Upland sets June 8 Prop. 218 hearing on water, sewer and recycled‑water rate adjustments

The Upland City Council voted unanimously on March 23 to set a Prop. 218 public hearing for June 8, 2026 and direct staff to mail the required notices for proposed adjustments to the city’s water, recycled‑water and wastewater rates.

Assistant City Manager Damian Arula said the action simply begins the public notification and protest process and does not adopt final rates. He and consultant Sudhir Pardiwala of Raftelis presented a comprehensive cost‑of‑service study that staff said ties proposed charges to system needs, aging infrastructure and changing regulatory requirements, including emerging federal and state standards for PFAS and other “forever chemicals.”

"We're authorizing tonight the mailing of the Proposition 218 notices that are included in the packet and, would go out to residents shortly thereafter," Arula said. "I want to make it clear that no rates are being considered tonight." Pardiwala, the study project manager, said the analysis aligns different customer classes with the costs of service and projects a first increment in July 2026 followed by annual adjustments, with an illustrative 5% revenue adjustment in…