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Council approves annual engineer’s report and assessments for Cloverdale landscaping and lighting zones
Summary
The City Council conducted the required public hearing on the annual engineer’s report for the Cloverdale Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District, approved assessments for multiple zones with several members recused depending on zone residency, and discussed reserve policy and general fund contributions for zones with shortfalls.
The Cloverdale City Council held a public hearing and approved the annual engineer’s report and assessments for the Cloverdale Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District, which is organized into seven zones, after a staff presentation and limited public comment.
Coastland engineer Umman summarized the district’s purpose — to fund maintenance of landscaping and lighting in public right-of-way that principally benefits specific private developments — and reviewed proposed budget changes and assessments under the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 and Proposition 218. The city’s annual proceedings include an engineer’s report, budget spreadsheets and a public hearing, Umman said.
City staff and the engineer reported an overall district budget increase of about 14.3% from the prior year, driven by higher labor, utility and materials costs. Assessments were proposed to increase in Zones 1, 2 and 6 and decrease in Zones 3, 4, 5 and 7. Zone 2 showed the largest per-parcel increase at $156.46. Umman said maximum allowable assessments are set when each zone was formed and may only be raised to the cap or per inflation adjustments (this year’s CPI adjustment cited at 2.4 percent).
Staff noted some zones have low reserves and that the city follows a policy to maintain a minimum reserve equal to 25% of operating costs. For Zone 2 the city proposes a general fund contribution of $6,834.73 to pay for the general-benefit portion of Vintage Meadows Park; for Zone 1 staff proposed a one-time general fund contribution of $8,079.83 to cover a shortfall caused by maintenance needs and assessment caps.
Council split votes by zone to avoid members voting on assessments for zones where they live. Resolutions authorizing assessments passed as follows: Zones 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 were approved on a single motion, voice vote 5-0; Zone 3 was approved 4-0 with one recusal (vice mayor recused); Zone 2 was approved 3-0 after Council Member Marquez and another councilor recused themselves for that zone vote. No ballot protests or changes were reported in the staff presentation.
Council discussion noted that reserves for Zones 1, 2 and 6 are below the 25% target and that the city expects reserves to recover over several years. Umman said state law prevents raising assessments solely to build reserves and that excess reserves are normally used to lower assessments when available.
No additional motions to change assessments or place special ballots were made at the hearing. The council adopted the engineer’s report and related resolutions for each zone as shown in the staff materials.
