Council orders balloting process to replace Tustin Ranch assessment district; public hearing set for Dec. 2

Assistant Public Works Director Stacy Cuevas presented staff's recommendation to declare intent to form a new Tustin Ranch Landscape and Lighting Reassessment District to replace the existing district and restore services reduced after a failed 2021 reassessment.

Cuevas described service cuts enacted after 2021 — including reduced landscape maintenance to every eight weeks, tree trimming from every other year to every three years, deferred irrigation and limited landscape rehabilitation — and outlined proposed incremental service restorations over a five-year period. She said the proposed ballot would also include a provision that, beginning in year six, assessments would increase by CPI plus 3% unless property owners vote otherwise.

Cuevas explained outreach improvements since 2021 and said property owners will receive a plain-language brochure, a dedicated project webpage and video. She noted ballots can be dropped off or mailed to City Hall and that tabulation and ballot opening must be conducted publicly; the public hearing was scheduled for Dec. 2.

The city attorney explained that under California state law the restructuring and rate adjustments are implemented by forming a new district operationally, even though the boundaries and subdistricts remain effectively the same. Council Member Schnell recused herself because she lives in the affected area and has a material interest. The council adopted the staff resolution to order the balloting and set the public hearing by roll call 3–0.

If no majority protest exists after tabulation, the council may adopt a resolution ordering the improvements and formation of the district; if a majority protest is filed the process will cease.