Ripon council starts Proposition 218 process for proposed five‑year utility rate increases

City staff presented a five-year utility rate study and an engineer’s report on Nov. 10 that would raise water, sewer and garbage rates to maintain service levels, build capital reserves and comply with state rules.

City Administrator Kevin summarized the proposals: the water enterprise fund would see 4% increases annually, the sewer fund 3% annually and the garbage fund a 20% increase in the first year followed by 4% increases in the next four years. Kevin said those steps are intended to "keep up with inflation while maintaining the current service levels" and to fund planned capital work such as wellhead treatment systems and wastewater‑treatment plant upgrades.

Kevin also linked part of the garbage rate pressure to state law, saying the jurisdiction must comply with Senate Bill 1383 requirements to reduce organics in landfills and that "this legislation did result in higher expenses, specifically in disposal fees." He described the methodology used to estimate customer impacts: an average residential customer using 16 units of water with sewer and one black and one green can would see a monthly bill rise from about $123 to just under $135 in year one and, if the full increases are implemented over five years, to roughly $156.59.

Kevin reviewed the Proposition 218 process the city must follow to raise rates, noting staff must mail notices to property owners and customers of record at least 28 days before the public hearing; the hearing is set for Jan. 13, 2026. "If there is no majority protest at the public hearing... these rates would go into effect for the next five years starting on 02/01/2026," he said.

Council members thanked staff for the analysis and emphasized the increases are not automatic. "They're not set in stone. They're reviewed every year," Mayor Daniel de Grama said, echoing staff's explanation that the council will review annual financial reports and may implement less than the full projected increase.

The council moved to adopt the resolution to begin the Proposition 218 process and accept the engineer's report; the transcript records the motion and a second but does not include a roll‑call tally in the meeting text. The action starts the formal notice period leading to the January hearing.

The next steps: staff will mail the statutorily required notices, present the rate study and supporting materials at the Jan. 13 public hearing, and the council will consider any majority protest and whether to adopt final rates per the Proposition 218 timeline.