Board delays Oak Hills CSA 45 engineer’s report after residents raise concerns over notice and costs

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 19 voted to delay action on an engineer’s report and Prop. 218 election process for County Service Area 45, an Oak Hills special district, after residents urged the board to postpone the matter and public works staff described potential service shortfalls if funding is not approved.

Supervisor Church moved to delay the item to an undetermined future date to allow additional community outreach; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously. "I would rather leave a little bit open, but we're gonna make this a real priority to get it resolved here in short order as possible," Church said, adding the proposal needed broader outreach to the hundreds of homes in Oak Hills.

Residents who attended or called in said they were surprised by short notice, questioned the size and necessity of an engineering study, and opposed potential tax increases. "It's a waste of $65,000 for a stupid engineering study to tell us stuff that we already know," said resident Mister Gray, who said he would oppose an eventual vote. Alex Rausch, president of the Oak Hills Neighborhood Association and a member of the CSA 45 advisory committee, said the engineer’s report is required for the Prop. 218 process and that property owners will have a vote on any proposed rate increase after the study and public hearings.

Public works staff, including Director Randy Ishii and senior water resource hydrologist Tom Moss, briefed the board on service needs and timing. Staff said CSA 45 has two zones of benefit: 617 parcels pay for a full set of services and another 346 parcels pay only for open space. Moss said the Prop. 218 process and engineer’s report typically take about eight months; delays could push new rates into the following fiscal year. "We're already on about a three-year cycle to maintain the open space," Moss told the board. "We don't have plans to maintain the open space next fiscal year because of lack of funds."

Advisory committee members and Oak Hills residents requested more meetings, better communication, and time to consider alternatives to the engineer’s report process. Several asked the board to postpone so that the advisory committee could hold broader neighborhood outreach and fully explain options for storm drain maintenance, street lighting ownership questions and open-space upkeep.

Supervisor Askew, who seconded the eventual delay motion, urged staff to work with the community to schedule additional meetings and said the county should assist the neighborhood in preparing for the Prop. 218 process. "We want to work with you... We want this to be successful," Askew said.

The board’s delay keeps the item off the immediate calendar; staff said they will coordinate community meetings with the supervisor’s office and return the matter to the board when adequate outreach and material are provided. Public works warned that a longer delay could require reductions in services or pushing necessary maintenance into a later fiscal year if new revenue is not identified.

The record includes multiple public comments opposing the study and urging delay, and advisory committee members said communications from the county had been inconsistent. The board instructed staff to engage with the community and to report back with outreach plans.