Oxnard staff recommends levying 2026–27 landscape maintenance assessments; June 16 hearing set

Anthony Miller, special districts manager for the City of Oxnard Public Works Department, told the Finance and Governance Committee that staff recommends the City Council initiate proceedings to levy landscape maintenance assessments for fiscal year 2026–27, approve a consolidated engineer's report consolidating the city's 36 landscape maintenance districts (LMDs), and declare its intent to levy assessments, setting a public hearing for June 16, 2026.

"This is a process that is required each year," Miller said, summarizing the annual steps the council must take under the Landscaping and Lighting Assessment Act of 1972.

Why it matters: The assessments fund ongoing maintenance of public improvements that benefit properties within each district. Miller said the special districts division manages 50 special financing districts, including 36 LMDs, and that developers typically install the improvements while the benefiting property owners pay an annual assessment on the property tax bill to fund maintenance.

Miller described the consolidated engineer's report as a single document that evaluates each district individually, including descriptions of improvements, projected annual maintenance costs, any less‑frequent capital projects, the method of assessment apportionment for each parcel, parcel diagrams, and an analysis of each district's annual financial status.

He explained that the applied assessment rate is the amount needed to fund services in each district and that it cannot exceed the maximum assessment rate originally approved for the district. After reviewing service levels, anticipated expenditures, fund balances and reserves, staff recommended the applied rates set forth in the engineer's report.

Two small districts were identified as needing additional attention. Miller said LMD 25 (The Pointe) in the Sierra neighborhood comprises 216 benefit units and is projected to have a negative fund balance of $426 at the end of FY 2026–27; the district's projected expenses for the year are $39,142 while its maximum total levy is $23,799. LMD 53 (Huff Court) in the Cabrillo neighborhood comprises eight benefit units and is projected to have a negative fund balance of $2,017; projected expenses are $5,381 while the maximum levy is $4,655. "Staff will inform property owners within both districts of steps that can be taken to address the projected shortfall and what options the district property owners have within the upcoming fiscal year," Miller said.

Miller summarized the proposed FY 2026–27 assessment calculations: $2,435,030 in real property assessments, $60,927 in interest income, a general‑benefit contribution of $217,455 from the general fund, and a $73,105 general‑fund subsidy for utilities. He noted the figures are rounded.

Miller also noted the administrative deadline: the deadline for delivering the assessment information to Ventura County is July 6, 2026. If the City Council adopts the recommended resolutions, the council will consider, at the public hearing on June 16, 2026, a resolution confirming diagrams and assessments for inclusion on the FY 2026–27 property tax roll.

The committee opened the floor for questions following Miller's presentation; no formal vote was recorded in the presentation transcript.