Simi Valley council approves Prop 218 notice for sanitation rate increase, an access easement and an updated solid‑waste ordinance; neighborhood council rosters

Simi Valley's City Council handled a cluster of routine but consequential items on Feb. 24, 2025, adopting procedural steps, agreements and appointments needed to fund infrastructure, enable development and maintain municipal services.

Sanitation rates: Prop 218 notice and public hearing

The council authorized staff to mail Proposition 218 notices proposing a sanitation service rate schedule that would phase in annual increases of 3.5% for five years and set a public hearing on May 5, 2025, to receive and tally protests. Public Works Director Grama Fujiwaki and consultant representatives explained the rationale: the sanitation enterprise fund must cover projected capital projects (roughly $71.7 million across the long-range plan), existing debt service (about $2.3 million annually) and rising operating costs. Fujiwaki said the proposed schedule is intended to maintain service levels, fund capital improvements and preserve prudent reserves. Under state constitutional procedures (Prop. 218), property owners will have 45 days to file written protests; the council will adopt any final rates after the hearing and protest tally.

Reciprocal access easement for industrial access

Council approved a reciprocal access agreement among the city, SMR Property LLC and the Butler Trust to allow SMR to design and build an access road and bridge that would connect Los Angeles Avenue to Tierrajotta Road and open parcels for industrial development. SMR will pay design and construction costs and include the city-owned parcels in any future land-use or specific plan at no cost to the city. The agreement gives SMR seven years from the agreement's effective date to complete the improvements; if construction is not finished the council may terminate the easement.

Ordinance on solid-waste rules adopted (second reading)

On second reading the council adopted Ordinance No. 1362, amending Title 6, Chapter 3 of the Simi Valley Municipal Code to update regulation of solid-waste storage, collection, disposal, transfer and resource recovery. The ordinance passed on the second reading; Councilmember Ayala recorded an abstention.

Neighborhood councils and community grants

Council recognized outgoing neighborhood council executive board members and appointed 20 nominees to four neighborhood councils for two-year terms beginning March 1, 2025. The council also appointed Councilmembers Ayala and Litzler to interview and nominate a community-at-large member to the Community Projects Grant Review Committee; staff reported 14 applications had been received for that community seat.

Consent and other routine business

The council approved the consent calendar, received financial and grant reports, and directed staff to continue outreach and public information about the sanitation study and the upcoming Prop 218 notice. Several council members asked staff to research alternative short‑term investment vehicles for city funds.

What to watch next

- May 5, 2025: Public hearing on sanitation rates (Prop. 218 protest tally and decision). - SMR/Butler easement: seven‑year construction window; staff will report on any related development proposals and approvals that follow the formal land‑use review process.

Sources and process notes

The council's action on sanitation starts the Prop. 218 process; the notice contains the maximum proposed rate steps and procedural instructions for property owner protest. The reciprocal access action grants only an easement; any future site development must still complete environmental review and land‑use approvals.

For supporting excerpts, see the public works presentation on the sanitation study and the assistant city manager presentation of the access easement in the meeting transcript.