NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 6:00 pm
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON
PROPOSED ADJUSTMENTS TO WATER AND SEWER RATES
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 at 6:00 pm
in the Council Chambers at 355 South Center St, Westmorland, CA 92281
Para ver la traducción al español, consulte la página 6.
You are receiving this notice as property owner or utility customer within the City of Westmorland (City). The City Council will hold a public hearing on April 1, 2026 to hear public input and to consider and potentially approve water and sewer (wastewater) rate changes for the next five years.
Background
The City of Westmorland provides water and sewer service to over 500 service connections including single family residences, apartments, businesses, and schools throughout the City. The City’s Water and Sewer Funds are self-supported from rate revenues and do not receive tax revenues to fund their operations.
The City has been very successful in pursuing grant funding for water system improvements. Westmorland will receive over $11 million for treatment upgrades and the installation of water meters. As part of the funding process, the City was required to conduct a rate study to ensure that it has funds available for operations and maintenance costs that are not covered by the grant. The proposed rates are based on a comprehensive cost of service study that calculates water and sewer rates over the next five years, beginning July 1, 2026. The proposed rates do not exceed the proportional cost of the service attributable to each parcel. Rate structure adjustments are also proposed to better align with industry standard practices, improve customer understanding, and implement metered water rates. The study upon which the rates are based is available for review on the City’s website.
Why are rate increases needed?
Rate increases are needed for both the water and sewer utilities to fund operating and maintenance expenses, infrastructure improvements that will not be funded by grants, and to maintain emergency reserves. For example, the City plans to spend about $440,000 over the next five years to purchase new water pumps, vehicles, and other equipment.
How to Participate
The proposed rate increases are governed by section 6 of Article XIII D of the California Constitution (Proposition 218), Government Code sections 53751 et seq. and 53759 et seq., and related laws. Property owners and utility customers subject to the proposed rates may participate in this ratemaking in a variety of ways. More information and the Rate Study Report are on the City’s website at https://www.cityofwestmorland.net/ or you can call (760) 344-3411.
The City will hold a public hearing on April 1, 2026, to receive public comment, including any written protests to the proposed rates. Any property owner or customer of record may submit one written protest per parcel. Immediately following the close of the public hearing on April 1, 2026, protests will be counted and validated. If valid protests are submitted for a majority (50% plus 1) of the parcels subject to the proposed rate increases, the City Council will not adopt the rates.
Every written protest MUST include ALL of the following to be counted:
- A statement that it is a protest against the proposed water rates, sewer rates, or both;
- Name of the property owner or customer of record who is submitting the protest;
- Identification of the assessor’s parcel number or street address (service address) of the property for which the protest is made; and
- An original signature of the property owner or customer of record who is submitting the protest.
Written protests may be submitted by:
- Mail to: Prop 218 Protest, P. O. Box 699, Westmorland, CA 92281; or
- In-person delivery during normal business hours at 355 South Center St, Westmorland, CA 92281; or
- In-person delivery at the Public Hearing, before the end of the Public Hearing.
Regardless of how the written protest is submitted, it must be received by the City before the end of the public hearing to be held on April 1, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. at 355 South Center Street (City Council chambers), Westmorland, CA 92281. (Postmark dates will not be accepted.) To ensure protests are genuine, they will not be accepted by e-mail or other electronic means. Please identify on the front of the envelope for any written protest, whether mailed or submitted in person to the City, that the enclosed protest is for the Proposition 218 Protest. Oral comments at the Public Hearing will not qualify as formal protests unless accompanied by a written protest, but the Council welcomes all public input.
At the end of the public hearing, written protests will be counted in public view. Only one written protest per parcel in the City's service area (i.e. address/assessor parcel number) will be counted. If valid written protests are not submitted for a majority (50% plus 1) of the properties subject to the fees, the Council may adopt the proposed rates. The first rate change, if approved, will take effect on or after July 1, 2026.
Pursuant to California Government Code 53759, a 120-day statute of limitations applies to any legal challenge to a new, increased, or extended fee adopted by the City Council pursuant to this notice. If you challenge this proposal in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you, or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Clerk at, or prior to, the public hearing.
English NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING