1 CITY OF FONTANA
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 3
PRELIMINARY ENGINEER'S REPORT FOR HUNTER'S RIDGE
SECTION 1. AUTHORITY FOR REPORT
This report is prepared in compliance with the requirements of Article 2, Chapter 2, Section 22623 of the Streets and Highway Code, State of California (Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972). In November of 1996, the voters of California passed Proposition 218 which added Articles XIIIC and XIIID to the California Constitution. These Constitutional provisions affect the procedural and approval requirements for the levy of assessments.
Among other things, the requirements provide that assessed parcels of real property must receive a special benefit from assessments. Assessments are also subject to majority protest requirements. These requirements apply, unless an assessment district meets certain exemptions set forth in Proposition 218.
The following assessments are exempt from the procedures and approval process of Article XIIID of the California Constitution;
A. Any a ssessment imposed exclusively to finance the capital costs or maintenance and/or operation expenses for sidewalks, streets, sewers, water, flood control, drainage systems or vector control; or
B. Any assessment imposed pursuant to a petition signed by the persons owning all of the parcels subject to the assessment at the time the assessment is initially imposed.
The City of Fontana Landscaping Maintenance District No. 3 (Hunter's Ridge) qualifies as an existing assessment exempt under exemption "B" de scribed above in that the assessment district was originally formed and the assessment was imposed pursuant to the district was consented to by all of the persons owning all of the parcels subject to the assessment at the time the assessment was initially imposed. The proposed assessments for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year for Landscaping Maintenance District No. 3 fall within this exemption because they are merely the annual levy for assessments previously consented to by property owners.
SECTION 2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION
This report deals with the annual assessment for the Landscape Maintenance District No. 3 (Hunter's Ridge), for the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year commencing on July 1, 2022 and ending on June 30, 20 23. Areas to be included in the work program are the trees within the dedicated tree maintenance easements, the trees and ground cover within the tree and ground cover maintenance easements dedicated to the City, the public parks, and other areas required by the approved plan or by the City Council, or as dedicated by the various subdivisions. These areas listed above will become a part of the active work program, at such time as the specific areas are dedicated to the City.
2 SECTION 3. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS
The plans and specifications have been prepared according to the City's standards. Plans and specifications for walls, fences, and signage have been prepared in accordance with Hunter's Ridge Specific Plan and City standards. Said plans and specifications show and describe the general nature, location and extent of the existing and proposed improvements to be maintained and/or serviced. The plans and specifications also indicate the class and type of improvements to be maintained and/or serviced for each zone within the District.
The maintenance activities of the areas to be maintained by the District include but are not limited to:
The repair, removal or replacement of all or any part of any improvement, providing for the life, growth, health and beauty of the landscaping, including cultivation, irrigation, trimming, spraying, fertilizing or treating for disease to injury, the removal of trimmings, rubbish, debris, and other solid waste, the maintenance, repair and replacement as necessary of all irrigation systems, and the removal of graffiti from walls immediately adjacent to the cultivated areas.
SECTION 4. ESTIMATED COSTS
The costs of the original landscape improvements have been paid by the Developer.
Annual maintenance and replacement costs will be borne by the benefiting property owners after the City accepts the landscape improvements for maintenance. The estimated maintenance cost, for assessment purposes, is based upon the proposed areas for maintenance.
The estimated cost for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 is as follows:
Cost of Maintenance $ 961,990
Cash Flow Reserve 480,995
Contingency Reserve 144,299
Reserve for Capital Replacement 550,000
Total Costs $2,137,284
Less: Estimated Beginning Fund Balance <1,339,829>
Balance to Assess $ 797,455
All of the costs are based on current estimates. The assessments are based on these costs 3 and the difference between the estimated cost and the actual cost will be accounted for in the subsequent year.
The 2022-23 maximum assessment is $714.12, an increase of $14.00 (2%) over the prior year.
SECTION 5. ASSESSMENT DIAGRAM
For a detailed description of the lines and dimensions of any lot or parcel, reference is hereby made to the County Assessor's maps, which maps shall govern for all details concerning the lines and dimensions of such lots or parcels.
SECTION 6. METHOD OF APPORTIONMENT OF ASSESSMENT
The Hunter's Ridge Specific Pan is a residential development which includes single family dwelling units and a 3.55 acre commercial site. Areas that are not improved or have been dedicated to the City or the Etiwanda School District or Caltrans will not be assessed for maintenance costs.
The determination of benefit takes into account that all single -family residential lots will receive equal benefit from the landscape improvements. The commercial area will be given a benefit surcharge of 4.2 times the assessment per acre based on an equivalent of 4.2 dwelling units to the acre.
Formula for Assessment
A = Assessment per dwelling unit
L = Number of single-family dwelling units not in the estate area M = Number of Multi-family dwelling units not in the estate area P = Number of estate dwelling units
C = Commercial units
ESTIMATED 2021-2022 ASSESSMENT: $797,455
C(4.2A) + L(1.0A) +M(.8A) +P (1.5A) = 797,455
3.55(4.2A) + 1,580(1.0A) + 0(.8A) + 0(1.5A) = 797,455
14.91(A) + 1,580(A) + 0(A) + 0(A) = 797,455
A = 500.00 per unit