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Benicia council approves launch of citywide parks assessment ballot process under Prop. 218
Summary
After extensive public comment and council questioning about project specificity and turf fields, the Benicia City Council voted 4–1 to begin Proposition 2 18 (Prop. 218) mail-ballot proceedings and adopt the preliminary engineer's report for a citywide Parks, Landscape and Lighting Assessment District (PLAD). Ballot mailings and public hearing dates were set by staff.
The Benicia City Council voted to begin the Proposition 2 18 assessment-ballot process to form a citywide Parks, Landscape and Lighting Assessment District and accepted a preliminary engineer's report that sets the framework for a proposed single-family assessment near $208 a year.
Consultant Edrick Kwan of SCI described how the mail ballot is weighted by parcel assessment and said ballots will be mailed around Aug. 8, a public hearing will be held Oct. 14, and results will be returned to the council on Nov. 4 for certification. "Each parcel owner will receive one ballot... only returned ballots are retabulated, and they're weighted based on the proposed assessment," Kwan said during the presentation, explaining the mechanics required under the Prop. 218 process.
Council members pressed staff about oversight, how the engineer's report ties to a concrete project list and whether a sunset clause or supermajority requirement should be added. City Manager Mario Giuliani told the council staff will provide clearer outreach materials and an 11-by-17 ballot notice that lists capital projects accompanying the ballot. "We can certainly provide that detail," he said, offering to return at the council's next meeting with clearer budget breakdowns.
Public comment before the vote included dozens of speakers who praised the plan's potential to fund deferred maintenance and capital projects but disputed the inclusion of an all-weather turf field; supporters highlighted year-round play and tournament potential, while opponents raised environmental and health concerns about artificial turf. The council voted 4–1 to move forward; the substitute motion to delay the measure for more public review failed first. Staff said the assessment, if approved, would appear on the December 2026 property tax bill and that the city will present annual engineer's reports tied to budget cycles going forward.
Next steps: staff will finalize outreach materials and the official ballot packet, coordinate the mailing timeline with the county, and return with added clarity about capital-project priorities and the companion notice that will accompany property-owner ballots.
