Welcome to the City of Stockton’s Online Open House for the proposed adjustment to your stormwater utility rates.
Learn more about the value of your stormwater system and the need for a proposed adjustment to your stormwater utility rates.
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Use the navigation bar/menu to revisit any part of the meeting.
Contact us any time if you have questions.
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Lack of sufficient rate revenue has resulted in deferred maintenance and aging infrastructure—leaving the system vulnerable to failure.
The system reduces property damage from flooding and pollution in local waterways by collecting, and removing rain and irrigation water from properties.
Rates have not increased since 1992—that’s 34 years—even though costs, state and federal regulations, and the size of the system have increased.
By fiscal year 2027–28, our stormwater utility will face an approximate $5 million annual shortfall, leading to higher flood risks, more pollution in waterways and potential costly regulatory fines.
The increase would adequately fund your stormwater services, and allow for long-overdue infrastructure repairs and improvements.
The cities of Elk Grove and Sacramento stormwater rates are higher now than Stockton's would be even after the five-year gradual increase.
City will invest revenues in system maintenance, repairs and infrastructure replacements.
This will minimize flooding and protect your property.
City will not be able to maintain and fix system failures, and will have reduced ability to respond to emergency flood calls.
This will increase potential for flooding, and negatively impact your property.
Click through the rest of this Online Open House to learn more about the proposed adjustment to your stormwater utility rates.
Your stormwater system prevents flooding and related damage to properties through collection and removal of water runoff. It also keeps pollutants like trash, oil, chemicals, and sediment from flowing into local rivers, creeks, sloughs and the Delta.
The land in Stockton is generally flat and mostly developed, so water runoff can’t drain naturally in most places. Because there’s nowhere for the water to go, it must be physically removed to keep it from backing up and flooding streets, homes and other buildings.
The City operates and maintains a large network of storm drains, pipes, pump stations and stormwater holding ponds to collect water runoff from properties and move it into local waterways (rivers, creeks, sloughs and the Delta).
243,000+
Customers
23,200
Catch basins
620
Miles of pipeline
~100
Discharge outlets
77
Pump stations
19
Stormwater holding ponds
The City employs 20 highly trained staff who manage operations, maintenance and emergency response for your stormwater utility. In 2024 alone, stormwater utility crews were responsible for:
8,000+
Linear feet of stormwater pipes cleaned—equivalent to
about 23 football fields laid end-to-end
7,500+
Storm drains maintained, including 90,000 pounds of trash
removed
400+
Construction, industrial and commercial properties
inspected to reduce improper and/or illegal disposal of
hazardous waste
54
Resolved reports of illegal dumping into the stormwater
system
Today, rate revenues do not cover the total cost of providing service such as operations, maintenance, and important repairs and improvements.
Your stormwater utility has been underfunded for many years, and now significant portions of your stormwater system are at critical risk of failure. Revenues do no cover the costs for system maintenance and necessary infrastructure improvements. That’s a big problem because the stormwater system is aging.
The consequences of aging and insufficient infrastructure were especially obvious in early 2023 when Stockton received over half of its average annual rainfall in just 17 days.
This resulted in flood damage to cars, homes and businesses (e.g. Quail Lakes area), as well as pollutants in the stormwater system. And the problems could worsen!
33 years
Average age of all pumps
30–40 years
Typical lifespan of a storm drain pump
69 years
Age of the City’s oldest storm drain pump
Eventually the pump stations, catch basins and pipelines will fail, some sooner than later!
Approving your new stormwater rates is a two-step process:
Protest Hearing
The City sends a notice of the proposed rates and schedules a public protest hearing. Property owners or customers of record may submit written protests any time before the hearing closes.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
City of Stockton Council Chambers
425 N. El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95202
Office of the City Clerk City Hall
425 N. El Dorado Street, Stockton, CA 95202
Election and Public Hearing
The City Council may then direct staff to mail ballots to all property owners or customers of record, starting a minimum 45-day election period that ends with a public hearing.
