Parlier council opens Proposition 218 public hearing on garbage-rate increase, continues adoption to March 21

The Parlier City Council on March 7 added an urgent Proposition 218 public protest hearing on proposed refuse (garbage) rate increases after staff said a consultant failed to notify the city that the hearing needed to be listed on the posted agenda. The mayor opened the public hearing, took public comment and closed the hearing, then continued the resolution adoption to the council’s March 21 meeting so a consultant can present formal implementing language.

City staff told the council the Proposition 218 notice required at least 45 days’ notice to service recipients and allows written protests up to and including the close of the hearing. “We have received zero written protests as of now,” staff said during the meeting, and emphasized that if written protests from 50% plus one of service recipients are received, the rate increase cannot be implemented.

Staff and a resident discussed the dollar impact: the presenter said the current residential rate for a 96‑gallon cart is $26.26 and the proposed increase would raise the monthly charge to $30.86, a 17.5% rise (about $4.60 per month). Staff explained that, absent a controlling protest, the new rates could take effect but the council is continuing adoption to allow the consultant, Dan Bergman, to return with a formal resolution on March 21.

Before the hearing was opened, council voted to add the item to tonight’s agenda, citing urgency and the risk that the city would otherwise pay the difference if the hearing were re‑noticed. Council approved the motion to add the hearing by a recorded voice vote noted in the meeting as “Motion carries 4 yes and 1 absent.”

The public hearing remains open to written protests until the council votes on a resolution at the March 21 meeting. The council did not adopt the implementing resolution on March 7; staff promised to present the formal resolution and a detailed cost/rate breakdown at the next meeting.