Rohnert Park council adopts sewer-rate plan after Proposition 218 hearing

Rohnert Park — The City Council voted unanimously Sept. 24 to adopt a five‑year sewer service rate plan covering 2024 through 2028 following a public hearing required under California’s Proposition 218.

Consultant Mark Hildebrand told the council the proposed schedule is driven by rising subregional treatment costs, deferred rate increases from the COVID period and a planned capital program. He said the utility faces about $55,000,000 in inflow-and-infiltration work and a roughly $3.8 million pump‑station/building project in the coming years, and that the combination of operating and capital demand would otherwise sharply draw down reserves.

"You simply can't charge more than the cost of providing service," Hildebrand said, explaining the legal framework for Proposition 218 and the cost-of-service approach the study used. He presented an average year‑one bill increase of about 7% and said the five‑year plan shows larger cumulative rate adjustments later in the decade (the consultant described a 37% increase in the multi‑year projection as part of the plan presented to council).

Hildebrand also noted that most of the utility’s operating costs are paid to the Laguna treatment plant operated by Santa Rosa and are outside Rohnert Park’s direct control.

Clerk Elizabeth Machado reported the city received 25 written protests. Machado said the city has 13,755 assessor parcels, and the number of protests was less than a majority; as a result, the council could proceed under the Proposition 218 process.

After questions from council members about the mechanics of the rate design and how different customer classes are affected, Councilmember Judah Chaim moved to accept the final report, certify the count of written protests and adopt the resolution setting sewer rates for 2024–2028; the motion was seconded and passed 5–0.

What it means for residents: Hildebrand’s bill‑impact examples showed single‑family customers would see increases close to the average in year one (roughly 7–7.6% depending on water use), while multifamily and nonresidential customers could see different impacts based on meter size and cost‑of‑service allocation. The consultant emphasized year‑to‑year variability in impacts depending on customer class.

The council’s action puts the adopted rate schedule into effect per the resolution; the staff presentation did not list an exact operative date in the public report. The council did not face a majority written protest, so the resolution proceeds under the standard Proposition 218 pathway.

Council action and next steps: Council accepted the final sewer rate report, certified the protest count and adopted the sewer service rates for 2024–2028 by a 5–0 vote. Staff will implement the rate schedule and follow the notice and billing procedures required by state law.

Sources: Presentation and public hearing by Betsy Hose (city staff) and Mark Hildebrand of Hildebrand Consulting; clerk's tally of written protests announced at the hearing.