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Quail Run and Cielo & Tierra ballots fail; residents and council debate neighborhood assessments
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Summary
Ballots in two older landscape and lighting districts failed on April 7. Quail Run ballots were 42 in favor, 55 against (1 unmarked); Cielo & Tierra was 6 for and 20 against. Staff said failed measures will trigger reduced services in the affected districts; residents in favor urged maintenance, opponents cited property‑tax burden.
The council held public hearings and ballot tabulations for two neighborhood Landscape & Lighting Assessment Districts and announced both proposed assessment increases failed to win property‑owner approval.
For Quail Run Estates (272 parcels), staff explained the district had fallen into a deficit after past attempts at increases failed. Residents in favor, including Rebecca Thompson and Shelby Hoagie, described deteriorating medians and park conditions and urged passage so crews could maintain trees, irrigation and public spaces. Opponents, including resident Linda Afke, said property taxes already burden homeowners and that general fund resources should cover small park needs.
City tabulation produced a final Quail Run result of 42 approvals, 55 disapprovals and 1 unmarked ballot; the increase did not pass. Staff said the failure means the city will return with options for reduced services in that district; officials cautioned that typical reductions include scaled‑back shrub, irrigation and playground maintenance, possible water cutbacks and eventual playground closure if conditions become unsafe.
A separate ballot for the Cielo & Tierra district likewise failed; the clerk reported 6 approvals and 20 disapprovals. A resident and local engineer, Alex DeWiggens, urged council to find a funding source for visible public landscaping across town if neighborhood votes fail; staff repeated that assessment district funds are legally restricted to the neighborhood that pays the assessment.
Councilors and staff stressed the difference between general city revenues and assessment‑district funds: assessments are charged to specific parcels and cannot be reallocated to other neighborhoods. Staff said districts that wish to try again can pursue a homeowner‑led initiative to gather signatures and a new ballot, or coordinate other funding approaches.
Because both measures failed, staff will return with proposed service‑reduction options and next steps for each district; the council did not approve a citywide substitute funding source at the meeting.
