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Council approves annual landscape and lighting assessments after hours of public comment
Summary
After a public hearing with multiple residents pressing for better maintenance and outreach, the council approved the engineer's annual report and collection of landscape and lighting assessments for fiscal 2026‑27; one council member voted no and residents asked for more direct notice and clearer service standards.
The Salinas City Council approved the engineer’s report and the levy of assessments for the city’s landscape and lighting districts on June 30 after extended discussion and public comment from multiple neighborhoods.
Consultant Chris Thomas explained the assessment calculation methodology required by state law and the Salinas Municipal Code, noting most districts were set at their maximum allowed assessment and that some had not increased for years. He said certain costs classified as general benefit are paid from the general fund and not the assessment roll.
Council members and residents questioned whether notice and outreach had been sufficient and pressed for more direct mail or bilingual materials for affected property owners. Several residents from Montebello and other districts said they continue to pay assessments despite persistent maintenance issues, citing broken lights, dead plants and missed cleanups.
City staff acknowledged gaps in service levels in underfunded districts and described plans to form district committees to solicit resident feedback and adjust service levels where feasible. Public Works staff explained operational constraints such as lead times for decorative streetlight poles and limited yard storage for spare parts.
The council moved and seconded to approve the engineer’s report and levy collection. Roll call showed a majority in favor with one recorded no vote by Council Member Sandoval.
Next steps: staff said it will provide more detailed district‑level tables in the engineers report, pursue improved outreach (including Spanish translation online), and convene committee pilots to review service levels in specific districts.
