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Pleasant Hill approves second readings increasing sewer, garbage, recycling and stormwater fees
Summary
On May 26 the Pleasant Hill City Council approved second readings of ordinances that raise sewer, solid waste, recycling and stormwater fees; the measures are intended to cover higher regional wastewater debt, Metro Waste Authority cost adjustments and planned stormwater maintenance. Most changes take effect July 1, 2026.
Pleasant Hill’s City Council voted 5-0 May 26 to approve second readings of multiple ordinances that raise sewer, solid-waste, recycling and stormwater fees, steps city leaders said are needed to cover rising regional costs and planned infrastructure work.
City Manager Ben Champ told the council the Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) adopted a facility plan that will require significant capital investments and bonding, increasing Pleasant Hill’s share of operation and debt costs. As a result, the council approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 969 to raise the base sewer rate 7.25%, from $8.92 to $9.57 per 1,000 gallons, and to increase the sewer access charge from $14.96 to $16.05 per unit. Champ said the change will raise the average residential customer’s bill by about $1.74 per month and would become effective July 1, 2026.
Champ also explained adjustments proposed in response to actions by the Metro Waste Authority (MWA), which manages private haulers and has updated tipping and fuel-based cost adjustments and stopped subsidizing recycling operations from landfill revenues. The council approved second readings of Ordinance Nos. 970 and 971 to raise solid-waste and recycling fees. The 96-gallon garbage container rate increases from $12.52 to $13.17 per month and the 48-gallon container from $11.59 to $12.24 (a $0.65 monthly increase); the recycling fee rises from $4.91 to $5.18 per month (a $0.27 monthly increase). Those increases were stated to be effective July 1, 2026.
Separately, the council approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 972 to raise stormwater utility fees on a staged schedule adopted in the FY27 budget: $0.55 on July 1, 2026; $1.00 on Jan. 1, 2027; $1.00 on Jan. 1, 2028; and $0.50 on Jan. 1, 2029. Champ said the increases will support stormwater system maintenance.
All four measures passed their second readings unanimously (AYES: Murray, Birch, Hodges, DeMoss, Konrad; NAYS: none). City staff indicated approving the second readings now gives Des Moines Water Works and billing vendors time to implement the new rates before July 1 where applicable.
The ordinances were advanced on second reading; the council’s record shows the intended effective dates stated above. The city will proceed with the remaining procedural steps required under local code for final adoption and implementation.
