Council approves lighting and landscape assessment resolutions; asks staff to study Prop 218 option

The Waterford City Council voted 5-0 on May 20 to declare its intention to levy annual assessments for two districts and to set a public hearing for June 5.

Staff presented an engineer's report and asked the council to adopt a resolution declaring the intention to levy and collect assessments for the Waterford Lighting Assessment District at $11.24 per parcel for fiscal year 2025–26 (Resolution 2025-24) and for the Waterford Landscape and Lighting Assessment District at $52 per parcel for Zone A and $28.52 per parcel for Zone B (Resolution 2025-25). Council approved both resolutions and set the public hearings for the June 5 council meeting.

A council member raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the current assessment rates and noted the engineer's report shows the lighting fund operating at a deficit. The member asked staff to investigate initiating a Prop 218 process—i.e., a property-related charge process that would require outreach to affected parcel owners—and to return to council with cost, timeline and feasibility information. Staff (Miss Krause) said she and city staff could research the statutory process, estimated costs and historical context and return in roughly three to four months with options and likely political feasibility, including the city's prior 2013 citywide assessment effort.

Public comment on the items was not offered at the meeting. Council approved the resolutions by unanimous roll call vote.

The June 5 public hearing will provide property owners an opportunity to comment before any assessments are finalized.