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Ripon council closes Prop. 218 hearing; new utility rates to take effect after no majority protest
Summary
After a public hearing on Proposition 218 rate changes, the council confirmed there were fewer than the 2,697 protest ballots required for a majority protest. City staff said the rate increases will go into effect as adopted by Resolution 25-36 beginning Feb. 1, 2026.
Ripon City staff told the council on Jan. 13 that the city's Proposition 218 process for water, sewer and garbage rates will proceed after a public hearing produced fewer than the threshold of protest ballots needed to halt the increase.
Kevin Warner, who presented the study and consultant report, said the council adopted a resolution in November that set rate increases to begin Feb. 1, 2026 and phase in over five years. Warner said a majority protest would require 2,697 ballots; City staff clerk Lisa reported receiving "under 100," and Warner said, "As long as a majority protest does not exist, these rates will go into effect over the next 5 years." The city adopted the implementing resolution as Resolution 25-36.
The presentation explained the purpose of the five-year (formerly extended to 10) engineering and financial review of the three enterprise funds to ensure sufficient revenue for operations. Warner said the city surveyed neighboring jurisdictions and found Ripon's combined rates remain lower overall than nearby cities.
The hearing was informational and procedural; staff said property owners who wished to protest needed to submit protest ballots before the close of the hearing and that ballots received after the hearing were not counted toward the protest threshold. No council action was required after staff certified the protest count.
