Water rates

Criticized the city for publicizing rate changes only in the Union-Tribune rather than community newspapers that underserved residents actually read.

A Coastkeeper attorney didn't ask the council to reject the rates but urged an immediate new cost-of-service study to restore conservation tiers under AB 2180.

A disabled resident described her injury and sharply higher water bill despite extreme conservation, saying residents shouldn't pay for city mismanagement.

San Diego Coastkeeper attorney said flat rates punish conservation and urged the city to immediately start a new tiered-rate cost-of-service study under AB 2180.

Said it's unfair that conservers pay more while wasters pay less, and urged the analysis to treat conservation as a supply resource.

Said she paid roughly double her neighbors' water bills despite barely being home and doesn't understand the tiered charges.

San Diego Bird Alliance asked the Council to adopt the flat rate only as explicitly temporary, with mandatory review to return to conservation tiers.

Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation asked for regional cost solutions through the County Water Authority and called the flat rate a temporary step.

Accused the water department of charging fees the Council voted down, and asked the IBA to investigate.

Celebrated LGBTQ history and later questioned how the unitary rate and $40 million settlement are being applied to ratepayers.

Calculated that low-volume single-family rates jump about 30% year over year — the largest increase of any customer class.

Speaking for UCAN, said flat rates kill the conservation price signal and asked the Council to commission a new tiered study under AB 2180.

Said everything feels inverted — she pays the same rate as a golf course — and urged residents to pay attention and show up.

Criticized the city for failing to maintain infrastructure before the 2024 flood and for countersuing victims, and alleged fraud in tiered water rates.