Natoma Station assessment measure fails by narrow margin; council declares results and abandons district formation

The Folsom City Council on April 8 certified the results of a weighted ballot for the proposed Natoma Station Maintenance Assessment District and voted to abandon the district formation after ballots failed by a narrow margin.

The ballot proceeding failed by a weighted count of 49.65% in favor to 50.35% in opposition, campaign staff reported. Staff told the council the assessment would have raised the typical single-family monthly assessment from $7.64 to an average of $21.54, with parcel-specific rates ranging from $15 to $30 per month.

City staff and the district presentation described a maintenance deficit that has accumulated over many years. Jamieson, a city staff presenter, said the existing lighting-and-landscaping zones include about 9 acres of irrigated open space and a range of assets — sound walls, monument signs, artwork, irrigation controllers and streetlight pedestals — that are approaching end of life. Jamieson said current reserves are insufficient and, without the new assessment, "the district will need to reduce watering, cut mowing by about 80%, eliminate fertilization, weed control and shrub pruning, and will not have funds to replace damaged assets such as walls, fences, art and landscape lighting." (Jamieson presentation)

Residents who spoke at the meeting urged the council to reopen outreach and education and asked how the deficit and service cuts will be handled. Tracy McKinney told the council the $620,000 deficit "started before the first community meeting" and said many residents mistakenly believed the city paid for the neighborhood maintenance. West Jegor and Kevin Goddard, longtime residents, said communication and education about the district were insufficient and urged another attempt at a ballot if the community supports it.

City Manager (unnamed) told speakers and council members that staff will prepare a balanced budget and a plan for service-level reductions while working with the community. He said the city is committed to finding solutions and will participate in an upcoming public meeting planned within 30 to 45 days. City staff said another ballot could be placed before voters at any time; the city attorney added the process requires a typical 45-day timeline and that an engineering report would need to be updated for each new attempt.

Council adopted Resolution No. 11,341 to declare the balloting results and abandon the district-formation process. The council later said staff will hold at least one public meeting to present revised budgets and service-level options and to solicit priorities from residents.

The council discussion also touched on state water conservation mandates. A resident asked whether AB 1452 (2023) on nonessential turf removal would affect the district; staff said the state mandates removal of nonessential turf but that many existing irrigation configurations make it difficult to separate tree watering from turf without major reengineering.

Council members emphasized the need to broaden outreach and avoid letting other lighting-and-landscaping districts fall into similar gaps. Several council members said the result underscores the need for clearer communication about what assessments pay for and how inflation has eroded long-standing fixed assessments.

Votes at a glance: Council adopted Resolution No. 11,341 (declaring ballot results and abandoning district formation). Roll-call votes recorded in the minutes were: Bridal: Yes; Rorba: Yes; Koslowski: Yes; Larry: Yes; Aquino: Yes.

Staff will return with updated budgets and public meeting dates; no specific restoration plan for the reduced services was adopted at the meeting.