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.
Exhibit C: Public Hearing Notice
R E V E N U E S A R E R E Q U I R E D TO M A I N T A I N AN D R E P A I R T H E S A N I T A R Y S E W E R
S Y S T E M
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 $114.8 million is required to fund capital improvements. Funds will be provided through increased sewer rates and bonds.
The Rate Study is available online at https://www.cityofsalinas.org/Your-Government/Departments/Public- Works/Sanitary-Rate-Study-2025.
PROPOSED SEWER RATE INCREASES
The City is proposing five years of sewer rate increases, as set forth in Table 1 and Table 2:
Table 1: Proposed **Sewer Rate per Unit per Month
City
Code
Land Use Class (other
than Special Users) Unit
Sewer Rate per Unit per Month
FY
2025-26
FY
2026-27
FY
2027-28
FY
2028-29
FY
2029-30
001 Business/Government Location/Each Business ($ 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 at 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 City
Code
Land Use Class (other
than Special Users) Unit
Sewer Rate per Unit per Month
FY
2025-26
FY
2026-27
FY
2027-28
FY
2028-29
FY
2029-30
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 Month for Special Users City
Code
Land Use Class
(Special Users) Unit
Sewer Rate 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 Wash *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 * The flow in gallons per day (“GPD”) is based on information provided by Monterey One Water (“M1W”), the public agency that treats the sewer that is collected by the City of Salinas.
** “Sewer Rate” equals the dollar rate in the relevant year for on Residential Living Unit, which is one equivalent dwelling unit (“EDU”).
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:
o Objectors name, parcel number and/or service address. o A statement that the communication constitutes a written objection to the City’s proposed sewer rates.
o 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.) FO R MORE I N F O R M A T I O N:
Visit: https://www.cityofsalinas.org/Your-Government/Departments/Public-Works/Sanitary-Rate-Study-2025; or call (831) 758-7241; or email [email protected].