May 3, 2022
Public Works
DATE: May 3, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Joe Leach, PE, Public Works Director
Greg Hardesty, Parks & Landscaping Superintendent
Subject:
Engineer’s Report for Fiscal Year 2022-23 for the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total amount proposed to be assessed for the 2022- 2023 fiscal year for the operation of the HLMD is
approximately $1,091,838. The City’s contribution to the District is estimated to be $16,526 based on the general benefit to the City conferred by the maintenance work,
and there is an additional estimated $229,115 classified as Additional City Support that will be transferred from the City General Fund to the District. Both the City
contribution and the Additional City Support will be
budgeted in the General Fund. The total of the
assessment, the City contribution, and the Additional City Support will then be approximately $1,337,479.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
Click or tap here to enter text.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Resolution approving the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance
District Engineer’s Report for FY 2022-2023 and
declaring the City Council’s intention to increase the
annual assessment.
AGENDA
REPORT
May 3, 2022
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution approving the Engineer’s Report for
FY 2022-2023 for the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance
District (“HLMD”), declaring the City Council’s intention to increase the annual assessment in the HLMD, and
announcing a public hearing about the proposed
increased assessment on June 21, 2022, at 6:30 PM in
the City Council Chambers at 440 Civic Center Plaza in
the City of Richmond – Public Works Department (Joe
Leach 620-5478/Greg Hardesty 620-6920).
DISCUSSION:
The Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District is an area in north Richmond consisting of 878 parcels of land benefited by landscaping improvements and maintenance. At the direction of the City Council, the owner(s) of each parcel within the District may be assessed an annual fee proportional to the benefits conferred on that parcel. Annual assessments may be increased up to a maximum amount stated in Resolution Number 91-98, adopted in 1998 by the City Council in accordance with state law requiring notice, protest, and hearing for the levy of special assessments (commonly called “Proposition 218 requirements”).
Before levying assessments in the District, the City Council must approve a report estimating the costs of proposed improvements to be made within the District and adopt a resolution stating its intention to hold a public hearing to levy assessments. The resolution of intention must state whether the City Council intends to increase assessments from the previous fiscal year.
As directed by the City Council on January 18, 2022, the City Engineer has caused to be prepared an Annual Levy Report for the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District for FY 2022-2023 (“Engineer’s Report”). The Engineer’s Report generally describes existing and proposed improvements and substantial changes to be made to existing improvements within the District. The Engineer’s Report also estimates the costs of such improvements. In order to meet the costs, the Engineer recommends that the Council increase assessments from those levied in FY 2021-2022 by an inflation rate of three percent (3%), as permitted in Resolution 91-98.
City staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached Engineer’s Report and adopt a resolution stating its intention to increase assessments and announcing that a public hearing on the proposed assessments will be held at the City Council’s regular meeting of June 21, 2022, at 6:30 PM.
May 3, 2022
On July 28, 2009, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 83-09, approving the formation of the new Landscape and Lighting District and the founding Engineer’s Report, establishing the rate of assessment, authorizing annual increases thereof, and ordering maintenance services within the Marina Bay Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance District. The rate of assessment for this District must be confirmed annually by action of the City Council.
In accordance with Section 12.60.240 of the Richmond Municipal Code, and in accordance with State law, the first step in this process is to order the preparation of an Engineer’s Report of assessment for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. As required by Section
12.060.250 of the Richmond Municipal Code, a copy of the report and a property owner response form will be mailed to all owners of real property subject to the annual benefit assessment as a subsequent part of the process. The City Council will be asked to hold a public hearing and accept the Engineer’s Report to then finalize the process.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 - Proposed Resolution Approving the Engineer’s Final Annual Levy Report for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 for the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District, Declaring the Council’s Intention to Levy and Collect Assessments in the District, and Announcing a Public Hearing Regarding Assessments
Attachment 2 - Engineer’s Final Annual Levy Report Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District Fiscal Year 2022-2023
Attachment 3 - Notice of Public Hearing