Council orders levy for Camarillo landscape maintenance districts; Zone 3 shortfall to be subsidized
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Summary
The council adopted the annual levy and collection of assessments for Camarillo Lighting and Landscape Maintenance Districts zones 1–10; the engineer's report recommends increases for zones 4, 7 and 8 while Zone 3 residents previously rejected a proposed increase, leaving the city to subsidize that zone.
The Camarillo City Council adopted a resolution ordering the levy and collection of assessments for the city's Lighting and Landscape Maintenance Districts, covering zones 1 through 10.
Engineering and public-works staff said assessments are structured to pay for maintenance, operations and improvements in each zone and that the engineer’s report recommends increases for zones 4, 7 and 8 for fiscal year 2025–26 where an escalator clause applies. Zone 1, the original maintenance district, remains funded through a tax allocation mechanism rather than the assessment roll shown on the map.
Staff noted one zone, Zone 3 (Arboretum Basins), lacks an escalator clause and residents voted down a proposed increase that would have nearly doubled its assessment in a previous Prop 218 process. "Consequently, the city's general fund is projected to subsidize Zone 3's maintenance: $4,867 in fiscal year 2024–25 and $5,038 in fiscal year 2025–26, for a combined subsidy of $16,060 through fiscal year 2025–26," staff said.
There were no public comments on the hearing. The council moved and approved the resolution by roll call (5–0) after the public hearing was closed.
Why it matters: the assessments fund maintenance of public landscaping, open space and stormwater basins. When a zone declines an increase under Prop 218, the city must either subsidize maintenance or reduce service levels.
What’s next: staff will implement the assessments per the engineer’s report; staff will continue to monitor fund balances in zones that lack automatic escalators.
