Busy busy busy – just got a look at tomorrow night’s council agenda. There are interesting items, but right now I think the most important item on the agenda is the discussion about reconsidering the sewer rate hike.
Here’s the agenda – https://chico-ca.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1193
At the April 7, 2026 Council meeting, under Reports and Communications, due to being on the prevailing side of the action, Vice Mayor Bennett requested a reconsideration of March 17, 2026 Agenda Item 5.1. related to the Sewer Enterprise Study proposing a five-year sewer rate adjustment, where “Option 1” was selected in a 4-3 vote, with O’Brien, van Overbeek, and Reynolds opposed.
Council voted 5-2, (with Goldstein and Hawley opposed) to allow for the reconsideration of this item. At this meeting, the Council will take up this matter with the original staff report for the item attached for information. Recommendation: The City Clerk recommends that Council hear the reconsideration of this item and provide direction, if any.
I guess you remember how pissed off everybody was with Option 1 – a 180 percent increase in the first year. I don’t know how many sewer customers know the city also switched to a “volumetric” system –
Volumetric Calculation: The volumetric portion of the bill is calculated based on water consumption during winter months (December through March), when outdoor irrigation is lowest.
Yes, they charge you for water you already paid Cal Water for. They made that switch with that mailed ballot assessment scam they pulled a few years back. And that leads us to another interesting item on the agenda.
Item 5.1 – RESOLUTION ADOPTING PROCEDURES FOR THE CONDUCT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS AND MAJORITY PROTEST PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO PROPOSED INCREASES TO THE CITY’S PROPERTY RELATED CHARGES AND ASSESSMENTS AND FOR OBJECTIONS PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTIONS 53759.1 AND 53759.2 – Continued from 4/7/26 and 4/21/26 Council Meetings
This is about that mailed ballot by which they jacked our sewer rates in the first place – it was shady, and they know it, and now the state law has changed so they have to talk about it. The city used Prop 218, which unfortunately did not set any standards by which they could do it.
Proposition 218 establishes procedural and substantive requirements for local agencies when imposing or increasing property-related fees and charges, including requirements for mailed notice, public hearings, and the opportunity for property owners to submit written protests. While Proposition 218 provides the general framework, it does not give detailed procedures for administering public hearings or addressing substantive challenges to proposed rates.
They mailed out what looked like JUNK MAIL, with no advanced media notice or detailed instructions for ratepayers to participate. The worst thing was the appearance of the notice – there was no ballot. They expected people to write their “protest” down on a piece of paper and either mail it (so sketchy), or appear at the meeting with that written notice in hand. No emails, you had to write it down in your own words and get it physically into the hands of the same clerk who sat there and let the whole thing happen. (No Debbie, I don’t trust you.…)
So, as far as I concerned, they need to revisit that volumetric charge bullshit. What do you think?
At any rate (pun intended) it’s time to be vocal in your opinion about the sewer rate increase and the way in which they have gone about it. The meeting is tomorrow night, that gives you plenty of time to put it into an email to your city reprobate.
Chico Taxpayers Association 