New group launches bid to repeal SLO County city’s water rate increases

John Lynch
·2 min read

Grover Beach residents who oppose the introduction of new, increased water and sewer rates have announced they will launch a petition to repeal the higher rates.

In its first news release, Grover Beach H2O — a grassroots organization founded by former Grover Beach mayor Debbie Peterson — announced it would circulate a petition to get a measure on the November ballot to repeal the new rates.

The Grover Beach City Council voted 3-2 on Dec. 11 to make the change to water and sewer rates, with council members Robert Robert and Clint Weirick voting against the adjustment.

The rate increases were introduced in 2014 to pay for the Central Coast Blue sustainable water project and other capital improvements to the city’s infrastructure. They will boost water and sewer bills by as much as 91.8% between 2025 and 2028 for some customers, according to a rate structure study performed by Tuckfield & Associates.

Opposition to the rate structure change started building during the October noticing period required by California Proposition 218, which allows ratepayers to reject a change in fees by gathering letters of opposition from more than 50% of rate payers.

Residents organized by Peterson led a letter-writing campaign in October and November last year, but initials efforts to stop the water rate adjustment fell short, with a total of 1,687 protest votes against the rate structure, or around 34% of the city’s eligible voters.

Grover Beach residents protest a proposed 91.7% water rate increase over the next five years, before the Grover Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. Some residents said they have started knocking on doors, encouraging their neighbors to write letters of protest against the project.
Grover Beach residents protest a proposed 91.7% water rate increase over the next five years, before the Grover Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. Some residents said they have started knocking on doors, encouraging their neighbors to write letters of protest against the project.

“Grover citizens have wasted no time organizing to repeal that decision,” the Grover Beach H2O release said. “They contend that the Council violated Proposition 218 by not putting the expensive new project on the ballot and by charging water customers for a service they will not immediately receive.”

According to the release, members of Grover Beach H2O planned to announce their intention to circulate a ballot initiative petition at the Monday Grover Beach City Council meeting, the first step in the ballot measure process.

The water rate adjustment has been the source of friction in the South County in recent months, with Peterson organizing recall campaigns against Mayor Karen Bright and council members Dan Rushing and Zach Zimmerman after the adjustment was passed.

Peterson said passing the ballot measure would reset water and sewer rates to the pre-adjustment rates, which were the lowest water and sewer bills in San Luis Obispo County, according to the Tuckfield & Associates study.

In Grover Beach, the typical single-family home with a 3/4-inch meter consuming 1,500 cubic feet of water every two months averaged $90.69 per bimonthly payment, according to the rate study.

To put a repeal measure on the November ballot, Peterson said the petition must collect 500 signatures, though the deadlines to obtain the signatures has not been set yet.

Peterson said she will file the paperwork to start the petition process Tuesday morning.

Grover Beach residents protest a proposed 91.7% water rate increase over the next five years, before the Grover Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. Some residents said they have started knocking on doors, encouraging their neighbors to write letters of protest against the project.
Grover Beach residents protest a proposed 91.7% water rate increase over the next five years, before the Grover Beach City Council meeting on Nov. 13, 2023. Some residents said they have started knocking on doors, encouraging their neighbors to write letters of protest against the project.