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Council approves fiscal‑year 2026–27 maintenance district assessments after discussion of rising costs
Summary
The Atwater City Council adopted staff recommendations confirming and amending engineers’ reports and levying maintenance assessments for lighting, drainage and landscape districts for FY 2026–27; council approved the motion 4–1 (Raymond opposed) after members questioned service delivery, contractor performance and Prop 218 constraints.
Community Development Director Johnny Land summarized proposed confirmation and amendments to the engineer’s reports for the City’s lighting, drainage and landscape maintenance assessment districts and recommended adopting the assessments for fiscal year 2026–27.
Council members raised several concerns: escalating costs to property owners, whether residents receive contracted services, and whether district administration fees (including consultant charges to Willdan) could be reduced by combining districts. Staff explained many existing districts are pre‑Prop 218 and cannot be consolidated without a formal Prop 218 process; staff also noted contractor oversight and that Joe’s Landscaping had been the low bidder in the most recent solicitation.
After a public hearing with questions from residents about contracting and lighting ownership, Councilmember Ambriz moved to approve staff’s recommendation and Councilmember Kale seconded. The vote passed 4–1 (yes: Ambreese, Kale, Rochester, Nelson; no: Raymond). Mayor Nelson thanked Public Works and staff for incorporating public input on road projects and noted the City will continue to monitor contract performance.
Next steps: the resolution adopting the engineers’ reports and levying the assessments will be finalized per staff’s recommendation; staff will continue oversight of contractors and return with implementation details as needed.
