Notice of public hearing

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 17, 2026, at 6:30 PM, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be heard, a public hearing will be held before the City Council of the City of Riverside in the Art Pick Council Chamber, City Hall, 3900 Main Street, Riverside, California to consider proposed increases to the City’s sewer rates.

This notice is being provided pursuant to Article XIII D of the California Constitution (commonly referred to as “Proposition 218”), which requires the City to notify property owners and customers of proposed changes to property-related fees, including sewer service charges. This notice describes proposed changes to the City’s sewer rates and provides information regarding the Public Hearing at which the City Council will consider the adoption of the proposed rates.

At the time of the public hearing, the City Council will hear and consider all protests and objections concerning these matters and will consider and may adopt the proposed rate.

The proposed rate adjustments consist of a five-year sewer rate adjustment plan, commencing January 1, 2027, with subsequent rate adjustments effective July 1, 2027; July 1, 2028; July 1, 2029; and July 1, 2030, as shown in the rate tables contained in this notice. The proposed sewer rates apply to residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

Why are sewer rates changing?

The City of Riverside Sewer Division maintains the wastewater system serving over 100,000 homes and businesses. To support critical infrastructure needs, the City is proposing a sewer rate adjustment to fund essential operations, upgrade undersized trunk mains to reduce overflow risks, and replace aging parts of the collection system. The adjustments would also support ongoing rehabilitation at the Regional Wastewater Quality Control Plant, ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, and help meet bond covenants tied to wastewater facility improvements, maintaining both system reliability and financial stability.

How are sewer rates adjusted?

Sewer rates are adjusted based on the revenue needed to operate, maintain, and upgrade the City’s wastewater system, using updated flow data and cost-of-service principles. Rates vary by customer class to reflect actual service demands and ensure fair cost distribution. Updated flow and loading data from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) study and recent City sampling help align rates with the true wastewater strength and volume from each customer category. This data-driven approach explains minor differences in rate changes and ensures the proposed rates accurately support reliable service, regulatory compliance, and essential infrastructure improvements.

Protest of proposed rate

To protest the proposed rate action, written protests must be received by the City before the close of the public hearing via mail or hand-delivered to the Riverside City Clerk at City Hall, 3900 Main Street, Riverside, California, 92522. Protests will also be accepted via electronic mail (e-mail) at [email protected].

Each protest must identify the sewer services address for the affected property (by assessor’s street address), indicate that the protest is related to proposed sewer rate increases and include the name of the person submitting. Each sewer services address may submit no more than one written protest.

Protests received by telephone or on social media sites such as Facebook or X (formerly Twitter) will NOT be accepted.

All interested parties are invited to attend the public hearing and present written protests or oral comments to the proposed sewer rate increases. However, oral comments at the public hearing will not qualify as a formal protest of the proposed commercial sewer rate increases unless accompanied by a written protest setting forth the required information. If written protests are received from a majority of the affected property owners, the proposed rate increases will not be implemented.

Questions regarding proposed rate action

If you have questions regarding the proposed sewer rate increases or how to submit a written protest, please contact Riverside Customer Service at (951) 826-5311 or by email at [email protected].

Accessible formats

If requested, this Notice and supporting materials will be available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with disabilities, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12132) and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof.