Oakdale council approves assessments for four landscape and lighting districts after debate over reserve balances

Oakdale City Council on Aug. 4 adopted engineer reports and ordered levy and collection of assessments for four landscape and lighting maintenance districts — Bridal Ridge, The Vineyards, Virgil Hill and a group of smaller neighborhoods including Live Oak and Sunset Meadows — after public comment questioned large reserve balances in several districts.

Council approval came after debate about whether some districts hold years of reserves and whether residents should see reductions rather than increases. The council approved all four items, with one item (Bridal Ridge) passing only after a motion to reconsider and one council member abstaining where they had a conflict of interest.

The council’s action affects the following districts as presented in the engineer reports and staff briefings: Bridal Ridge (1,163 parcels; staff said the proposed assessment would increase and noted an annual increase figure of $17.54), The Vineyards (392 parcels; staff recommended no change to the assessment), Virgil Hill (354 parcels; proposed increase of $19.62, staff said the district carried a deficit and the increase would still…