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San Jose Council approves sewer rate increases despite resident protests
Summary
After a public hearing that included a resident claim that required cost-of-service studies were missing, the council approved proposed sewer service and use charge increases 9–2; City Clerk reported 1,633 written protests during the public protest period (<1% of customers).
The San Jose City Council on June 2 approved the city’s proposed sewer service and use charge increases by a 9–2 vote, despite public protests and a resident appeal to postpone the action pending updated cost-of-service analysis.
Michael Thomas, a San Jose homeowner who addressed the council, urged postponement and said the city had not produced a current cost-of-service study to justify the Proposition 218 notices mailed to residents: “There is no current cost of service study supporting the rates you mailed to the residents,” he told the council. The City Clerk reported that subsequent to a supplemental memorandum the clerk’s office had received 1,633 valid written protests during the public protest period, representing less than 1% of customers impacted by the proposed change.
Councilmembers considered staff’s recommendation and moved to approve the increases. The motion passed 9–2, with Councilmembers Ortiz and Casey voting no. Toni, the City Clerk, also noted the supplemental protest filings and read the protest counts into the record earlier in the hearing.
The approval allows the city to adopt the mailed Proposition 218 increases and staff said the rates are based on the city’s cost model and required notices. Opponents argued that some supporting data referenced in notices dates to older studies and asked the council to delay action until new flow and strength studies are completed in 2027. The council majority approved the rates at the meeting; staff did not announce any additional postponement.
