Yorba Linda council approves L1A landscape assessment after Prop 218 ballot tabulation

The Yorba Linda City Council on May 5 adopted a resolution confirming Local Landscape Zone L1A and approved the levy of landscape assessments after staff tabulated weighted Prop 218 ballots.

Public Works Director Jamie Lai reported the results of the ballot tabulation: No — $226,817.50; Yes — $239,000.44, and stated that the ballot passes. Council then moved to adopt the staff recommendation to confirm the FY 2026–27 diagram and assessments and approve the levy; the motion was seconded and the measure passed on the council floor by a 4–0 vote.

The assessment was presented as funding routine maintenance and landscape services in Zone L1A on the city’s east side. Lai told the council the maintenance level to fully fund improvements would equate to an estimated $75.83 per parcel per month — an increase of about $38 from the previous assessment — and an annual assessment near $910 for fiscal year 2026–27. Staff noted two emailed objections had been received prior to the hearing.

During public comment, resident Diane Kane raised procedural objections and cited state law. "I'm actually gonna posit that you aren't following that government code," she said, pointing to Government Code provisions (cited in the meeting as sections in the 53750–53758 range) and asking whether ballots had been handled in sealed envelopes and whether voters could withdraw ballots. Kane also urged the council not to give away city land to private interests without receiving fair market value.

Council members and staff responded with clarifications about the Prop 218 process and options for residents if easements are vacated. One council member explained property owners would generally be offered the option to retain irrigation systems if the city vacated easements. City Attorney Todd Lisonbee addressed the council’s legal questions during the hearing by saying the city "complies with all of that," indicating staff believes the tabulation and process followed required procedures.

After staff completed the tally in the City Hall lobby — a process that the council opened to the public — Lai announced the weighted totals and told the council "the ballot passes." The council then voted to adopt the resolution confirming the L1A local landscape zone diagram and to levy the assessments; the motion passed with the recorded outcome of 4–0.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the administrative steps to implement the assessment levy and confirm the diagram for FY 2026–27 per the resolution adopted by the council. The council did not modify the assessment amounts during the meeting.

Votes at the meeting were recorded on the record: the L1A confirmation resolution was approved 4–0 and the tabulation results reported by staff (Yes: $239,000.44; No: $226,817.50).