July 11, 2023
Public Works
DATE: July 11, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Daniel Chavarria, Director of Public Works
Greg Hardesty, Parks & Landscaping Superintendent
Subject:
Public Hearing To Consider the Levy of Annual
Assessments for the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance
District
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total amount proposed to be assessed for the 2023- 2024 fiscal year for the operation of the Hilltop
Landscape Maintenance District is approximately
$1,116,944. The City’s contribution to the District is estimated to be $ 229,095 based on the general benefit
to the City conferred by the maintenance work. There is not any additional funding classified as Additional City Support this year that will be transferred from the City’s General Fund to the District. The total of the assessment and the City’s contribution will be approximately
$1,346,039, and will be budgeted from the General Fund.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
March 7, 2023 and June 20, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Resolution approving the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance
District Engineer’s Report for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 and declaring the City Council’s intention to increase the
annual assessment and hold a Public Hearing to
consider the levy of annual assessments for the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District.
AGENDA
REPORT
July 11, 2023
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
HOLD a public hearing; and ADOPT a resolution
approving the Engineer’s Report and ordering the levy
and collection of assessments in the Hilltop Landscape
Maintenance District for the Fiscal Year 2023-2024,
providing for a three percent increase in annual
assessments – Public Works Department (Daniel
Chavarria 510-620-5478/Greg Hardesty 510-620-6920).
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 March 7, 2023, the City Engineer has prepared an Annual Levy Report for the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 (“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 City Engineer recommends that the City Council increase assessments from those levied in Fiscal Year 2022-2023 by an inflation rate of three percent (3%), as permitted under Resolution 91-98.
On June 20, 2023, the City Council approved the preliminary Engineer’s Report and adopted a resolution stating its intention to increase assessments and announcing that a public hearing on the proposed assessments would be held at the City Council’s regular meeting of July 11, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. The City Council’s Resolution of Intention was mailed to all property owners within the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District.
The attached resolution approves the Engineer’s Report and orders the levy and collection of assessments in the Hilltop Landscape Maintenance District for Fiscal Year 2023-2024.
July 11, 2023
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Engineer’s Report
Attachment 3 – County Certification Letter