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Council Approves Notice of Intent for Water, Sewer and Solid-Waste Rate Increases; Public Hearing Set for May 5
Summary
The council voted 6-1 to adopt a notice of intent to modify water and sewer rates, initiating a public-notice and outreach process and scheduling a May 5 public hearing and council action. Proposed changes include a 6.7% water increase, PFAS-treatment charge, multi-year sewer increases and solid-waste fee hikes.
The Avondale City Council voted 6-1 on March 3 to adopt a notice of intent to modify water and sewer rates, starting the formal public-notice process and scheduling a public hearing and council action for May 5.
Robert Barron, the city's budget manager, explained that the notice of intent does not set new rates but is the required first step under state statute. "If we were even adjusting the water and sewer rates by a penny, we would still need to adopt this notice of intent before we took action actually on the water and sewer rates," Barron said.
Barron summarized the proposal and outreach plan. The city will post the statutorily required report online 30 days before council action, provide a residential bill comparison tool on the website, distribute paper notices with utility bills, and hold three public meetings in April at the Sam Garcia Library, the Resource Center and the Civic Center campus. He said staff also planned outreach to homeowners associations, the Avondale Ambassadors program and the Avondale Water Citizens Committee.
Key elements presented to the council included: - Water: a proposed 6.7% increase to the base and consumption charges and a new charge for water treatment to address PFAS contamination; an additional proposed 6.1% increase in fiscal year 2027 contingent on project costs and timing. - Water resources: a proposed 6.2% charge to secure water rights for the city. - Sewer: a flat 2% increase effective Jan. 1, 2026, and an additional 2% Jan. 1, 2027. - Solid waste: a proposed $1.60 increase July 1, 2025, and an additional $1.75 increase July 1, 2026.
Barron told council the exact percentages and timing may be adjusted based on project bids and the schedule for PFAS treatment. He emphasized the city’s intent to exceed minimum outreach requirements so ratepayers would understand potential bill impacts.
Councilmember White made the motion to adopt the notice of intent and Councilmember Solorio seconded; Barron reported the required publication deadline for the notice as April 20 and the public hearing and proposed-rate adoption as May 5. The vote on the notice was 6 yes, 1 no; the record did not show individual roll-call votes for each council member in the transcript.
The notice-of-intent approval begins the calendar for public outreach and required legal notices; final rates will be set only after the May public hearing and any council action.
