Proposed update to water rates for fiscal years 2027-2029

Updated Public Hearing Date June 9, 2026

City Council sets rates for water services provided to Menlo Park Municipal Water (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 July 1, 2026, July 1, 2027, and 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 customers 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 customers can submit a written protest or objection. 

The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed rate increases on May 12. However, staff will recommend that City Council receive and consider comments as part of the public record but take no final action on the proposed rates. Staff will recommend that the public hearing be continued to June 9 and recommend that City Council take action on the proposed rates. The reason for continuance from May 12 to June 9 is due to errors with the mailing addresses used for the public hearing notice.  

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, 4MB)
• Upcoming Public hearing is scheduled for May 12 - Staff will recommend continuation of this item to June 9

Proposed rates documents

• Water Rate Study(PDF, 895KB)
• Proposed water rates effective July 1, 2026, July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2028(PDF, 1MB)
• Utility Rate Setting Procedures (AB2257 Resolution)(PDF, 155KB)
• Updated Public Hearing Date - Proposed Water Rates Notice (Prop 218)(PDF, 237KB)
• Updated Public Hearing Date - Proposed Water Rates Notice (Prop 218) - Español(PDF, 721KB)

How to protest

Proposition 218 allows the owner of record or customer of a parcel that receives water service to submit a written protest at or before the close of the Public Hearing on June 9, 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 customer is the Menlo Park Municipal Water account holder for water service, the customer 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 customer 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 customer 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 customer 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., May 25 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