Council confirms citywide landscaping and lighting assessments; funds not eligible for new street lights

The Sacramento City Council on Tuesday conducted a public hearing and adopted the annual proceedings for the Citywide Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District, confirming the budget and levy for the upcoming fiscal year.

Finance staff presented the assessment program and said the funds cover landscape maintenance, street tree care, graffiti abatement and energy and maintenance costs for existing street lights across the city. Mary Jean Rodriguez of the finance department said staff recommended adopting the resolution to confirm the budget and levy.

Nut graf: Council members and public commenters pressed staff on whether assessment funds can be used to add new street lighting in underserved neighborhoods. City public-works staff and others said the assessment pays only to maintain existing infrastructure; new lighting is typically funded through private development or separate public projects.

A longtime city arborist, Dan Puskalski, urged the council to restore certain services that had been curtailed over the years, such as front-yard street tree planting and targeted streetlight‑clearing work to reduce residents' costs in less affluent neighborhoods. He said funding from developer mitigation now covers some tree planting, but asked the city to revisit urban forestry responsibilities for front‑yard street trees and clearing around streetlights.

Public Works Director Matt Arman confirmed the assessment generally supports existing infrastructure and that new infrastructure is typically funded via development agreements. Staff later clarified that the lighting and landscaping assessment district (L&L) is not eligible to pay for new street lighting.

Councilmembers underscored equity concerns: a Racial Equity Committee member noted that the assessment structure, which maintains existing infrastructure, can perpetuate disparities because underserved neighborhoods often have lower baseline infrastructure. Councilmember Dickinson asked whether certain enforcement or technology options could be used to direct funding differently; staff said priorities are keeping existing infrastructure in good repair.

The council voted to adopt the resolution confirming the levy and budget; the vote was recorded as eight in favor with one member absent.

Ending: Councilmembers asked staff to return with further information about equitable outcomes and potential policy changes to address lighting gaps in neighborhoods with persistently poor street illumination.