City Clerk NOTICE OF PROPOSED
City of Pleasant Hill ASSESSMENT RATE INCREASE
100 Gregory Lane AND PUBLIC HEARING
Pleasant Hill, CA 95623
Public Hearing
Monday, August 5, 2024 at 7:00 PM
City Council Chambers, 100 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 The City of Pleasant Hill (the “City”) has begun proceedings to increase an existing assessment and add an annual inflationary adjustment for the maintenance of local landscaping and street lighting within Zone 1 of Assessment District No. 20 (the “AD 20”).
Your property, along with all other properties in the Zone, is currently paying an annual assessment for local landscaping and street lighting. The assessment is paid as part of your County tax bill each year.
The costs of labor, maintenance and utilities for AD 20 have increased over the years due to inflation.
However, the maximum assessment rates within Zone 1 has not increased since 1996 and the City is currently charging the maximum assessment rate allowed. The proposed increase to your assessment will allow the City to provide for the continued maintenance and operation of local landscaping and streetlights. This will also allow the City to provide proper maintenance services, perform necessary repairs, and plan for replacements as needed.
Assessable parcels are assessed based on Equivalent Dwelling Units (“EDU”). The parcel acreage is converted to EDU and the EDU for each parcel is multiplied by the proposed maximum assessment rate. The current maximum assessment rate for Zone 1 is $1,155.60. The proposed maximum assessment for FY 24/25 is $1,966.50, an increase of $810.90 (70.17%). Due to the large increase, it is proposed that the increase be instituted over the course of three (3) years, with a 3.5% increase added to the proposed maximum assessment during that time. In FY 24/25, the proposed assessment would be $1,411.60. In FY 25/26, the proposed assessment rate would be $1,724.60. In FY 26/27, the proposed assessment rate would be $2,106.56. Accounting for the 3.5% annual increase to the proposed maximum assessment established in FY 24/25, the new maximum assessment rate for FY 26/27 would be $2,106.56.
After the third year, and beginning FY 27/28, the maximum assessment rate shall be adjusted annually by the annual change in the Consumer Price Index of the San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward Area All Urban Consumers Index (CPI-U), from December to December. Adjustments are based on the change of the CPI for the prior year as compared to the year assessments are determined.
The actual annual assessment rate levied in any fiscal year shall be as approved by the City Council and may not exceed the Maximum Assessment rate for that specific fiscal year without a Proposition 218 proceeding. The assessments will continue to be charged every fiscal year unless repealed. The assessments are supported by an Engineer’s Report on file with the City Clerk’s Office.
The Assessment Ballot included in this mailing with your name and address, shows the proposed maximum assessment amount for your property. The Assessment Ballot is the most important document in this material. It must be completed and returned by mail or in person to the City Clerk no later than Monday, August 5, 2024 before the close of public comment during the public hearing to be counted.
On August 5, 2024 at 7:00 p.m., the City Council will hold a Public Hearing to hear public comment and tally the Assessment Ballots received. Information on how to participate in the public hearing will be posted on the City’s website, on the agenda for the August 5, 2024 City Council meeting. The Maximum Assessment rate increase and inflationary adjustment cannot be imposed if there is a majority protest (i.e., the number of ballots opposed to the increase exceed those in favor). If the number of Assessment Ballots returned in favor exceed those opposed, then the City Council may approve the proposed increases to the assessment rates. Assessment Ballots are weighted proportionally by each parcel’s assessment amount (essentially $1 of proposed assessment equals 1 vote). Assessment Ballots that are not returned or received, or are returned or received late, will not be counted, so please return your ballot.
For inquiries about this process or additional information, please contact Rick Clark of Harris & Associates at (949) 536-2526 or by e-mail to: [email protected].