Council hears lengthy debate on California Breeze assessment district; staff directed to pursue maintenance-reduction options, not park closure

Council members and dozens of public commenters debated proposed reductions to services funded by the California Breeze Benefit Assessment District, including landscape maintenance, stormwater-basin upkeep and sound-wall repairs.

Staff presentation and options City staff explained the California Breeze assessment district and related parks and open-space funding shortfalls. Staff reported the district lacks a consumer price index clause present in newer assessment districts, leaving assessments behind rising costs. The district mail ballot Proposition 218 process returned 90 ballots from 320 property owners, with only nine supporting an increase. Staff outlined five options and recommended a combination that reduces city public-works staff effort for landscape and storm-basin maintenance, reduces contracted landscape frequency (Smith & Enright) by 30%, reduces budgets for tree maintenance/replacement, and reduces sound-wall maintenance funding.

Public response and council direction Many residents objected to closing the park; speakers emphasized youth activity, health, and safety concerns. Council member Scott Funk and others pressed for fairness across neighborhoods and for exploring alternative funding and volunteer support. Staff noted the city recently began collecting fees from organized leagues and said closing the ball field would be costly and difficult to reopen. The council directed staff to return at the March 3 meeting with a more robust menu of options that reduce costs while prioritizing safety; staff said their initial recommendation is to reduce service levels rather than close parks.

Formal actions The council did not vote to close the park or approve a permanent reduction at this meeting; instead it accepted staff's report and asked staff to develop detailed options and estimated savings, keeping safety-related items (e.g., tree hazards, trip hazards) as priorities for continued response.

Clarifying details - Contracted landscape maintenance: Smith & Enright agreed to a 30% reduction if shifted from weekly to biweekly service, which staff estimated would save roughly $5,750 annually for that contract segment. - Emergency maintenance: staff acknowledged some tree and sound-wall repairs are safety-critical and would be preserved even under reduced schedules.

Ending Staff will return March 3 with detailed cost breakdowns and proposals; council members repeated that park closure is not the preferred outcome.