4926-7460-5625 v1
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
CAMARILLO, CALIFORNIA, SETTING THE AMOUNT OF
WATER RATES AND CHARGES IN THE CITY OF
CAMARILLO
The City Council of the City of Camarillo resolves as follows:
SECTION 1:The City Council of the City of Camarillo finds and declares as follows:
A. The City of Camarillo (“City”) provides water service to property owners (who may also be referred to as “owners”) within the City’s service area (as described on Exhibit “B”), and establishes the amount of water service charges to be charged customers in accordance with Camarillo Municipal Code (“Municipal Code”) Chapter 3.35 and applicable law.
B. The City is authorized to establish fees, rates, and charges for the water services provided to each property owner in accordance with Camarillo Municipal Code (“CMC”) Section 3.35.010, and “Proposition 218” (California Constitution Article XIII D; as it is implemented by the Legislature at Government Code sections 53750 – 53759.2; and as it has been interpreted by judicial decisions).The City refers to those fees, rates, and charges as water charges or water rates (as used herein, the phrases “water charges” and “water rates” may be used interchangeably).
C. The City has previously established water rates under CMC Section
3.35.010, pursuant to Resolution No. 2023-081, adopted by City Council on October 11, 2023, The purpose of water rates is to ensure that adequate funding is provided to protect the public health, safety and general welfare through the provision of a reliable and adequate water system that meets current and anticipated demands to serve the owners and customers of the City, including the establishment of drought surcharges to address the unique cost impacts on the water system during a drought.
D. The City undertook an analysis of previously established water rates, as documented in the City of Camarillo Water Rate Study Final Report prepared by the City’s consultant, Raftelis, dated March 27, 2025 (“Rate Study”), and determined that proposed changes to the water rates are warranted in order to offset the City’s ongoing costs of providing water services to owners and customers. The Rate Study has been posted on the City’s (“City of Camarillo Utility Rates”) website since March 28, 2025, and it is available for public review upon request.
E. On February 26, 2025, the City Council of the City of Camarillo (“City Council” or “Council”) approved Resolution No. 2025-18, by which the Council directed City staff to provide notice of a public hearing to consider the approval of updated water rates in accordance with the requirements of Proposition 218, including implementation of the administrative remedies for owners to submit written objections to the water rates (in accordance with “AB 2257” codified at Government Code Sections 53759.1 and 53759.2). 4926-7460-5625 v1
F. On March 28, 2025, the City mailed the notice of public hearing (to be held on May 14, 2025) to all property owners receiving water service from the City, and posted the notice on its website at cityofcamarillo.org/utilityrates. The public hearing notice was also published in accordance with Government Code Sections 6062a, 54354.5, and 66016.
G. Consistent with the notices of public hearing, the public hearing was held on May 14, 2025, the Council provided an opportunity for every interested person to comment on the proposed water rates, the Council considered all timely written protests from property owners and written responses from City staff, and the Council determined that the proposed water rates comply with the requirements of Proposition 218 and proceeded to conduct the public hearing to consider timely written protests submitted prior to the close of public hearing.
H. The Council determines, after having duly received and considered oral and documentary evidence concerning the necessity for the proposed water rates, that it is warranted and necessary to establish revised water rates as set forth in this Resolution.
I. This Resolution is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080(b)(8), and California Code of Regulations Section 15273 (of the “CEQA Regulations”) because it establishes, modifies, structures, or restructures, and approves rates and charges for the purposes of:
(1) meeting operating expenses; (2) purchasing supplies, equipment and materials; (3) meeting financial requirements; and (4) obtaining funds for capital projects necessary to maintain service within existing service areas.
SECTION 2: Revisions to Water Rates and Charges.
A. Update to Water Charges and Water Rates. The City Council of the City of Camarillo (“City Council” or “Council”) hereby approves the water rates set forth on “Exhibit A,” which is attached and incorporated by this reference. The water rates approved by this Resolution shall be implemented in accordance with Resolution Section
2.B and 2.C. The water rates are approved based on the following findings and determinations by the City Council:
1. After considering all timely written objections and written responses, the Rate Study and all evidence identified in this Resolution document the bases on which these water rates are approved, and there is no need to reduce, alter, or clarify the proposed water rates.
2. At the close of the public hearing on May 14, 2025, the City Council considered all timely written protests and determined that, from the total number of 13,669 parcels served by City water service, the owners of a majority of those parcels did not submit a written protest. Therefore, the Council overruled all written protests against the proposed water rates, and the City may approve the water rates in accordance with California Constitution Article XIII D, Section 6(a)(2). 4926-7460-5625 v1
3. The Rate Study and all evidence identified in this Resolution document that the water rates comply with the substantive requirements of Proposition 218, as set forth at California Constitution Article XIII D, Section 6(b):
a. The revenues derived from the rates do not exceed the cost of providing water service to property owners or customers served by the City’s water service. b. The revenues derived from rates are not, and shall not be, used for any other purpose other than meeting the costs of providing water service. c. The amount of the rate imposed upon any parcel does not exceed the proportional cost of the water service provided to that parcel. d. The revenues derived from rates are used for water services actually used by, or immediately available to, the person or owner of the property responsible for the payment of the rate.
e. No rate is imposed for general governmental services, such as police or fire, that is available to the public at large.
4. The proposed water rates are not discriminatory or excessive, and will be sufficient under Government Code Section 54515 and under the provisions or covenants of any outstanding revenue bonds of the City payable from the revenues of the enterprise and will be in compliance with applicable law.
5. The water rates approved by this resolution do not modify the City Water System Drought Rate Surcharges, which were previously approved by Resolution No. 2023-081 (“Drought Surcharge”) and remain in effect. For convenience, the previously approved Drought Surcharge amounts are set forth on Exhibit “C.” B. Review of Water Rates. The City Manager shall periodically, but not less than annually, review the water rates to determine whether revenues from such rates are meeting the actual cost of services and facilities necessary to deliver water service to the residential and non-residential developments within the City. If the City Manager determines that revenues are not adequate to meet costs, the City Manager shall recommend to the City Council a revised schedule of water rates in accordance with Proposition 218 and the processes described in this Resolution.
C. Effective Date of Water Rates. The water rates set forth on “Exhibit A” shall be effective July 1, 2025, for the rates identified in each column labeled “Effective July 1, 2025” for each row of rates as applicable to the relevant property owner or customer for each “Monthly Service Charge” (“Meter Size”) and each “Commodity Charge” (“Residential” and “Uniform Classes”) . Thereafter, the water rates shall be automatically updated on an annual basis each July 1 for the years 2026, 2027, and 2028, in accordance with the schedule set forth on Exhibit “A” for the corresponding columns for each year labeled “Effective July 1, 2026,” “Effective July 1, 2027,” and “Effective July 1, 2028.” The rates in effect on July 1, 2028, shall remain in effect each July 1, thereafter.
4926-7460-5625 v1
The City shall provide notice of any such annual adjustment to water rates at least 30 days before the effective date, in accordance with Government Code Section 53756(d).
Provided, however, for any annual establishment of water rates: (1) the City Council may set the rates by resolution in an amount that is equal to or less than the amounts authorized by this Resolution Section 2; and (2) the City Council may delay the effective date of an annual increase as long as the amount of the increase does not exceed the authorized amount of rates set forth on Exhibit “A.” The water rates shall not be set in an amount that exceeds those set forth in this Resolution Section 2 unless the City Council first conducts a noticed public hearing in accordance with the requirements of law including Proposition 218.
SECTION 3: Any delinquent payment of a water rate that is owed under this Resolution shall constitute a lien upon the real property served, in accordance with Government Code Section 54354.5.
SECTION 4: If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Resolution, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Resolution. The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Resolution, and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
PASSED AND ADOPTED May 14, 2025.
Mayor
Attested to on
City Clerk
I, Carrie Weal, City Clerk of the City of Camarillo, certify Resolution No. 2025- was adopted by the City Council of the City of Camarillo at a regular meeting held May 14, 2025, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
City Clerk
c: Finance (2)
Public Works
4926-7460-5625 v1
EXHIBIT A
CITY WATER SYSTEM RATES AND CHARGES
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025, JULY 1, 2026, JULY 1, 2027, AND JULY 1, 2028 Monthly Service Charges*
Meter Size Effective July
1,2025
Effective July
1,2026
Effective July
1,2027
Effective July
1,2028
5/8"/3/4" $32.48 $38.33 $42.93 $44.65
1" $43.33 $51.13 $57.27 $59.57
1 1/2" $70.49 $83.18 $93.17 $96.90
2" $103.07 $121.63 $136.23 $141.68
3" $206.25 $243.38 $272.59 $283.50
4" $358.30 $422.80 $473.54 $492.49
6" $776.49 $916.26 $1,026.22 $1,067.27
8" $1,319.56 $1,557.09 $1,743.95 $1,813.71
Fire Hydrant $206.25 $243.38 $272.59 $283.50
Commodity Charges**
Customer Class Effective July
1,2025
Effective July
1,2026
Effective July
1,2027
Effective July
1,2028
Residential
Tier 1 (0-9 HCF) $3.30 $3.90 $4.37 $4.55
Tier 2 (10-15 HCF) $4.89 $5.78 $6.48 $6.74
Tier 3 (16+HCF) $6.63 $7.83 $8.77 $9.13
Uniform Classes
Commercial $4.16 $4.91 $5.50 $5.72
Industrial $4.16 $4.91 $5.50 $5.72
Governmental $4.16 $4.91 $5.50 $5.72
Landscape $7.35 $8.68 $9.73 $10.12
Agriculture $7.35 $8.68 $9.73 $10.12
Construction / FHM $7.35 $8.68 $9.73 $10.12
Recycled Water $4.41 $5.21 $5.84 $6.08
*Monthly service charge waived for qualifying low-income seniors. ** Commodity rates are charged for each unit of water expressed in hundred cubic feet (HCF) of water. One HCF is equal to 748 gallons.
4926-7460-5625 v1
EXHIBIT B
WATER SERVICE AREA
4926-7460-5625 v1
EXHIBIT C
DROUGHT RATE SURCHARGES
Customer Class Level 1
Surcharge
Level 2
Surcharge
Level 3
Surcharge
Level 4
Surcharge
Shortage Level (% Reduction) 10% 20% 30% 40%
Residential
Tier 1 (0-9 HCF) $0.20 $0.33 $0.54 $0.81
Tier 2 (10-15 HCF) $0.30 $0.48 $0.79 $1.20
Tier 3 (16+ HCF) $0.40 $0.65 $1.06 $1.62
Uniform Classes
Commercial, Institutional, Governmental
(CIG) $0.26 $0.41 $0.67 $1.02
Landscape, Agriculture, Construction $0.44 $0.72 $1.18 $1.80 Drought rate surcharges are in addition to the base rate and must be implemented by City Council by separate action. Drought rates are charged for each unit of water expressed in hundred cubic feet (HCF) of water. One HCF is equal to 748 gallons