Council confirms Bay Point Lagoons assessment district levy unchanged since 1996

The City Council on June 23 held a public hearing and adopted a resolution confirming the engineer’s annual report and ordering the levy and collection of assessments for the Bay Point Lagoons Assessment District for fiscal year 2025–26.

"Funds generated from the district support ongoing maintenance, repair, and improvements of public lighting, landscape assets, and associated infrastructure within the district," Jonathan Schellen, deputy director of public works, told the council during the presentation. Staff said the district was formed in 1990 to protect lagoon wildlife habitat and water quality and that it now serves about 150 assessed parcels (several affordable housing parcels are exempt from the assessment).

Staff described two consolidated environmental funds that now form a habitat protection fund projected to hold approximately $110,000 by the end of the fiscal year, and a separate pump station control fund projected to have about $100,004.70. The annual assessment per parcel has remained unchanged since 1996 at $131.44.

Council members asked about the cost to automate the pump station controls; staff said the last estimate dated several years ago suggested a total replacement or automation package would likely exceed $300,000, and that the current $100,000 balance would fund design and preliminary work but would not cover full replacement or automation. Staff noted that because the district provides broader public benefits, any large capital upgrade would likely require supplemental funding sources beyond the assessment district.

After a public hearing with no speakers, the council adopted the resolution ordering the assessment levy for FY 2025–26 by a 4–0 vote.