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Council certifies landscape and lighting assessment ballots after tied and low-turnout results
Summary
The council certified the June 1 AB 28 assessment-count results, approving assessment increases in two of three zones after staff explained the ballot-weighting method and council debated low participation and tie outcomes.
The Calabasas City Council voted unanimously June 10 to certify results of AB 28 assessment increase ballots for several landscape and lighting assessment districts.
Public Works staff reported that ballot counting, conducted June 1 with Wan Financial Services, found the Bellagio zone and Landscape and Lighting Assessment District 32 passed the proposed assessment increases; the Calabasas Park Estates zone did not pass. Joanie of Wan Financial Services explained that ballots had been "weighted" by assessment amount rather than by assessed property valuation, meaning that in the two passing zones every parcel carried the same weighted ballot for the proposed increase.
Council members pressed staff for clarification after one zone's vote counts produced a tie (31-31). Staff and the consultant said the tie outcome depends on how the district's ballots are weighted; in those instances where each parcel was charged the same assessment amount, the votes effectively carried equal weight and the tie was counted consistent with the district's balloting procedures. Councilmembers expressed concern about low participation and the optics of small numbers deciding an increase that applies citywide: "One person took the trouble to vote yes. One person took the trouble to vote no. And we're now assessing everybody," Councilmember David said.
Staff recommended and the council adopted two resolutions to certify the passed increases and implement the increases for the two successful districts. The council adopted the resolutions by unanimous roll call.
What this means for residents: in districts that passed, the assessment increase will be implemented as certified; in the district that failed the ballot, levies will continue at CPI increases only and staff warned that persistent failure to pass levies can lead to lower service levels when contracts roll over.
Council directed staff to work with HOAs and property managers to improve outreach and to confirm engineering details for how ballots are weighted in future assessments.
