Notice of Public Hearing to Consider Proposed Sanitary Sewer Rate Adoption Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
City Hall Rotunda at 200 Lincoln Ave, Salinas, CA 93901 In person or on Zoom.
NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS AND RATEPAYERS
The City of Salinas (City) hereby notifies property owners and ratepayers of the proposed adjustments to sewer rates, and their right to object, protest, or provide comments to the City. This Notice is provided in accordance with California Constitution Article XIII D, Section 6 (Proposition 218). The Salinas City Council will consider the proposed rate adjustment at a Public Hearing at 4:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 23, 2025, in the City Hall Rotunda at 200 Lincoln Ave, Salinas, CA 93901.
Hearing impaired or TTY/TDD text telephone users may contact the City by dialing 711 for the California Relay Service (CRS) or by telephoning any other service providers’ CRS telephone number.
All those interested are invited to appear at the time and place of the Public Hearing on September 23, 2025, to give oral or written comments regarding the proposed rate adjustments. The City Council will hear and consider oral testimony and written materials submitted regarding proposed rate adjustments at the Public Hearing. The City Council has the authority to adjust the proposed sewer rate changes in response to oral testimony and written materials submitted for consideration, provided any adjustments cannot increase rates beyond those proposed in this Notice.
If adopted by City Council, the proposed sewer rates described in this Notice will become effective on October 1, 2025, with annual adjustments each July 1st through 2029. The City will provide notice of any authorized annual adjustment to rates, not less than 30 days before the effective date of the adjustment, per Government Code Section 53756.
Maintaining Salinas’ Sanitary Sewer System
The City of Salinas must continually invest in its sanitary sewer system to maintain safe and reliable service. The City’s source of revenue to cover the cost of providing those sewer services is through sewer rates, with every dollar from those rates going toward the operation, maintenance, repair, and improvement of the sewer system. Periodic evaluations and adjustments to the rates are necessary to address infrastructure needs, inflation and regulatory mandates. Responsible financial planning and appropriate funding are essential to maintaining and improving our sewer system.
The City’s Maintenance Division maintains approximately 280 miles of gravity pipelines in the sanitary sewer collection system and 11 sanitary sewer lift stations. The sewer system plays a vital role in safeguarding water quality and public health. The sewer system consists of underground pipes, manholes, lift stations, and other infrastructure that transport sewage from homes, businesses, and industries to the regional wastewater treatment plant, where it is treated and safely released back into the environment.
REVENUES ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AND REPAIR THE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM To ensure adequate revenue for maintaining, operating and improving the sanitary sewer system, the City commissioned a Rate Study. The Rate Study documents support for the proposed rates for each customer category, the basis upon which the rates were calculated, and the reasons for the rates to cover the cost of providing sewer services. The study estimates a total of $114.8 million is required to fund capital improvements. Funds will be provided through increased sewer rates and bonds.
The Rate Study is available online at https://www.cityofsalinas.org/Your-Government/Departments/Public-Works/Sanitary-Rate-Study-2025.
PROPOSED SEWER RATE INCREASES
The City is proposing five years of sewer rate increases, as set forth in Table 1 and Table 2:
Table 1: Proposed Sewer Rate per EDU per Month
City Code
Description
Units
Sewer Rate per EDU per Month
FY 2025-26
FY 2026-27
FY 2027-28
FY 2028-29
FY 2029-30
001
Business/Government
Location/Each Business ($ for every 10 employees)
$ 12.75
$ 13.01
$ 13.27
$ 13.53
$ 13.80
102
Residence
Each Living Unit
$ 16.35
$ 16.68
$ 17.01
$ 17.35
$ 17.70
105
Multi Residence - Apts
Each Living Unit
$ 16.35
$ 16.68
$ 17.01
$ 17.35
$ 17.70
107
Condominium
Each Living Unit
$ 16.35
$ 16.68
$ 17.01
$ 17.35
$ 17.70
109
Retirement Complex
Each Living Unit
$ 16.35
$ 16.68
$ 17.01
$ 17.35
$ 17.70
221
Hotel/Motel
Each Room
$ 7.19
$ 7.34
$ 7.48
$ 7.63
$ 7.79
222
Bed & Breakfast
Each Room
$ 4.69
$ 4.78
$ 4.88
$ 4.97
$ 5.07
231
Supermarket
Location
$ 69.54
$ 70.93
$ 72.35
$ 73.80
$ 75.27
241
Medical
Each Licensed Physician
$ 17.00
$ 17.34
$ 17.69
$ 18.04
$ 18.41
242
Dental
Each Licensed Dentist
$ 23.44
$ 23.90
$ 24.38
$ 24.87
$ 25.37
243
Rest Home/ Convalescent
Each Bed of Licensed Capacity
$ 4.69
$ 4.78
$ 4.88
$ 4.97
$ 5.07
244
Surgery Center/ General Hospital
Each Bed of Licensed Capacity
$ 27.90
$ 28.46
$ 29.03
$ 29.61
$ 30.20
245
Animal Hospital
Location/Each Licensed Business
$ 31.83
$ 32.46
$ 33.11
$ 33.78
$ 34.45
261
Restaurant - 1 Meal
Each Restaurant Seat
$ 0.65
$ 0.67
$ 0.68
$ 0.69
$ 0.71
262
Restaurant - 2 Meals
Each Restaurant Seat
$ 0.98
$ 1.00
$ 1.02
$ 1.04
$ 1.06
263
Restaurant - 3 Meals
Each Restaurant Seat
$ 1.85
$ 1.89
$ 1.93
$ 1.97
$ 2.01
264
Restaurant w/ Bar
Each Restaurant Seat
$ 1.85
$ 1.89
$ 1.93
$ 1.97
$ 2.01
265
Bar
Location/Each Business
$ 27.69
$ 28.24
$ 28.80
$ 29.38
$ 29.97
266
Night Club
Location/Each Business
$ 82.84
$ 84.50
$ 86.19
$ 87.91
$ 89.67
267
Take-Out Small
1 Cash Register or Checkout Line
$ 30.85
$ 31.46
$ 32.09
$ 32.74
$ 33.39
268
Take-Out Medium
2 or 3 Cash Registers or Checkout Lines
$ 75.97
$ 77.49
$ 79.04
$ 80.62
$ 82.24
269
Take-Out Large
4 or More Cash Registers or Checkout Lines
$ 138.43
$ 141.20
$ 144.02
$ 146.90
$ 149.84
270
Bakery
Location/Each Business
$ 25.07
$ 25.57
$ 26.08
$ 26.60
$ 27.14
281
Theater
Per Screen @ Each Location
$ 41.09
$ 41.91
$ 42.75
$ 43.61
$ 44.48
282
Bowling Center
Location/Each Business
$ 124.91
$ 127.41
$ 129.96
$ 132.56
$ 135.21
283
Gym - 500 Members
$ for every 500 members
$ 12.75
$ 13.01
$ 13.27
$ 13.53
$ 13.80
292
School - Pre Grade 6
School Population
$ 0.22
$ 0.22
$ 0.23
$ 0.23
$ 0.24
293
School - Grade 7 -College
School Population
$ 0.44
$ 0.44
$ 0.45
$ 0.46
$ 0.47
294
School - Boarding
School Population
$ 4.36
$ 4.45
$ 4.54
$ 4.63
$ 4.72
295
Instructional Facility
Location/Each Business
$ 12.75
$ 13.01
$ 13.27
$ 13.53
$ 13.80
296
Church - Small (1-100 Members)
Per 100 members
$ 12.75
$ 13.01
$ 13.27
$ 13.53
$ 13.80
297
Church - Large (> 100 Members)
Per 100 members
$ 25.51
$ 26.02
$ 26.54
$ 27.07
$ 27.61
301
Photo Developer / Printer
$ for every 10 employees
$ 12.75
$ 13.01
$ 13.27
$ 13.53
$ 13.80
311
Laboratory - 10 employees
$ for every 10 employees
$ 12.75
$ 13.01
$ 13.27
$ 13.53
$ 13.80
331
Garage Repair
$ for every 10 employees
$ 12.21
$ 12.45
$ 12.70
$ 12.96
$ 13.21
341
Paint Shop – 10 employees
$ for every 10 employees
$ 12.75
$ 13.01
$ 13.27
$ 13.53
$ 13.80
353
Dry Cleaner
Location/Each Business
$ 42.07
$ 42.92
$ 43.77
$ 44.65
$ 45.54
354
Laundromat
Each Washing Machine
$ 11.12
$ 11.34
$ 11.57
$ 11.80
$ 12.03
Table 2: Proposed Sewer Rate per EDU per Month for Special Users City Code
Description
Units
Sewer Rate per EDU per Month
FY 2025-26
FY 2026-27
FY 2027-28
FY 2028-29
FY 2029-30
351
Industrial Laundry
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
352
Commercial Laundry
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
366
Car Wash
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
367
Truck/Bus Was
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
401
Special User
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
403
Chemical Pesticides
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
405
Water Softener
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
406
Food Processor
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
407
Rec/Sports Facility
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
408
Inedible Renderer
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
410
Groundwater Discharger
Based on Flow (GPD x Sewer Rate)
$0.109
$0.111
$0.113
$0.116
$0.118
SUBMITTING A PROTEST OR AN OBJECTION
A property owner has a right to submit to the City a written protest or a written objection to the proposed adjustment to sewer rates based on laws that are commonly referred to as “Proposition 218” (including California Constitution Article XIII D, Section 6; implementing legislation at Government Code sections 53750 through 53759.2, and judicial decisions interpreting those laws). The proposed increases in sewer rates are considered fees for “property-related services” under those laws.
HOW TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN PROTEST
Any property owner or rate-paying tenant has the right to protest the proposed sewer rates. The protest must be in writing, it must include the property service address and/or the assessor’s parcel number, the eligible individual’s name (property owner or tenant), a statement to the effect of “I protest the proposed sewer rate adjustments,” and an original signature. Written protests must only be submitted to the City by mail or personal delivery to: City of Salinas, City Clerk, 200 Lincoln Ave. Salinas, CA 93901. Telephone, e-mail, and fax protests will not be accepted.
All protests must be received by the City Council in writing before the conclusion of the Public Hearing. Any protest received after the conclusion of the Public Hearing will not be accepted or considered. Any oral comments will not be counted as a protest. Only one written protest per affected property will be counted.
At the conclusion of the Public Hearing, the City Council will consider adopting the proposed rates and charges only if the City does not receive a “majority protest.” There is a “majority protest” if the City receives timely written protests from property owners or ratepayers representing a majority (50% +1) of the properties served by the City. If there is a majority protest, the City is prohibited by law from approving the updated sewer rates at that time.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies – HOW TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN Objection Any property owner or rate-paying tenant has the right to submit a written objection to the proposed sewer rates. In order for a written objection to be timely and effective, it must comply with all of the following requirements:
Written objections must be in writing and mailed or hand delivered to the City at: City of Salinas, City Clerk, 200 Lincoln Ave, Salinas CA, 93901.
The City Clerk must receive the written objections by no later than September 23, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
Written objections must include the following information:
Objectors name, parcel number and/or service address.
A statement that the communication constitutes a written objection to the City’s proposed sewer rates.
A description of the substance of the objection, with sufficient specificity to allow the City to respond in writing. The objection must state the specific grounds for concerns with the proposed sewer rates, and why they do not comply with Proposition 218 or other relevant law. The objection should include the desired resolution or outcome. A statement that the proposed sewer rates violate Proposition 218 without an explanation as to the basis of the claim are not sufficient to constitute a timely written objection.
At the Public Hearing, after considering all timely written objections and written responses prepared by City staff, the City Council will determine whether clarifications or further review or reduction or abandonment of the proposed sewer rates is warranted.
Limitations for Challenging Proposed Rates
You are hereby notified that, in order to file a judicial action or legal proceeding to challenge the proposed rates described in this Notice, you must file a timely written legal objection, and you must commence the action or proceeding within 120 days of the City’s approval of the rates.
Failure to submit a timely written legal objection bars any right to challenge the proposed rates through a judicial action or legal proceeding. (Government Code Section 53759.1(b).) There is a 120-day statute of limitations for judicially challenging the rates set forth in this Notice that runs from the date of the City action to approve the rates, and any legal action is limited to the issues raised in a timely legal objection. (Government Code Section 53759.) FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Visit: https://www.cityofsalinas.org/Your-Government/Departments/Public-Works/Sanitary-Rate-Study-2024; or call (831) 758-7241; or email [email protected].