ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: September 24, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent Public Hearing TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Kristina Budak
DATE: September 11, 2025
SUBJECT: Public hearing to consider resolution adopting sewer connection fees for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
[Document Description]
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends adoption of the resolution.
BACKGROUND:
Per the Bakersfield Municipal Code Section 14.12.380, the City Council shall annually establish, by resolution, fees sufficient to recover the City’s reasonable costs of providing sewer connection services, which include the costs associated with and necessitated by the upgrading and expansion of sewer facilities.
Connection fees are a one -time fee assessed by City and paid at the time a building permit fee is paid.
Connection fees were thoroughly evaluated as part of the Sewer Rates & Connection Fees Study which was completed in March 2022. In line with the study recommendations and the construction cost index as of July 2025, staff is recommending a 4.33% increase for connection fees for Fiscal Year 2025-26.
The recommended 4.33% increase will have a net effect of increasing the connection fee for a single - family residence from $ 6,947 to $ 7,248 and increasing the commercial connection fee from $2 78 to $329.50 per fixture unit. Significant industrial users, as defined by the Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 § 403.3, will be charged the per unit costs based on their specific flow, biochemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids.
City staff met with stakeholders to discuss the sewer connection fees for Fiscal Year 2025-26 and received positive feedback in regard to the proposed increase, which upon Council approval will take effect October 1, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fees collected will be allocated to the Sewer Enterprise Fund, therefore there is no impact to the General Fund associated with this resolution.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Reliable Infrastructure
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Exhibit A