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Council initiates Prop 218 process for Natoma Station landscape and lighting district after community outreach
Summary
The council approved Resolution No. 11,403 to begin Prop 218 proceedings for the Natoma Station Landscaping & Lighting District, starting a three-step process; staff described a $729,000 negative balance in the district and estimated payback scenarios and outreach steps through an October public hearing.
The Folsom City Council on June 24 approved Resolution No. 11,403 to initiate the Prop 218 process for the Natoma Station Landscaping and Lighting District (a landscaping and lighting district under the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972). The resolution starts the multi-step procedure required to levy assessments if property owners later approve them in a weighted ballot vote.
Jamieson Larson, senior management analyst for parks and recreation, told the council the Natoma Station district maintains nearly 9.37 acres of streetscapes, roughly 9 acres of open space, more than 10,000 linear feet of six-foot sound wall and about 350 street lights. Natoma Station has approximately 1,857 single-family-equivalent units.
Larson reported a projected operational deficit of approximately $104,000 for fiscal year 2025–26 and a district negative cash balance of $729,000 as of April 30, 2025 — roughly $393 per single-family equivalent. Staff presented illustrative payback scenarios: if the deficit were amortized over 10 years, cost per SFE would be about $33 annually (about $2.75/month); amortized over 15 years the estimate was about $26 annually (about $2.18/month). The staff presentation made clear a payback period has not been established.
Council previously held Prop 218 procedures in this district in March; the March ballot failed to pass on a narrow margin (49.65% for / 50.35% opposed), and the preliminary engineers report then recommended cuts of roughly $100,000, including removal of all landscape maintenance. Council instructed staff to continue landscape maintenance while ballots are again mailed and tallied.
Larson explained Prop 218 requires weighted ballots (weights by assessment amount) and a 45-day period between the approval of the preliminary engineers report and the public hearing. Staff outlined outreach already completed (community meetings in 2022 and 2024, postcards, yard signs, website, direct mail) and further outreach planned, including two community meetings, an updated engineer's report to be presented to council in August and a public hearing expected in October to declare results.
During council discussion members asked about ballot apportionment methodology and whether the mailings produced sufficient homeowner awareness. Council directed staff and the consultant to explore more systematic apportionment methods and to improve communications (including additional signage and a partner kickoff). Two district residents who spoke at the meeting urged the council to move forward and praised the city’s increased communications.
Council voted unanimously to initiate the Prop 218 process (Resolution No. 11,403). Staff said final assessment levies would not be collected until the next fiscal year following successful balloting and formal confirmation.
