Proposed update to water rates for fiscal years 2027-2029

(Public Hearing May 12, 2026)

City Council sets rates for water services provided to MPMW customers. The City has initiated a rate study that will propose water rates effective July 1, 2026, with annual adjustments effective on or after each July 1 through July 1, 2028. Water rates are considered property-related fees and are subject to the Proposition 218 process, which requires notification to property owners and account holders of any proposed rate increases as directed by City Council. Per Proposition 218 requirements, notices must include information on the proposed fees, date of the public hearing and details on how property owners and account holders can submit a written protest. A public hearing is scheduled for May 12.

City Council Meeting

• Feb. 24 City Council Informational item to provide an update on the Water Rate Study(PDF, 2MB)
• March 10 City Council meeting to initiate Proposition 218 (Prop. 218)(PDF, 142KB)
• Upcoming - Public hearing is scheduled for May 12

Proposed rates documents

• Water Rate Study(PDF, 895KB)
• Proposed water rates effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029(PDF, 1MB)
• Utility Rate Setting Procedures (AB2257 Resolution)(PDF, 155KB)
• Proposed Water Rates Notice (Prop 218) - English(PDF, 656KB)

How to protest

Proposition 218 allows the owner of record or tenant of a parcel that receives water service to submit a written protest at or before the close of the Public Hearing on May 12, 2026.

If the person signing the protest is not listed as the owner on the last equalized assessment roll for San Mateo County, the protest must be accompanied by written evidence that the signer owns the property. In rental situations, if a tenant is the Menlo Park Municipal Water account holder for water service, the tenant also has the right to submit a written protest for the property. Only one protest per parcel will be counted. If the City receives valid written protests on behalf of a majority of the parcels that receive water service, the increased water rates will not be adopted.

All written protests must:

• Be in writing with the printed name and an original signature from the property owner of record or tenant directly liable for the payment of the fee/account holder. (Spoken, telephonic or emailed protests will not be counted as a “written protest.”)
• Identify the parcel for which the protest is filed, by street address or Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN).
• State that the signer opposes the proposed water rates.
• A protest must be mailed or hand delivered in paper form. Email, fax, telephone and oral protests of any kind will not be counted. Mailed protests received after the close of the public hearing will not be counted, even if they were postmarked earlier.

A protest may be:

1. Mailed to the City of Menlo Park. The protest must be received (not postmarked) by the date and time of the public hearing.
   Attn: City Clerk - Water Rate Protest
   701 Laurel St.
   Menlo Park, CA 94025
   
   OR
   
   

2. Delivered to the same address during regular business hours, Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and every other Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
   
   OR

3. Delivered to the City Clerk at the Menlo Park City Council Chambers located at 751 Laurel St., Menlo Park, CA before the close of the public hearing.

How to submit a written Objection (AB2257)

Any property owner or tenant who wishes to file a timely written objection to satisfy the requirement to exhaust administrative remedies under AB 2257 (Government Code Sections 53759.1 and 53759.2) must meet the following procedural and substantive requirements:

• Be in writing with the printed name and an original signature from the property owner of record or tenant directly liable for the payment of the fee/account holder. Emails will require a digital signature and must be sent to city.clerk@menlopark.gov. A digital signature may include a scanned PDF or photo of a handwritten signature, a digital stylus pen (e.g., Apple Pencil) signature, or any other form of electronic signature acceptable to the City.
• Identify the parcel for which the written objection is filed, by street address or Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN).
• Written objections must include the following information:
  • A statement that your communication constitutes a written objection.
  • A description of the nature of the written objection, with sufficient specificity to allow the City to respond in writing. The objection must state the specific facts and grounds for concerns with the proposed water rates and why the rates do not comply with the law, and more specifically, Proposition 218. The objection should include the desired resolution or outcome.
  • A statement that the proposed water rates violate Proposition 218 without an explanation as to the basis of your claim is not sufficient to constitute a valid written objection. See Utility Rate Setting Procedures, Section 3(c).

• Be received (not postmarked) by the City Clerk by no later than 4 p.m., April 30, 2026 and addressed to:
  City of Menlo Park
  Attn: City Clerk – Water Rates Written Objection
  701 Laurel St.
  Menlo Park, CA 94025
  Or emailed to city.clerk@menlopark.gov