Benicia council directs staff to advance citywide parks, landscape and lighting assessment district

The Benicia City Council voted to direct staff to continue preparation of a citywide parks, landscape and lighting assessment district and to begin public outreach for a potential 2025 ballot measure.

City staff explained the proposal would consolidate five existing landscape and lighting districts that together cover nearly 50% of properties in Benicia and said many assessments date to the 1970s–90s and lack an automatic escalator. “The item before council tonight is to provide direction to city staff to proceed with a parks, landscape, and lighting district project for 2025,” the City Manager said, describing outreach and a mailed notice process similar to water‑rate ballots. The manager added officials expect community meetings and analysis of assessment amounts before any ballot placement.

Not all council members and residents supported moving forward immediately. Public commenter Miss Grundman asked the council to defer the proposal to 2026, citing “tax fatigue” and urging the city to prioritize water and wastewater rates after recent measure losses. “I think residents have recently spoken about, tax fatigue. It’s real,” Miss Grundman said. Vice Mayor Scott framed the measure within the council’s broader cost‑recovery priorities: “A hallmark of this council has been cost recovery as a priority…We need to be able to have the revenue that is based on the cost.”

Staff provided a rough current assessment example during discussion; the presentation included an example figure provided to the council for context. Councilmember Campbell and others argued delaying recurring increases only raises future costs. The motion to direct staff to continue preparation passed on a roll call vote with council members voting yes.

Next steps: staff will conduct community outreach, refine assessment scenarios and return with more detailed information before any ballot measure is finalized.