NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PROPOSED INCREASE AND EXPANSION OF
CITY OF LANCASTER LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISTRICT NO. 1
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 Landscape Maintenance District No. 1 (District) assessment and the proposed inclusion of additional parcels within the City of Lancaster Landscape Maintenance District No. 1 pursuant to the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 (Streets and Highways Code Section 22500 et seq.), Article XIII D of the California Constitution (Proposition 218), 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 landscape improvements and related appurtenances within the Landscape Maintenance District No. 1, including landscaped frontage improvements, medians, irrigation systems, trails, fencing, trees, weed abatement areas, and related facilities. Services include mowing, edging, trimming, pruning, fertilizing, weed abatement, graffiti abatement, irrigation system maintenance, tree maintenance, litter removal, water, electricity, and establishment of operating and capital reserves necessary to maintain safe, attractive, and functional landscaped corridors and improvements.
Landscape Maintenance District No. 1 was originally formed in 1983 and has expanded over time through annexations and development. Existing assessments vary depending on the timing of annexation and prior assessment approvals. The City’s preliminary engineering analysis identified increasing operating costs, aging irrigation infrastructure, deferred maintenance needs, and the need to establish operating and capital reserves necessary to maintain existing landscape improvements and service levels.
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 landscaped corridors and improvements that may not have previously been assessed. Parcels located within approximately one-quarter mile of maintained landscape corridors and improvements are considered to receive special benefit from the District improvements.
The proposed assessment would update and replace the existing landscape maintenance assessment structure for affected parcels and establish assessments for additional benefited parcels identified within the 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 Landscape Maintenance District No. 1.
2. Total Proposed Annual Assessment for the District: Approximately $4,071,320 annually in special benefit assessments.
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 landscape maintenance 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 landscaped corridors and improvements, address deferred maintenance and aging irrigation infrastructure, establish operating and capital reserves, and maintain safe, functional, and aesthetically enhanced landscaped areas 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 the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 and Article XIII D of the California Constitution (Proposition 218). Assessments are apportioned using Equivalent Dwelling Units (“EDUs”) based on land use, dwelling units, building square footage, parcel area, which are converted to Benefit Units (“BUs”) based on land use intensity, level of service multipliers, and corridor exposure modifiers associated with landscaped improvements and maintained corridors. Only the special benefit portion of landscape 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 unit rate is $87.80 per Benefit Unit. Typical annual assessments may vary by property type, dwelling units, building area, parcel characteristics, level of service, and corridor exposure.
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 (or a reasonable equivalent successor index). 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/community-development/beautification/landscaping-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 Lancaster Landscape Maintenance District No. 1 assessment, please contact:
Nicole Jones, Manager-Beautification, City of Lancaster Phone: 661.723.6173
Email: [email protected]