NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PROPOSED INCREASE AND EXPANSION OF
CITY OF LANCASTER DRAINAGE BENEFIT ASSESSMENT DISTRICT
AND MAILED BALLOT PROCEEDING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Lancaster will conduct a public hearing regarding a proposed increase to the annual Lancaster Drainage Benefit Assessment District and the proposed inclusion of additional parcels within the Lancaster Drainage Benefit Assessment District (District) pursuant to Article XIII D of the California Constitution (Proposition 218), the Benefit Assessment Act of 1982, and applicable provisions of California law.
The City Council has adopted a Resolution of Intention initiating these proceedings, and assessment ballots have been mailed to record property owners of affected parcels at least forty-five (45) days prior to the public hearing in accordance with Proposition 218 requirements.
PUBLIC HEARING INFORMATION
Date: July 14, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.
Location: City Council Chambers
City of Lancaster
44933 Fern Avenue
Lancaster, CA 93534
All interested persons are invited to attend the public hearing and express their views regarding the proposed assessment.
Verbal comments alone do not constitute a formal protest or support for the proposed assessment. Property owners’ formal positions regarding the proposed assessment are established only through submission of the assessment ballot.
PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENT: The proposed assessment would fund the continued operation, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, replacement, and administration of the City’s storm drainage and flood control system, including storm drains, catch basins, channels, basins, pump stations, and related facilities. Services include routine inspections, cleaning, emergency response, regulatory compliance activities, capital improvements, infrastructure replacement, and establishment of operating and capital reserves necessary to maintain safe and reliable drainage services.
The existing Lancaster Drainage Benefit Assessment District has not been substantially updated since approximately 1996. The City’s preliminary engineering analysis identified increasing operating costs, aging infrastructure, deferred maintenance needs, and planned capital improvement requirements necessary to maintain a safe and resilient drainage management system.
The proposed assessment program would continue assessments on existing benefited parcels at updated rates and would also apply assessments to additional parcels determined to receive special benefit from the City’s storm drainage and flood control system that may not have previously been assessed.
The proposed assessment would update and replace the existing drainage benefit assessment structure for affected parcels and establish assessments for additional benefited parcels identified within the Lancaster Drainage Benefit Assessment District. The proposed assessment is not intended to create a duplicate assessment for the same services.
ASSESSMENT INFORMATION
1. Name of Assessment: City of Lancaster Drainage Benefit Assessment District
2. Total Proposed Annual Assessment for the District: $7,115,600.
3. Your Proposed Assessment: The proposed maximum annual assessment for your property is shown on the enclosed assessment ballot.
4. Duration of the Proposed Assessment: The assessment is proposed to be levied annually beginning in Fiscal Year 2026- 27 and continuing each fiscal year thereafter until such time as the City Council determines the assessment is no longer necessary to fund drainage system improvements and services.
5. Reason for the Proposed Assessment: To provide revenue necessary to maintain, operate, repair, rehabilitate, replace, administer, and improve the City’s storm drainage and flood control system, address deferred maintenance and aging infrastructure, establish operating and capital reserves, and maintain safe and reliable drainage services for benefited properties.
6. Calculation of the Assessment: The proposed assessment has been calculated in proportion to the special benefit received by each parcel in accordance with Article XIII D of the California Constitution (Proposition 218). Assessments are apportioned using Drainage Management Units (“DMUs”), which are based primarily on estimated impervious surface area and relative stormwater runoff contribution associated with each property’s land use and size. Only the special benefit portion of drainage services is included in the assessment; general benefits to the public are funded from other revenue sources.
7. Maximum Assessment: The proposed maximum annual assessment rate is $103.09 per DMU. Typical annual assessments may vary by property type, land use, parcel size, and runoff characteristics.
The assessment amount shown on the enclosed ballot represents the maximum annual assessment that may be levied against the identified parcel commencing in Fiscal Year 2026-27. The maximum assessment amount may be adjusted annually based on the annual increases corresponding with the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim region. Actual annual assessments may be less than, but shall not exceed, the maximum authorized assessment unless additional property owner approval is obtained as required by law.
ENGINEER’S REPORT: A detailed Engineer’s Report describing the proposed assessment, assessment methodology, district boundaries, special benefits, and assessment amounts is available for public review at the Office of the City Clerk, City of Lancaster, 44933 Fern Avenue, Lancaster, California, during regular business hours or on the City website, https://www.cityoflancasterca.org/our-city/departments-services/public-works/utility-services/drainage-district.
ASSESSMENT BALLOT PROCEDURES: In accordance with Proposition 218, assessment ballots have been mailed to record property owners of parcels subject to the proposed assessment increase or proposed new assessment. Property owners may submit their completed assessment ballots by mail or in person prior to the close of the public hearing.
Only ballots received prior to the close of the public hearing will be counted. Ballots are weighted according to the proportional financial obligation of the affected property. If ballots submitted in opposition exceed ballots submitted in favor of the proposed assessment, the assessment shall not be imposed.
At the conclusion of the public hearing, the City will tabulate the assessment ballots.
Mail Delivery: If by mail, ballots must be received prior to the close of the public hearing. Postmarks cannot be accepted. Ballots should be mailed to:
City Clerk
City of Lancaster
44933 Fern Avenue
Lancaster, CA 93534
Personal Delivery: Ballots may also be delivered directly to the City Clerk on or before the close of the public hearing at the address listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: For additional information regarding the proposed Drainage Benefit Assessment, please contact:
Nicole Jones, Manager-Beautification
City of Lancaster
Phone: 661.723.6173
Email: [email protected]