RESOLUTION NO. ___-2026
RESOLUTION OF THE FORT BRAGG CITY COUNCIL
AMENDING THE WATER AND SEWER RATES
FOR THE CITY OF FORT BRAGG
WHEREAS, notice has been given that a public hearing will be held on March 23, 2026 on the necessity to increase the water and sewer rates and that a public hearing notice has been duly published in accordance with the requirements of the California Constitution, Article XIIID, Section 6 (Proposition 218); and WHEREAS, the California Constitution, Article XIIID, Section 6 (Proposition 218) requires the City to hold a public hearing on any proposed water and sewer service and use charge schedule, and to mail written notice at least forty-five days prior to holding the public hearing; and WHEREAS, notice of a proposed change in water and sewer fees, required under Section 6(a) of Article XIIID of the California Constitution was mailed to all owners of record of each identified parcel, as provided in Government Code § 53750(g) and (j), and all utility customers of the City as reflected in the billing records of the City at the time the notice is given and that notice was mailed at least forty-five days prior to the date of the public hearing on the proposed fees; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Proposition 218, any property owner or utility customer may submit a written protest to the City Clerk prior to the conclusion of the public hearing to be held on March 23, 2026; and WHEREAS, notice of the proposed water and sewer rate increase and notice of public hearing was mailed out to all utility customers of the City of Fort Bragg as reflected in the billing records of the City on February 6, 2026; and WHEREAS, the Fort Bragg City Council contracted with Lechowicz & Tseng Municipal Consultants (LTMC) of Alameda, California to review the current operational and capital needs and make recommendations on possible rate adjustments; and WHEREAS, the City Council determined the water and sewer rates, fees and charges established in the water and sewer rate study were to fund operation, maintenance and repair, and to meet financial reserve needs and requirements, and to obtain funds for capital projects necessary to maintain service within existing service areas; and WHEREAS, the City Council further determined the rates, fees and charges, and rate schedules were in compliance with all laws pertaining to the assessment of such charges.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Fort Bragg does hereby find that:
A majority protest in accordance with Article XIII D, § 6(a) of the California Constitution (Proposition 218), does not exist with respect to the proposed water and sewer rate increase.
The fees and charges established by this resolution do not exceed the estimated amounts required to provide the services for which the fees and charges are levied and the City Council hereby approves the water and sewer rate increase set to occur on July 1, 2026 which is identified in the Final Water and Sewer Rate Study dated February 3, 2026 for FY 2026/27 through FY 2030/31.
The Fort Bragg City Council finds that:
the revenues derived from the charges will not exceed the funds required to provide water and sewer service. the revenues derived from the charges will not be used for any purpose other than that for which the charges are imposed. the amount of a charge imposed upon a consumer will not exceed the proportional cost of the water and sewer service attributable to the consumer. the charges are imposed only in as much as the water and sewer services are used by, or immediately available to the consumer.
The foregoing increase of water and sewer rates for the City of Fort Bragg are for the purpose of meeting operating expenses of the City, purchasing and leasing supplies, equipment and materials, meeting financial reserve needs and requirements and to obtain funds for capital projects necessary to maintain service within existing service areas.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby approves the water and sewer rates, to become effective July 1, 2026, as set forth below in Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
The above and foregoing Resolution was introduced by Councilmember ________, seconded by Councilmember ________, and passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fort Bragg held on the 23rd day of March 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSED:
JASON GODEKE
Mayor
ATTEST:
Diana Paoli
City Clerk
EXHIBIT “A”
Current and Proposed Monthly Water Rates
Customer Class & Meter Size
PROPOSED
CurrentFY2026/27FY2027/28FY2028/29FY2029/30FY2030/31Effective DateJuly 1, 2026July 1, 2027July 1, 2028July 1, 2029July 1, 2030FIXED CHARGE Residential Customers
5/8" & 3/4"
$36.86
$25.49
$27.53
$29.73
$32.11
$34.68
1"
$52.42
$39.94
$43.14
$46.59
$50.32
$54.35
1.5"
$62.80
$76.08
$82.18
$88.74
$95.83
$103.51
2"
$109.16
$119.44
$129.02
$139.32
$150.45
$162.51
3"
$157.76
$190.00
$222.46
$254.92
$287.38
$319.85
4"
$206.38
$265.00
$322.96
$380.92
$438.88
$496.85
6"
$498.01
$600.00
$697.13
$794.26
$891.39
$988.51
Non-Residential Customers
5/8" & 3/4"
$74.98
$25.49
$27.53
$29.73
$32.11
$34.68
1"
$115.09
$39.94
$43.14
$46.59
$50.32
$54.35
1.5"
$141.83
$76.08
$82.18
$88.74
$95.83
$103.51
2"
$275.53
$119.44
$129.02
$139.32
$150.45
$162.51
3"
$409.24
$235.06
$253.92
$274.20
$296.11
$319.85
4"
$542.94
$365.14
$394.44
$425.94
$459.97
$496.85
6"
$1,234.61
$726.48
$784.78
$847.44
$915.13
$988.51
Commercial Low-Usage Customers
5/8" & 3/4"
$36.86
$25.49
$27.53
$29.73
$32.11
$34.68
VARIABLE CHARGE per HCF
Single Family Residential Customers
Tier 1: 1-5 HCF
$3.49
$7.74
$8.36
$9.03
$9.75
$10.53
Tier 2: 6-10 HCF
$5.23
$7.74
$8.36
$9.03
$9.75
$10.53
Tier 3: 11+ HCF
$7.84
$7.74
$8.36
$9.03
$9.75
$10.53
Non-Single Family Residential
Rate per HCF
$6.01
$7.74
$8.36
$9.03
$9.75
$10.53
HCF = hundred cubic feet; 1 HCF = 748 gallons
The variable charges appear as the “CONS” charges on customer bills.
Current and Proposed Monthly Sewer Rates
PROPOSED
Fiscal YearCurrentFY2026/27FY2027/28FY2028/29FY2029/30FY2030/31Effective DateJuly 1, 2026July 1, 2027July 1, 2028July 1, 2029July 1, 2030Fixed Charges:
Residential (per dwelling unit)
Single Family Residential
$28.89
$14.47
$16.21
$18.16
$20.34
$22.78
Multi-Family Residential
$28.89
$14.47
$16.21
$18.16
$20.34
$22.78
Mobile Home Parks
$28.89
$14.47
$16.21
$18.16
$20.34
$22.78
Commercial (per unit)
Low Strength
$28.89
$14.47
$16.21
$18.16
$20.34
$22.78
Medium Strength
$28.89
$14.47
$16.21
$18.16
$20.34
$22.78
Brewery
$28.89
$14.47
$16.21
$18.16
$20.34
$22.78
High Strength
$28.89
$14.47
$16.21
$18.16
$20.34
$22.78
Variable Charges:
Residential (per HCF)
Single Family Residential
$7.31
$12.93
$14.48
$16.22
$18.17
$20.35
Multi-Family Residential
$3.28
$12.93
$14.48
$16.22
$18.17
$20.35
Mobile Home Parks
$0.23
$4.25
$8.27
$12.29
$16.31
$20.35
Commercial (per HCF)
Low Strength
$9.90
$11.39
$12.76
$14.29
$16.00
$17.92
Medium Strength
$10.19
$12.93
$14.48
$16.22
$18.17
$20.35
Brewery Rate
$20.30
$20.01
$22.41
$25.10
$28.11
$31.48
High Strength
$25.38
$22.98
$25.74
$28.83
$32.29
$36.16
HCF = hundred cubic feet; 1 HCF = 748 gallons
For single family residential customers, variable charges are based on average monthly winter water consumption measured between November through February subject to a 2 HCF minimum. For all other customers, variable charges are billed based on monthly metered water consumption excluding usage from dedicated irrigation lines.
Low strength customers: car washes, laundromats
Medium strength customers: barber shops, beauty shops, spas, retail, wholesale, churches, libraries, meeting halls, government buildings, professional buildings, offices, hotels, motels, lodging, gas stations, general commercial and mixed use High strength: markets with grease traps, grocery stores, restaurants, bars, bakeries, and delis The categories above represent general land use designations. By its determination, the City may establish specialized rates for customers that are not categorized into the designations listed above or for customers that fall into multiple categories. Any specialized rates will be proportional to the cost of wastewater flow and pollutant disposal included in the sewer rates above.
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