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Council approves Bella Terra LMD assessment increase after debate over tree-trimming and fund shortfalls
Summary
After a lengthy public hearing, the council voted 3–2 to approve the engineer-recommended assessment for the Bella Terra Landscape and Lighting District; council and residents debated a $30,000 tree-trimming need, an apparent cash shortfall and whether to phase increases to avoid a heavy single-year hit to homeowners.
The Escalon City Council continued and concluded a public hearing Aug. 4 on assessments for the city’s landscape and lighting districts and approved the engineer’s recommended assessment for the Bella Terra district after extended discussion and public comment. The motion to approve the assessment passed on a 3–2 vote.
Staff and the consultant, Harrison & Associates, told the council Bella Terra had an operating shortfall and that, as of Aug. 4, the district’s estimated fiscal-year expenses were $79,008.52 while the cash balance was low (roughly $6,400 at the time staff reported). The district has about 143 single-family parcels. Council and staff identified a near-term capital need: a professional comprehensive street-tree trimming contract estimated at about $30,000. Staff said the tree work is a periodic capital expense (approximately every five to seven years) and the district currently lacks sufficient reserves to pay it without an assessment increase.
Residents from Bella Terra spoke at the hearing. One resident said the district had previously been charged for services that were not performed and urged council to ensure contractor accountability; others praised recent mowing and line-striping work. Several council members expressed concern about placing a large one-year increase on homeowners and discussed phasing in an increase or reducing services. Staff and the consultant explained the district had not built reserves in earlier years (some earlier annual assessments had been zero or low), creating a multi-year gap that now required larger adjustments to restore a reserve. The consultant’s analysis showed that the full recommended assessment would build a small capital-replacement balance but still leave the district with a short-term cash management challenge.
Council members debated whether the general fund should temporarily front tree work or whether the LMD must cover the $30,000 through assessments. Staff said the LMD is intended to pay for localized services and the normal approach is to fund the work from LMD assessments; the council may decide to subsidize from the general fund but that would mean spreading a local benefit across all city taxpayers. One council member characterized the tree trimming as a public-safety need and urged action.
After debate, a council member moved to approve the assessments as recommended by staff and the engineer; another council member seconded. The motion passed 3–2. The council directed staff to continue monitoring contractor performance and to return with additional budget details as invoices and collections proceed. Several council members asked for clearer communication to residents about what services assessments fund and suggested a short informational flyer to explain recurring cycle items like tree trimming and irrigation timing.
