Failed stormwater fee and flood protection funding gap
Summary
The city wants to bring back a stormwater fee — $7.72 a month for a typical single-family home — to fund legally required storm drain maintenance and pollution prevention. A survey showed only 43% support, below the 50% needed, but the council moved ahead with the process anyway.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 4
- Last 30 days
- 0
Last discussed Jul 7, 2026.
Impact analysis
About $92.64 per year for the typical single-family home if adopted.
Property owners who benefit from flood protection and cleaner stormwater runoff.
Property owners who would pay the fee if approved by parcel vote.
Mentions & discussions (4)
Council Regular Meeting — July 7, 2026
Property owners rejected the flood protection and clean stormwater fee 60-40 in a Prop 218 mail ballot, so no fee can be charged. Staff will cut stormwater maintenance to permit minimums — less inlet cleaning before storms means higher localized flooding risk. The council also talked about better outreach if it ever tries again.
Council Regular Meeting — May 5, 2026
The city wants to reinstate a stormwater fee — about $4.81 a month for a typical home — to fund two-thirds of storm drain cleaning and maintenance. Protesters fell far short of the majority needed to kill it, so property owners now vote by mailed ballot by July 6. Critics say the city should fix its $12 million budget problem first and argue parcels are charged the same regardless of how permeable they are.
Council Regular Meeting — March 3, 2026
Monterey has zero dedicated stormwater revenue; this fee, cut from $7.72 to $4.81 a month for a typical home, would cover about two-thirds of the $1.34 million annual program cost and head to property owners under Prop 218.
Council Special Meeting — January 28, 2026
The city wants to bring back a stormwater fee — $7.72 a month for a typical single-family home — to fund legally required storm drain maintenance and pollution prevention. A survey showed only 43% support, below the 50% needed, but the council moved ahead with the process anyway.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Monterey
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.