Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Fees Assessments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves phased increase to landscaping and lighting assessment for Zone 3
Summary
The council authorized a four-year, phased restoration of previously reduced assessments in Zone 3 of the city's Consolidated Landscaping and Lighting District, adopting staff's recommendation to phase in the levy to address arrears caused by long-standing reduced charges.
The Ridgecrest City Council voted unanimously June 18 to finalize the Consolidated Landscaping and Lighting District engineer’s report for FY2025–26 and to adopt a staff recommendation to phase in restored assessments for six parcels in Zone 3 over four years.
Staff told the council that four parcels in Zone 3 had been set at a reduced levy of $100 per year and two parcels had been assessed $0 in prior years, creating an arrears condition for the district that had required supplementing maintenance costs out of the general fund. To remedy the shortfall while limiting immediate impact on property owners, staff proposed and the council approved a phase-in at 25% the first year, 50% the second, 75% the third and 100% the fourth year, in addition to the allowable annual increase of up to 3.5 percent.
No public speakers addressed the hearing. Councilmember Gorman moved to adopt the staff recommendation and the motion passed on a 5–0 roll-call vote (Mayor Endicott, Councilmembers Blades, Rajaratnam, Heyman and Gorman voting aye).
The phased approach is intended to bring Zone 3 assessments into alignment with other district parcels while reducing immediate financial pressure on the affected properties; staff said a future 218 hearing would be necessary to increase assessments above statutory caps, if required.
The council also received a brief clarification that the EBU (equivalent benefit unit) construct is the mechanism used to distribute district costs among properties; the engineer calculates EBUs at the district’s establishment and the city can increase current assessments only within statutory limits without a separate ballot proceeding.
