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Council introduces ordinance to pass through San Bernardino wastewater rate increases; residents urge more information
Summary
Council introduced (first reading) an ordinance to adopt five years of pass‑through wastewater rate increases tied to San Bernardino treatment fees; residents at the hearing, including community garden members and students, said the cumulative rise (about 30% over four years as presented) imposes a real burden and asked the city to provide clearer justification and explore alternatives.
The Loma Linda City Council introduced an ordinance on first reading that would implement a five‑year schedule of wastewater treatment increases passed through from the City of San Bernardino.
City staff explained that the proposed adjustments apply to the San Bernardino treatment portion of the sewer bill and listed proposed percentage increases and equivalent monthly dollar amounts for each year between July 2026 and July 2030. Staff said the increases originate at the San Bernardino treatment plant and are being passed through to Loma Linda customers because the treatment provider sets that portion of the fee; the city’s portion of the collection system was not proposed to increase in the near term.
Residents at the public hearing asked for more detail. Bethany Lee, a recent garden member and local student, said the notice she received about the rate increase did not explain “why the rate increase is needed” and highlighted the cumulative impact: “They’re over a 30% increase over a period of 4 years … I don’t anticipate my income is going to increase 30% but I need to pay 30% more in my water fees.” She asked whether the city had any leverage to negotiate the San Bernardino decision and whether the city could subsidize the pass‑through from general fund reserves.
Council members discussed options including budget subsidies (the council could choose to absorb increases on behalf of residents), commissioning a new study of alternative treatment or reuse options, or examining whether a shorter rate term is feasible. Staff noted a prior study from roughly 20 years ago that found a standalone treatment plant would not have been cost‑effective at that time; councilmembers encouraged staff to re‑examine alternatives and to provide comparative rate data from similar jurisdictions.
The mayor said the city should explore options but acknowledged the difficulty of altering a partner agency’s rate schedule: “If we stay with the city of San Bernardino, we don't control that. They give us rate, and we could say, no. We're not—we're not gonna do it. And then they turn off the pipe.” Councilmembers then introduced council bill O‑2026‑06 on first reading (waiving full reading and setting a second reading/adoption for June 9, 2026). The measure passed introduction on a council vote to schedule the second reading.
Staff and council directed follow up: provide residents with the study or public hearings San Bernardino used to set rates, present a comparison of peer cities’ sewer costs and contract structures, and analyze the fiscal impact to Loma Linda of subsidizing the pass‑through from reserves.
The ordinance was introduced on first reading; final adoption is scheduled for the second reading on June 9, 2026.
