City of Gonzales
PUBLIC WORKS / CITY ENGINEER DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: February 3, 2025
FROM: Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer THROUGH: Carmen Gil, City Manager
SUBJECT: California Breeze Assessment Districts
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council receive a report on options to reduce maintenance expenses in the California Breeze Assessment Districts and provide direction to staff.
BACKGROUND
The City has eight assessment districts that fund the operations and maintenance of various improvements (ie, roadways, traffic signs, street lighting, drainage basins, and public landscaping). The districts are:
1. California Breeze Subdivision Benefit Assessment District
2. California Breeze Subdivision Parks and Open Spaces Assessment District
3. Canyon Creek Subdivision Benefit Assessment District
4. Canyon Creek Subdivision Parks and Open Spaces Assessment District
5. Industrial Business Park Benefit Assessment District
6. Industrial Business Park Parks and Open Spaces Assessment District
7. Cipriani Subdivision Benefit Assessment District
8. Cipriani Subdivision Parks and Open Spaces Assessment District
The California Breeze Benefit Assessment District provides funding for the maintenance of the roadways, streetlights, storm drains, and retention basins in the subdivision.
The California Breeze Parks and Open Space Assessment District provides funding for the operations and maintenance of landscaping and irrigation systems along Herold Parkway and in Meyer Park. The City AGENDA
ITEM
6 contracts with Smith & Enright for landscape maintenance services in the various assessment districts including Calif Breeze.
The California Breeze assessment districts were the first assessment districts established by the City. The formation documents for these districts did not include an annual Consumer Price Index adjustment to the Maximum Annual Assessment amount (the other six districts have an annual Consumer Price Index adjustment). Therefore, the assessments for the California Breeze Districts have not kept up with inflation and the City General Fund has subsidized district expenses over the last several years.
Last summer, the City went through a Proposition 218 process to increase the annual assessments for the California Breeze Assessment Districts by mailing ballots to each of the 320 property owners. Ninety property owners returned complete ballots and only nine property owners voted to increase the assessments. Therefore, the effort to increase the assessments failed.
In the last year, staff have implemented fees for park rentals to help offset some of the costs of upkeep.
Currently, organized leagues rent the field months on in for $50.00 a month for an approximate average of $400.00 total.
REVIEW & ANALYSIS
The Parks and Open Space Assessment District has a more serious deficit than the Benefit Assessment District. $50,000 needs to be reduced in annual expenses from the Parks and Open Space Assessment District to eliminate the use of General Fund monies. The Benefit Assessment District requires a reduction in annual expenses of approximately $10,000.
Staff developed the following options for reducing expenses related to the two assessment districts:
California Breeze Subdivision Benefit Assessment District 1 Reduce City staff’s efforts related to the maintenance of streets, sidewalks, signs
This will reduce costs by
$5,000 per year
2 Reduce funding for street resurfacing projects This will reduce costs by $7,500 per year
3 Reduce the repair of storm drains and replacement of traffic signs and streetlights
This will reduce costs by
$5,000 per year
California Breeze Subdivision Parks and Open Space Assessment District 1 Change frequency of Smith & Enright’s landscape maintenance from weekly to bi-weekly.
This will reduce costs by
$5,750 per year
2 Reduce City staff maintenance efforts related to maintenance of the landscaped areas along Herold Parkway and the stormwater basins This should reduce costs by
$15,000 to $25,000 per year
3 Close the ballfield at Meyer Park to eliminate maintenance of the field. This will impact the residents’ use of ballfield.
Unknown. Need to
determine cost to fence off
the field and install signs
indicating the field is closed
4 Reduce budgets for tree maintenance and replacement This could reduce costs by $7,500 per year
5 Reduce the annual budget for soundwall maintenance and replacement.
This could reduce costs by
$10,000 per year
In conclusion, Staff is seeking feedback and direction from the City Council on options to reduce expenses in the California Breeze Assessment Districts
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small town charm.
Explain: Reducing maintenance efforts in the assessment districts will eliminate the use of the City’s General Fund to close the funding gap.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community. X Yes ___ No
Explain: See above Vision.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful and friendly manner to ensure the safety and well being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner. X Yes No Explain: See above Vision.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety Yes X No N/A
• Housing Yes X No N/A
• Recreation X Yes No N/A
• Environment X Yes No N/A
• Education Yes No X N/A
Explain: Collection of the annual assessments enables the City to maintain certain improvements in the California Breeze subdivision.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council could decide to continue the current maintenance efforts in the California Breeze Subdivision. This isn’t recommended as the annual assessments do not cover the maintenance expenses and the City’s General Fund is used to close the funding gap.
BUDGET IMPACT
Reducing the level of maintenance in the California Breeze Subdivision will eliminate the use of General Fund monies.
CONCLUSION
It is recommended that the City Council receive a report on options to reduce maintenance expenses in the California Breeze Assessment Districts and provide direction to staff.