Next steps: the city manager said staff will conduct further outreach and return the revised Prop 218 notice for agendized council action at a future meeting.