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San Ramon council sets Preserve landscaping assessment at $295.99 for 2025-26
Summary
The City Council confirmed the Preserve Landscaping & Lighting Assessment District diagram and set the 2025–26 parcel assessment at $295.99, citing healthy reserves and delaying full acceptance of three roundabouts until construction finishes.
The San Ramon City Council on Tuesday adopted Resolution No. 2025-071 confirming the Preserve Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District diagram and levying assessments for fiscal year 2025–26, setting the parcel assessment at $295.99.
City staff and council said the Preserve zone is financially healthy and that the lower rate preserves reserves and covers routine maintenance. Gary Manuel, the city’s landscape program manager, told the council the assessment is intended to cover irrigation repairs, plant/material replacement and annualized replacement costs for infrastructure including irrigation booster pumps and controllers. “So the actual assessment we’re proposing is $295.99,” Manuel said.
Manuel said the Preserve district, formed in 2018, pays for maintenance of existing improvements; most are maintained by the city, though three roundabouts along Alcosta/Bridal Parkway are not yet accepted because construction is ongoing. “As soon as we’re comfortable with the construction traffic, we’ll end up taking it over,” Manuel said, and he said staff expects acceptance by the end of the fiscal year.
The engineer’s report completed earlier this spring estimated a maximum allowable assessment of $443.96 per parcel. City staff recommended a lower rate because the district has a healthy reserve and no anticipated major failures next fiscal year. Manuel noted large capital items—most notably irrigation booster pumps—can cost roughly $80,000 each but have long useful lives (about 30 years), and the district’s reserve target includes an annualized replacement contribution.
Council members asked several clarifying questions about the scope of maintenance, the treatment of roundabouts and the basis for the chosen rate. Vice Mayor Rose and other council members expressed support for the recommended rate and the city’s plan to balance reserve health with minimizing charges to residents. The council opened and closed a public hearing with no public speakers and approved the resolution on a 5–0 vote.
The council directed staff to file the tax roll with Contra Costa County after the hearing; staff said the county filing must occur before Aug. 10, 2025.
What the council approved: confirmation of the Preserve Landscaping & Lighting District diagram and assessments for FY 2025–26, with a levied assessment of $295.99 per parcel for the year and a plan to maintain reserves for long‑term replacement costs.
The city will continue routine maintenance, keep its reserve target and take ownership of the three roundabouts once construction activity allows. The engineer’s report and tax roll will be filed with Contra Costa County as required for collection.
