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RESOLUTION NO. _____
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING INCREASES TO WATER
RATES FOR CITY DOMESTIC WATER SERVICE AREA
FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 THRU 2030.
WHEREAS, Chapter 14.04 of the Bakersfield Municipal Code authorizes the City Council to establish rates and fees sufficient for the City to recover the costs of providing domestic water services; and
WHEREAS, City staff hired a consultant to develop a rate study for the Domestic Water System in 2023; and
WHEREAS, City staff developed a ten- year infrastructure master plan in 2025 and identified insufficient funding from the previously approved rate structure; and
WHEREAS, City staff developed a 2025 Supplemental Report to address inadequacies of forecasted revenues and expenditures to determine proposed rate changes; and
WHEREAS, the proposed changes were presented to the Water Board Committee on March 12, 2025 and to City Council on March 26, 2025; and
WHEREAS, City staff was given permission to move forward with the proposed changes; and
WHEREAS, City staff prepared and mailed a notice of public hearing to residential and commercial users on April 25, 2025 as required by Proposition 218 notifying them of the proposed rate increases (Cal. Constitution Article XIID, section 6); and
WHEREAS, a public hearing was held on June 11, 20 25 in order to receive evidence and hear all persons interested in supporting or objecting to the proposed rate increases; and
WHEREAS, the adoption of water rate increases is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under the California Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(8) because said water rates increases are, among other things related to domestic water service, for the purpose of meeting operating expenses, purchasing supplies, equipment, and/or materials, meeting financial reserve needs and requirements, and for obtaining funds for capital projects necessary to maintain service within City’s existing service areas; and
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WHEREAS the City Council has considered the staff report, rate study, public comments, and information presented at the public hearing, and written protests ; and
WHEREAS, the rates and charges set forth in Exhibit “A,” attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein, do not exceed the reasonable estimated cost of providing the services for which the fees are charged.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Bakersfield as follows:
1. The above recitals and findings are true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference.
2. The Council finds that insufficient written protests were presented to prevent the proposed rate increases.
3. The Council ratifies the Proposition 218 process followed by the City.
4. The Council adopts the fees established in Exhibit “A,” and shall become effective according to the following schedule:
a. 34.0% increase will be effective July 1, 2025;
b. 6.0% increase will be effective July 1, 2026;
c. 6.0% increase will be effective July 1, 2027;
d. 2.4% increase will be effective July 1, 2028;
e. 2.4% increase will be effective July 1, 2029.
5. The adoption of these fees and charges complies with Proposition 218.
6. This Resolution is effective July 1, 2025.
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I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular m eeting thereof held on ___________________, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBER ARIAS, GONZALES, WEIR, SMITH, KOMAN, BASHIRTASH, KAUR NOES: COUNCIL MEMBER ______________________________________________________________ ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBER ______________________________________________________________ ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBER _______________________________________________________________
______________________________________
JULIE DRIMAKIS
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk of
the Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED _________________
By _________________________
KAREN GOH
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
By _________________________
VIRGINIA GENNARO
City Attorney
Attachment: Exhibit A